The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1908-08-15
A RASH JUDGMENT.

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criticise my neighbors. By neighbor
I mean any and all of those person
whom 1 may meet in a days walk
AS to real neighbors. no doubt I hav
some; but as I am by nature retiring
and by force of circumstance a new
conner in NJ, I know very little abou
them.
The other morning started ou
for my usual walk. Just ahead of m'
clattered a young lady very richly
and tastefully attired. I say "clat
tered" for I do not know how better
to describe the noise she made with
her high heels on the resoundine
pavement. She carried her head
high, and on top of it was perched an
expensive AFFAIR." don't know what
to call it decorated with feathers.
said tn mvsalf e "Tf that creature
arrays herself so expensively in the
morning, when from the quickness Of
her movements, she is going out pro-
baby for few moments on some ne
cessary errand, how will she be dress
ed for the afternoon promenade, the
evening dinner, the opera, the thea
ter, or some grand ball? Ofwhat use
is she in the world, trotting along on
her high heels, with her head in the
air, and her thoughts on the new
gown she is going to have fitted at the
dressmaker's?"
While thus rejecting, felt my
arm jostled rudely, and turned to re-
monstrate.
"Here What do you mean?" 1
asked testify but the next instant I
regretted my tone, for 1 saw the man
was blind.
"I beg your pardon, my friend !"
said 1.
"Not at all, SIR" was the rejoinder.
II am out of my own reighborhood
and not familiar with the streets
here"
We were standing on corner the
blind man prodding the pavement
with his stick, and turning his sight
less eyes about uneasily, as though
uncertain what to do. The young
lady had paused also to open her
parasol, pretty thing, but somewhat
refractory. She turned at the old
mans speech, regarding him with
quick glance from bright blue eyes.
"Curiosity /" 1 thought, "All
women are lowered with it, from the
highest to the lowest.
She passed on, and I stood for a
moment irresolute, wondering wheth-
er it might not be kindness, nay
almost duty-to ask the afflicted man
where he lived and set him on mis- way.
But 1 resisted the impulse; was not
responsible for him he should have
known better than to have vetured
alone ipto a strange neighborhood /;
those who had charge of him should
not have permittedit. Besides, there
"AA'A''s al. ~--.-~' -
my way. In front of me the young
woman had just reached the opposite
curb. Suddenly she turned about,
glanced at the corner where the blind
man was still stranded, and retraced
her steps. Probably she has forgot
ten some gewgaw or other" thought
I, and continued on my way. But
the blind man was on my conscience
and after 1 had gone few steps far
ther, turned once more to see what
had become of him. Tony surprise,
the young woman was talking to him.
Then they came toward me, she with
neatly-gloved hand on his arm.
He could not see me, she did not OBJ
serve me. When they had passed 1
followed somewhat closely for be-
gan to feel interested. Could there
possibly be any connection between
that shabby old man and the hand
somely attired young lady, habitue OF
a world to him evidently unknown ?
Hardly; and yet, 1 admit that, though
not a woman, was quite curious, and
rather pleased to learn that her COM
panion was somewhat deaf as well as
blind. Thereby I was enabled to hear
their conversation without attracting
their observation.
"You tell me you are lost?" she
was saying in a remarkably sweet
voice. "Where do you live sir?
"In x street, miss"
"That is rather distant" she OBJ
served, after reflection. "How dc
you come to be so far out of your
way?"
"I do not know. I was to meet
my daughter. She had gone to take
back some sewing-she is seam
stress-andI 1 missed her. Ihad come
out for a walk the day is so fne."
every we'll. I will take you
home"
"It will not inconvenience yor
miss?"
"Not at all. I had planned to dc
some shopping, but it does not mat
ter"
"You are very kind, miss"
"Not at all; it is a pleasure. Yot
live with your daughter
eyes she Is widow. There ar'
two children. 1 make fruit baskets
and they help. She is an excellen
seamstress and has plenty of work. ,
"That is good. And you get OF
we'll ?"
every WE'LL"
"And the children? Do they g
to school %
ooh, regularly !"
IT should like to know them. l
is blessing for you to be surrounde
with children you have more reason
to be thankful than many who ar
not blind"
ooh, yes, miss You are right
There is often real happiness for tn
blind"
I fell back, fearing to be detecte
in my espionage. I heard no more
but could see that the talk went plea:
antly on. At last they paused
front of large building. A woma