The Lafayette advertiser. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], La.) 1865-19??, 1908-02-14
PrlScilla'S
Philanthropy

Copyright, 1907, by ]. g.. Reed.]

= Copyright. 1907. by J. @. Reed.] I
"Will you be kind enough to tell me
where Murphy street isl"
1t 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.
1.-TWO blocks back, miss, then three
blocks east and
= Priscilla frowned. She did not wait
for the policeman to finish, but. thank
ing him hastily, retraced her steps
with the energy born of despair.
''Is there anything nor inhuman on
the face Of the EARTH" she put to her
self. than a maid Of all work? To
think of it-running OF the day be-
fore New Years without deigning to
invent an excuse even! I wouldn't
have thought 1t of Della after being
with us six whole months"
Here she stopped her mental solilo-
guy long enough to get her bearings
and turn east, as directed.
"It wouldn't matter SO much If only
Gerald HOLSTER were not coming to
dinner. Relatives don't count. Oh.
why did l invite him? He's SO accus-
toned to having everything absolutely
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 one
thing I don't like about Gerald Hollis
ter anyway. With all his wealth you
never hear about his doing any big,
generous thing"
Just here Priscilla's rapid little mon
0logue stopped short.
She suddenly remembered that she
had come to the end of her directions.
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 q side street
caught her eye.
Priscilla made a precipitate dash to.
ward it, which ended in an ignomini.
Gus collision with a orner newsstand.
When both had regai1ed their equilib-
rum. Priscilla, giving her fur boa a
careless toss over her shoulder. started
a second time toward the garish sym
Dol of her hopes.
This time a plaintive little wall re.
strained her. Where did it come from
There was not a child in sight. She
walked a step or two In the direction
Of the sound, and there, curled up un-
der the shelter OF a newsstand, was
q mite OF humanity. blue and pinched
with the cold.
'Why. you poor dear!" exclaimed
Priscilla. Where is your mother? Art
you lost?"
But the mite didn't move. only moan
ed pitifully.
Priscilla looked about perplexed
Seeing a shopkeeper watching her Gu
riously from behind his show window
she beckoned him to come to her.
"Do you know who this child isY
she asked almost accusingly.
'Shnre." replied the shopkeeper. HI
tinds the shtand and does a smar-r
: business too"
But he's only a baby and sick ant
cold" pleaded Priscilla.
.Oh. he oftin cr-rawls undher there
+ Git warm. The men takes theil
piper-rs just the same an laves thei1
pennies"
..Where does he live?" demanded
Priscilla i~mperatively.
The man pointed to a dingy looking
tenement house next door to the en-
ployment office. To his utter amaze
nent. Priscilla stopped down, gathered
the whining waif in her arms, wrap
red her fur boa around him and walk
ed toward the house with her burden.
From the curious tenants she sOo'
found out which particular door LEI
into the child's home. The key wa
hanging In a dark corner near by
Once Inside. Priscilla laid the chill
down OH a yoken. disorderly bed an.
then shivered rs she stood helpless II
the gloom and chill of the place.
There was neither fire, fuel nor food
Priscilla knelt down beside the chill
and chafed his little cold hands til
there was some degree of warmth II
them. Then she summoned up he
courage. knocked ut the door Of tn
adjoining fiat and begged the womal
who answered to take the child In be
side her fr, while she herself wen
out to get food for him.
She had just returned with her arm
full OF bundles when she bumped int
a man in the dark hallway equal.
incumbered. An avalanche of pape
bags followed.
Il beg your pardon" came stimuli
taneousIy from both.
Then as they stopped to the task o
rickfnc m their r~esneCfdvo belonging