The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-12-28
THE EVENING STORY
Priscilla,s Philanthropy.
(By Martha Cobb sanford.

(By Martha Cobb Sanford.)
will you be kind enough to tell
me where Murphy street is?"
II was the fifth time that Priscilla
had asked the question that afternoon,
but turn and twist as she would at
each new tumble of directions, she
seemed no nearer the clearing house
of domestic panics.
Two blocks back miss-then three
blocks east and-''-
Priscilla frowned. She did not
wait for the policeman to finish, but
thanking him hastily retraced her
steps with the energy born of despair.
rs there anything more inhuman
on the face of the EARTH" she put to
herself, than a maid of all work To
think of it! Running off the day be-
fore New Years without deigning to
invent an excuse event 1 wouldn't
have thought it of Della after being
with us six whole MONTHS
Here she stopped her mental soli-
loquy long enough to get her bearings
and turn east. as directed.
1T wouldn't matter so much,
If only Gerald HOLSTER weren't com
ing to dinner. Relatives don't count.
Oh, why did I invite hin? He's so ac-
customed to having everything abso-
lutely CONNIE IL faut. Catch me letting
my sympathies run away with me
again just because a mans family
happens to be out of town. And he
could have asked our whole family
over there to dinner and with all his
servants never bothered to lift his
finger! But that wouldn't occur to
him. It's the enc thing I don't like
about Gerald HOLSTER anyway. With
all his wealth you never hear about
his doing any big, generous thing"
Just here Priscilla's rapid little
monologue stopped short
She suddenly rem rendered that she
had come to the end of her direc-
lions. For the sixth time she was
about to frame automatically the
monotonous inquiry for Murphy street,
when a bright blue sign of Female
Help" Haunting itself down side
street caught her eye.
Priscilla made a precipiate dash
toward it. which ended in an ignomi-
NOUS collision with a corner news
stand. When both had regained
their equilibrium Priscilla. giving her
fur boa careless toss over her
shoulder. started second time toward
the garish symbol of her hopes.
This time plaintive little wall re-
strained her. Where did it come from?
There was not child in sight. She
walked a step or two in the direction of
the sound, and there, curled up under
the shelter of a newsstand. was mite
of humanity, blue and pinched with
the cold.
.'why, you poor dear" exclaimed |
Priscilla. Where is your mother-are |
you lost?"
But he mite didn't move-only moan |
ed pitifully.
Priscilla looked about perpiexed. See
ing a shopkeeper watching her curious
ly from behind his show window, she |
beckoned him to come to her.
do you know who this child 1s?' she
asked almost accuSingly.
"Shure,' replied the shopkeeper. He
tinds the shtand and does a smar-ret
business, too $50.
But he's only baby and sick and
cold" pleaded Priscilla.
"Oh, he oftin cr-rawls undher ther-re
T. git warm. The men takes their
piper-rs just the same, an laves their
pennies"
imperatively.
The man pointed to a dingy-look1ng
tenement house next door to the en-
oloyment office. To his utter amaze
nent Priscilla stopped down, gathered
he whining waif in her arms, wrapped
ner fur boa around him and walked
.oward the house with her burden.
From the curious tenants she soon
'ound out which particular door LED
nto the child's home. The key was :
hanging in a dark corner near by. once
inside. Priscilla laid the child down on ;
| broken. disorderly bed. and then
,hivered as she stood helpless In the
.loonl and chill of the place.
There was neither fire, fuel nor food.
Priscilla knelt down beside the child
ind chafed his little cold hands till
here was some degree OF warmth In
HEM Then she summoned up her
courage knocked at the door of the adj
dining fiat, and begged the woman
Who answered to take the child In De-
ide her fire, while she herself went |
mt to get food for him.
she had lust returned with her arms
nil of bundles, when she bumped into
man in the dark hallway. equally ell ,
numbered. An avalanche of paper bags
ollowed. {
IT beg your PARDON caii'e
usly from both. Il
Then as they stopped to the TASK OK
,iclxing ND their respective belongings,
he man ventured an inquiry.
"Can you tell me Wnere the r1orrisans I
i've. I wonder?
Priscilla. '"I'm a stranger here myself" r
The commotion had caused the sue
en- apparition OF several tousled heads v
rom behind half-opened doors In the f
i'm light that flickered out Priscilla
tole an inquisitive look at the man be- a
ide her. e
,+edIv and in her amazement dropped :,
II her paper bags again. 4
seprisciIIa Ballard" he exclaimed. and
is paper bags followed Priscilla's
o,,eaking doors stretched their Curl
sitv a BIT too far, that Priscilla and
,erald would have spent the rest OF the =
aorning dropping and picking up par =
ale But Priscilla, catching sight OF Q
ee woman in whose care she had left
err little charge. rushed past her, grab L
ed up the child and commanded Ger
Id to follow her.
imagine Mrs. Horrigan's surprise
ali hour or so later, when she came t
from her days cleaning, to find
Gated by cracking hot stove with n
ttle Tim in her arms, an 'illigant gin t,
enan wild a fur coat at the back Nv
m: and more than that, shtandin' near n
m sftirring Cruel as il her life de-
ended on it, a beautiful young lady
,ift cheeks glowin' like roses"
The woman listened like one spell z
wr1o afi that. follow | q