Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1907-07-17

The Fog Guide.


where would be nearest the reference
libraries shosld need to consult One
lay while vas on the street the city
was suddenly enveloped in fog 1t
was so dense that | could not see my
hand held eighteen inches from my
face. couL, hear the shouts Of the
drivers in tn. street, who az once be-
gan to creep along and even at this
pace came into frequent collision.
heard footballs about me. and now aal
again some one. doubtless more used
to fogs and not to be stopped by them.
brushed against me Suddenly l felt
a light tonch on the arm. and a hand
slid down it and grasped mine.
SHOW you the way. sir?'
l caught at the offer eagerly. for
there was confidence In the mans tone
get me out of this said. ''and
will pay you we'll" Then gave him
my street and number
He moved off at pace that astonish-
ed me. How he dared proceed at what
on clear day l would have considered
an ordinary gait | could not imagine.
Now and again above the confusion of
noises heard tapping as of some
one hitting the pavement with stick.
Strange to say. we jostled no one. and
no one jostled US. but I could feel my
guide pull or push me to one side or
the other in order to avoid collision.
'.Are you a stranger in London. sir?"
he asked
Yes. an American"
IAN American? Then am conduct
Ding fellow countryman?"
Indeed, How came you to be fog
conductor in London?"
Il came here to find better literary
field than ours in America"
"And got stranded
Yes"
Il am literary man myself and am
here now doing literary work, but !
have an order"
You're fortunate. had no orders.
y had some success at first, but my
wife sickened and died, and my dauSh-
Der became confirmed invalid This
reduced me to working on potboilers.
and at last
Even they would not boil the pot?"
They did till my daughter failed me
rs an amanuensis"-
At this moment, whether the mans
mind was taken from his present work
by his misfortunes or through careless
ness, we were nearly knocked down by
some one proceeding more rapidly ths
was safe After this we ceased our
conversation. AS to our location, had
no knowledge of it whatever. but my
guide told me he knew exactly where
we were. In about an hour from our
starting he led me up 10 door, which
he opened. and we stood in the hall of
a tenement house
This Is not my lodging house"
said sharply, fearful that had been
ticked
Forgive me-" said the man. who
could now see was intellectual looking.
but very shabby; Il live here. l have
brought you to my home 10 show you
what can happen to an American who
trusts himself on the literary sea Of
London" He opened a door and took
me into room. or, rather. two rooms
communicating. In one Of them on
couch lay girl with the faring eyes
and hectic cheek of consumptive.
Il would offer you some refresh
ments." said the man, 'but there is not
a crust of bread here. We have nei-
Their fuel nor lights, and my poor
daughter, far from having the delica-
cies she needs, has not even ordinary
food"
] am taking no credit to myself in
Uaying that relieved their distress. 1t
would be finty heart that could re-
fuse fellow countryman in a strange
land. While was listening to more
detailed story of their lives a ray Of
sunlight came streaming in at the win
dow. and, taking a memorandum Of
their location. left them.
One day the father appeared at my
apartments to tell me that his daugh-
ter had but short time to live and de-
sired to thank me in person for what
! had done for them. promised to be
there the same afternoon / expected
a melancholy scene and preferred to
get through my days work before en-
tering upon what would interfere with
that condition of mind necessary to
mental effort.
During the afternoon went to their
rooms. They were alone together, the
father being the sole minister to his
daughters comfort The remains of
some delicacies had sent few days
before were on table. The invalid
was resting in a steamer chair, and
approached her with a sad heart
! can never forget the look Of graft
tude that accompanied the girls words.
Only an exile who had been succored
by one from her native land could have
felt as she felt. When l took my de-
parture l asked her father, who spoke
only by pressure of the hand. to let
me know more Of his daughters con-
dition.