The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1906-04-13

L Ill awful alfdlu Sne was nunSTJ. SHe
made me eat all the bread there was for
my breakfast She said she didnt want
any, cause she was sick. \ girl said
there was wine and bread at church, and
thought, sobbed the child, as a sense of
her disappointment stole over her, 'that
perhaps could yet some to bring to her.
Miss Kiusley gave liurle start. Was
it possible that any one was hungry almost
within the shadow of the spire of this
great, wealthy church
''Driye fasterr" she ordered the coach
man
"On Sunday he questioned, with
reproachful sort of dignity.
Yes" curtly answered his mistress
She had given the directions before,
and they turned into one obscure street
after another, finally stopping before a row
Of small tenement houses She followed
her little guide up pair of narrow stairs
into a bare, cherries room
Ruth, Is that your anxiously called
feeble voice from curtained recess.
"Where have you been p
don scoId, mamma dear, I've been
10 church | didn't find any blessin'
but just see what beautiful lady
Brought and she eagerly drew Miss Kin
sley to the bedside.
Your little girl strayed into my pew,
and | brought her back to you" Leah
hastened to explain, adding, ''you are i'll,
can do anything for you?'' She bent
over the bed and gently put back the
masses Of brown hair from the delicate,
still youthful face of the suffering woman
1t was the work of second for Leah to
reach the street.
"Drive home quickly" she directed
and tell james to pack basket of wine
and food-anything nourishing. 1t is a
case of life or death, she added, and tears
stood in her eyes.
\ group of wondering boys stood on the
sidewalk, staring at the unwonted sight of
an elegant equipage in that narrow, dingy
street, and she dispatched one for fuel
and another for her family physician, who
promptly responded, to find Miss Kinsley
with her bonnet and gloves removed, her
dress pinned back and covered with
coarse, but clean white apron, smoothing
the tangle out Of the matted brown hair Of
the sick woman.
You Miss Kinsleyl' he exclaimed
with surprise. ''Of course, | knew the
message was from you, but | did not ex-
pect to find you here in person.
mo; not Miss Kinsley' she replied,
but trust another and better woman,
one not so eulpably negligent and indiffer-
eut Wha; is her ailment p she asked
few moments after, as they stood in con-
suliation at the farther side of the room.
Nervous exhaustion from overwork
and insufficient food, he answered.
II, then-do you come across many
such eases p she asked falteringly, while
4 rebuking conscience stared her in the
face. She had sent money to the Father
Indies, she had sent it North, South, East
and West, but right here at home-why,
she had never thought of that! And with
al her contributions she had never given
herself How much suffering might not
she have ayerted
"Yes, replied the doctor, far too
many
Why did you never tell me p she
asked, turning upon him with quick tears
10 her eyes
The ladies Of your set seemed always
10 be having missionary meetings, and to
be subscribers literally for the good pur-
pose, replied the doctor, dryly.
Like Mrs, Jellaby, | have only been
able to see Africa, returned Leah; ''now
mean 10 look a little nearer home. And
if YOU will kindly help me about this, |
wish To provide a nurse and everything for
this poor sufferer comfort
After day or so, the hospital would
be better
just as You advise, but will be re-
spousible for all expense.
Miss Kiusley remained until the nurse
came, and in the meantime carefully gave
the wine and food, listening to the feebly
told story Of sorrow and privation The
old story, an improyident marriage, q hus-
band who was unsuccessful in his profess
sion, and who, disheartened and discour-
aged, was an easy prey to a prevailing dis
ease, leaving his delicate wife and child
unproyided for.
Have you no friends p asked Leah.
sYes, returned Mrs. Jarvis, ''in
distant State have no money to 20 to
them, and my pride has made it impossi-
bic. 50 far, for me to send for them to wit
ness my humiliation and privations, You
see, married against their wishes.
Il thought you never would GOMEZ"
querulously called Mrs. Kinsley, as Leah
entered the room. Il have been in such
a state of anxiety!
II am sorry if you have been troubled
about me, returned Leah softly stroking
her mother hand "Did not James tell
YOU why | was detained p
Yes; but he knew no particulars. |
was afraid that you had exposed yourself
TO some infectious disease. He said you
were in very common, dirty street.
What possessed you to go there p
linen Mss hAustSl ASldeSO lhO SUI VI
her morning experience.
"You have always been queer, Leah,
remarked her mother, languidly. "Gou
never seemed to have much feeling, now,
am afraid, you are going to the other ex
treme.
"Don worry, mother, but let us go to
dinner, and with Leah on one side, and
her maid on the other, Mrs. Kinsley went
down to her luxurious dining room,
Now, l think, / will get my nap,
said her mother, as they passed out of the
dining room; Il have been so worried,
that | missed it.
perhaps you would like me to play for
YOU suggested Leah, after she had as
sisted her mother upstairs and placed her
comfortably on the couch. II will go
down into the drawing room and give you
something of Mozart 5.
But after little, Miss Kinsley left the
piano and went to window, and threw it
open to let in the balmy spring air, and
stood by it looking out at the day drawing
to a peaceful close. The sky was sufhused
with pale rose and salmon tints, and in the
west there were feeey clouds of palest gold
and delicate rose, as if all the beautiful,