The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1909-07-17

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gether.
Il owe you an apology for ~intruding
my presence upon you" Mr.. Carruth-
ers began, after a moment, but when
you have heard what I have TO say
perhaps you win pardon me.
There Is living in the same house
with you q lonely woman who, the
ianitor tells me. is very poor and
very. very proud. He spoke about her
to me bacause he feared she might be
slowly starving, she looked SC white
and weak She belongs, he tells me.
to an old, Aristocratic family. Her
friends come to see her in carriages,
but no trsdesmen bring supplies for
her and the parcels she carries home
herself are very tiny.
AS you know, l live IN the house
next yours, and my apartment is op-
posits that in which this maiden lady
lives. Now, / sympsthiEe with her
pride quite as much as / pity her pow.
erty. / tried to think Of some way to
help her without wounding that pride,
but with no success until one day the
sight of a chocolate cake (made,
doubtless, for those visitors in car
riages) she had set outside her win
dow gave me a happy inspiration. l
purloined the cake and left some
money in its place, Ny plan worked
ike q charm. For some months this
lady continued to supply me with
cakes, which l and my friends en-
joyed very much indeed.
4 was congratulating myself on be-
ing able to help the dear lady when,
without any warning, my supply Of
cakes ceased. This was several weeks
ago. Since that time the windows oppo-
site mine have remained closed and
curtained, and l have been tormented
by the fear that the poor spinstsr
may be Ill.
When saw you to-day the thought
came to me that perhaps you may
know her. At any rate, being a WON.
an, you could help her more easily
than /. She's a little body-middle.
aged, with snow-white hair.
I don't know her." Jean replied.
family, but I have passed her In the
hall. She lives in the apartment be-
low mine"
Win you see her for me2" queried
Mr.. Carruthers, and II she is in
want, let me know. / realize Il is a
delicate task l am urging upon you
but you will know how to manage II.
You need have no fear that / will
make this matter an excuse for
forcing my presence upon you unnec-
essarily. You have chosen to decree
that a friendship on which I put a
high value should end; / have no
choice but to respect your wish. But
If you will be my proxy in this matter
OF helping Miss Daintry l shall be
deeply grateful"
Il will do what you ask" Jeans
voice was very low.
Mr.. Carruthers took a roll of bills
from his pocket III you find the
lady needs financial assistance, as /
am sure she must, win you use this -
Jean did not take the n Il
will see her as soon as l reach home"
she said. IF you WIN call upon me
this evening ! win report to you. If
money Is needed, you can give II to
me then"
Howard looked surprised. 81 think
would rather not come" he spoke
coldly, yet gently. III you will take
the money now. you can report to me
by letter"
Please come this evening. | have
something to tell you, an explanation
to make that concerns you and me.
cant say it now" A ~treacherous
break in Jeans voice told her that
she was very near to tears.
An indescribable change came over
Towards face and manner. I'm
come" he said as they reached the
house in which she lived, where he
left her.
In spite of her efforts to appear de.
mwe, Jeans eyes would dance as she
SPchcu Tue uOOI VI neT apartment TO
admit Howard that evening.
There must be some mistake -
that gentleman said in a perplexed
tone. Surely this is where Miss
Daintry lives"
Jean bade him be seated and took
a chair herself.
Then Jean told him the whole
story. And oh, how l hated you when
Mr.. Blake said you had laughed and
called the person who baked the
cakes your sweetheart" she cried
but when | found out the truth hat
all the time your heart had been full
Of kindness towards that DOR ladv
and all the acts I had misjudged had
been plans to help her, then +"
Then you what, Jean, dear?"
A moment Jean hesitated before her
eyes gazed into his almost unwaver.
ingly.
God bless Miss Daintry." she said.
softly.
And God bless the janitor. too"
added Mr.. Howard Carruthers.