The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-11-07
By TEMPLE I.AILE;Y.
Copyright. 1910. by Associated
Literary preSs,)

IAlteThTy EFehs,t
| A month or rain and month OF
! high winds had kept the Little Lonely
| Girl Il prisoner. Hence. on the first
, sunshiny morning in October she sal
/ lied forth. locking the door of her
! room, high up In the tall tenement
| with sense OF joy and freedom un-
/ known to those whose lives are not
bounded by four narrow walls.
The Little Lonely Girl carried very
small basket and thumbed paper
backed Volume. ON her arm hung q
shabby shawl. She stepped lightly.
however. as II her feet wanted to fly
over the ground and take her as
/ quickly as possible from the grimy
street where she lived.
IL was 10 O'Clock when she reached
the goal Of her desires. Most people
would have seen nothing attractive
In the stretch OF stone sea wall at
the end OF a smoke stained city park.
But there WAS a curve in the wall
which made nest for the Little
Lonely C.rl's back. and, with the
shawl tucked in for a cushion and
her book on her lap. she could read
and watch the ships. and drink in the
freshness OF the sharp. salt air
At noon she was ready for her
iunen. anu the hard boiled egg and
slice OF bread seemed wholly made
quste to the demands of her appe-
tito. She ate the Very last crumb,
then Hnng the box from the top Of
I the wall With it went fine white
napkin. which was leftover from
more aifiucnt days. She Craned her
neck to look where II fell, and saw
ii f,utter across the eyes of man
who lay half asleep on the sands
/ below.
lie looked up
Would YOU mind, she hesitated.
handing 1t up TO me-
He was on his feet in a moment.
Wait tn | catch it he called
As she watched him run after II
there seemed something familiar in
i the long stride.
Therefore she was ready to pay
I demurely, Who would have though,
I of seeing YOU here -
He peered up at her through his
glasses. ia bible" he said by all
the fates. Did you drop from the
sky ."
She shook her head Il was watch
Tag the ships from the sea wall"
Wait till | come up he said and
made a quick ascent.
Now tell me- he commanded. He
+ sat down beside her on the shawl.
The telling was not easy, Il am
+; III ing here in the city and earning
I nay living
How ?'' Was his quick question
She evaded him, And this lis the
first clear day for "a long time. SO
/ took holiday and brought my lunch
and my book, and---its lovely
In spite of the brave tone. he vac
+ not deceived. Hi. keen eyes had noted
! the shabby black shoe tucked under
& b., cir DC, Lot, I.a a
| the questionable coat. 1t was nor
i thus that Bahhie had CARRIED herself
/ in her butterfly days
"Babbte," he said gra.ely. what
| has happened 10 you. ehild2"
Il mustn't tell you. she whispered.
He leaned down to look in her
| eyes. why not -
Becansa | don't want~~pity."
All" His hand went over hers
in sudden hard clasp Is II as bad
! as that 80
Yes, / have almost died Of lone
liness- and you We're the only one
who might have holped--snd could
| nj ask you"
Why not -
I think YOU know
Eecause YOU sent ne away wnen
you We're prosperous. YOU uouidn' I
call me back when you were poor
Is that II, Bahbie %"
Yes"
Don't you know that nay love
wouldn't ask questions Don't YOU
know that I've been sailing the seas,
travelling IN foreign lands. to ease
my heart Could anything make me
so glad az to spend my life in ser
vice Tor you 80
I know, but the same cause exists
to-day that existed year age. Rich
ard"
on still stick To that? ." There
Was "a note or anger in his voice.
Yes"
lie stood mp Then might as
wen 60, as / went before
Her hand went out to stay him.
then she said dreariiy: Yes YOU
might as well go.
So he went. heavily, as one who
carries 4 burden. but when he reached
the sands h. called hack TO her. TELL
me where yon live She shools her
head. ernphaticaly. No"
After he had gone she packed up her
hook and her shawl and went home
The brightness had gone out nf her
could Weep alone. 1t was dark when
she reached her room. and there was
nothing to eat for her midday meal
was all she could afford.
II was very early in the next morn
ing when the slatternIv charwornan
who looked after the halls knocked
at Babies door.
"A basket left for you, MISC" she
said and thrust it in,
Not for me-" Rabbie protested
10 the echoes then she slipped ont Of