The Washington herald., 1908-07-31
PRISCILLA'S PHILANTHROPY
BY MARTHA COBB.

VIII you be kind enough TO tel me
where Murphy street is2'
Il was the NTH time that Priscilla had
/ asked that question that afternoon. but
turn and twist as she would al each new
tumble OF directions, she seemed no near
er the Clearinghouse Of domestic panics.
Two blocks back. miss-then three
blocks east and"
Priscilla frowned.. She did not wait for
the policeman 10 finish. but thanking
him hastily. retraced her steps with the
energy born OF despair.
rs there anything more inhuman On
the face OF the eaTth,' she put to her
self. than a maid Of all work? To think
Of 1t, Running on the day before New
Years without delgning TO invent an ex-
cuse even. I wouldn't have thought it
CT Della after being with Us six whole
months"
Here she stopped her mental solloquy
Ions enough 20 set her bearings and turn
east. as directed
1t wouldn't matter so much. Il only
Gerald HOLSTER weren't coming 10 din
ner. Relatives don't count On. why did
Invite him? Hes so accustomed 10 hav-
ing everything absolutely CONNIE il fauL
Catch me letting my sympathies run away
with me again just because mans fam
ly happens TO be out Of town. And he
could have asked our whole family over
there 70 dinner. and with all his servants
never bothered to lift his finger. But THAI
wouldn't occur 20 him It's the one thing
I don't ike about Gerald HOLSTER. any
way. With all his wealth you never hear
about his doing any big, generous thing
Just here Priscilla's rapid little mono
logue stopped short
sac suddenly remembered that she had
come 10 the end OF her directions. For
the sixth time she was about 70 frame
automatically the monotonous inquiry
for Murphy street. when 6 bright blue
sign OF Female Help faunting itself
down q side street caught her eye
Priscilla made g preclDitale dash To-
ward Il. which ended IN an tEnouiuious
collision with corner newsstand. When
both had reEa.ned their equilibrium. Pris-
ella. giving her FUR boa a careless toss
over her shoulder. started a second time
tov>ard the garish symbol OF her hopes
This time a piaiuJive little wall re-
strained her. Where did IL come from
There was not a child IN sight she
walked q step or two in the direction OF
the sound. and there. curled Up under the
shelter OF a newsstand. was a mite OF
humanity, blue and pinched with the
cold.
why. you poor dear" exclaimed Pris-
ella Where is your mOJher-are you
Iost?"
But the mite didn't move-oaly moaned
piufully.
Priscilla looked about. pe-pIexed See
Ing a sh0pkeeper watching her curiously
from behind his show window. she beck
CCed him 70 come 20 her.
DO you know who this child is7" she
asked. almost accuslngIy.
'Shure." replied the shopkeeper. He
tinds the shtaad AID does q SMART bust
ness. ZOO.
But he's only baby. and sick anc
cold, 20 pleaded Priscilla
oh. he Of-in cr-rawls uaGher there Z
g-t warm The men takes their pl1er-rs
just the same, an Iaves their pennies
Where does be uve?' demanded Pris-
ella. irlperat.veIy-
The man pointed 10 a dinry-looking
tenement house next door 20 the employ
menr Office To his utter auazemert.
whining waif IN her arms. wrapped her
fur boa around him. and walked toward
the house with her burden
From the curious tenants she soon
found out which particular door led into
the child 8 home The key was hanging
IN g dark corner near by Once inside.
Priscilla laid the child down on a broken, /
disOr6erly bed, and then shtvered as she
stood helpless IL the gloom and cLiI of
the place.
There was neither FIRE, fuel. 1or food
Priscilla knelt down beside the child
and chafe6 his Etcle cold hands tiI there
was some degree OF warmth n them.
Then she summoned Up her courage.
knocked al the door OF the adjoining fat. Z
and begged the woman who answered 70
take the child IL beside her FIRE. while she
herself went out % set food for him
She had Just returned with her arms
fun Of bundles. when she bumped into q |