The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1910-03-18
Observation-Disclosures wwy yvu
A MAN AND A Child
By PRISCILLA M. SPRovL.

leave the little girl here. I'll take
care of her.
The woman made no reply, but
gave him a grateful glance. Enter
ing the private Office, she timidly ap-
preached the man, who was sitting at
the desk. As she caught sight of
him she recoiled.
"You!" she gasped.
The man looked up in surprise. A
sardonic grin spread over his face
when he recognized the woman be-
fore him.
LAS 1 live!" he calculated, leaning
over his desk and exaggerating his
wonderment to the point of nockery.
tits Grace!" He paused as though
expecting reply. by jove," he then
continued, "as handsome and prob
ably as heartless as ever. This is
certainly an honor. Pray be seated"
With mock politeness he arose and
silently and covered her face with her
hands.
"And to what am indebted for the
honor of this visit?' he asked with
yelled bitterness. ut certainly must
be important to come here without
your-husband"
She looked up beseechingly 81
came for him and my child" she said
simply.
"Well?" There was little encour-
aunroont in bic +ona
"He is on the verge of ruin; and
it is you who is doing it,
"I?" He looked incredulous.
Eyes, you. You and your friends
are beating down Amalgamated. He
told me so last evening; said you
were trying to break the market If
the stock falls below sxty-six he is
wiped out"
so he's another one of them, eh?
Well, l suppose the under dog must
have his whine
Hes not whining. He suffers be-
cause of Elsie and me. We mean all
to him, all; and if the stock falls to
sixty-six we are beggars."
$50 you come to me, expecting me
the man you Tilted for him-to help
you. Did you have any pity when
you threw me over because l Didn't
have any money and he did? You
warped my faith in womankind and
turned me into money getter. And
now you want me to help you"
81 ask no mercy for myself" she
replied duly. Il plead for my hus-
band and child"
But the face of the man opposite
showed no signs of relenting. 1T is
your turn to suffer. If you feel one
1.-THE of the anguish I felt years ago
it would be more than enough. You
yourself destroyed what you now APP
peal to. 1t is just retribution."
You mean" she whispered unbe-
lovingly.
Il will do nothing" His stolid re-
fusal precluded further appeal.
She rose and CROPPED blindly from
the room. The man sat motionless,
staring tersely ahead.
The door slowly opened again.
This time it was different visitor
a little girl. In childish wonderment
she examined the Office until her gaze
rested on the nan at the desk. For
some time she looked at him. At
last, summoning her courage, she
went to the railing and coughed ro-
litely.
please, SIR" she asked in q some
what uncertain voice, where's my
mamma?"
The man started ard for the first
time saw the vision on the other side
of the railing. why, little girl,
where did you come from?"
please, is my mamma here?"
Her mother! It was her girl, the
Elsie about whom she had spoken.
He examined her closer. Yes, there
was the same hair, the same eyes, the
same coquettish expression about the
mouth thai her mother used to have.
what is your name, little one?"
he asked.
Elsie Jenkins" lisred the girl,
her lips curving in gracious smile.
And where has mamma gomez"
"If you will wait here she will come
back soon"
The child followed the suggestion
by climbing into the leather chair and
leaning back with an air of luxurious
case. Without disturbing his guest,
the broker closely surveyed her, an
untarnished being, breathing forth an
air of purity that seemed out of place
in that office, where only the seamy
came and went. The frame was not
fitting for so beautiful picture.
The flowers, the birds, the sunshine
were all lacking.
mice weather we's been having
lately" the child remarked, conscious
that the pause in the conversation
should be preached.
The quaint, old-fashioned way in
which she introduced the time-worn
topic brought a smile to the lips of
the man. YES" he replied. II fear
it is almost too good to last"
20, dear!" the girl exclaimed, with
salf-roguish twist of her head, 81
do hope not, for I have so many
things planned for this week."
Indeed" The man showed proper
establishment