Smyrna times., 1910-07-20
His Good -
~ Angel

muttering to himself, was not an
unusual sight, even late at night, but
a sad one nevertheless.
"I'm almost starved-mighty glad |
when | strike the next station. Hope |
the operator will give me warm
welcome and part of his lunch. |
Hello, there is a signal lamp now.
Didn't think was so close to an
office as that. "
On he plodded till he reached the
station. Locking in he saw young
woman sitting at the table reading.
"Heavens! she'll be scared to
death at mel he cried, with some
thing like despair in his voice. "Must
| 90 on until l strike another office?
There may not be one in fifteen
miles. "
At that moment the young girl
she was scarcely eighteen raised
her eyes and saw the haggard
countenace at the window. The kind
expression of her face gave him
courage to knock at the door and
the girl opened it.
Eyes, you may come in and get
warm, "she responded to his request,
"but then your must go.'
"Well, that's the first kind word
I've had spoken to me for months, "
thought the cold, hungry man.
The girl frightened the fire, then
went on reading. Her coffee can was
on the stove, and how tempting to
him was the savory odor which it
emitted!
He eyed it for some time in 81.
lenc", holding out his blue hands to
the grateful glow of the fire Then
a sudden thought struck him.
81 wonder if she would see me if
l took a drink OF It? But no, - he
added determinedly, 81 have some
manhood about me yet; l haven : t
fallen quite so low as to steal a
lady's lunch. Here, miss, he said
aloud, your coffee is boiling over. "
THANK you. I'll take it off, or
would you like to drink it?'
"No, thank you, I've had my sup
per-six months ago." to himself.
but you are cold. l am not
feeling very well this evening and
cannot eat anything. Here is my
lunch basket; you are perfectly well
come to what there is in it. il"
She extended it to him with a pa
thetic little smile that touched his
heart
"You say you are sick % he asked
kindly.
eyes, I've been trying to get of
for the past week, but they are short
of men just now and unable to secure
any one to relieve me-"
The low, weary voice sent a thrill
of pain through him.
Its too bad you cannot 90 hom,
and rest awhile, - said he sympa
tbetically.
81 have no home"
"YOu have no homer"
She had closed the book now an
laid it on her desk. There was 81
lence for a few minutes while tn,
man ate the lunch and drank tn
steaming coffee. all the while keep
ing his eyes fixed upon her face. TIL
golden hair was like a halo aroun
it; from out the violet eyes shon
the truth, tenderness and purity o
loving soul: the mouth had a sweet
pathetic droop; the delicate. grace
ful curves of the head and neck. tn
slender figure instinct with grace an
refinement, made picture that wa
seldom equaled
For the first time in many years
terrible sense of remorse of tn
wasted years of his life came owe
him. He felt at that moment as
he could have knelt at her feet an
kissed the hem of her gown; sh
seemed so fair and sweet and ia
above him that he wished he ha
been better man.
Presently she spoke:
Have you a mother and a fatt
err"
eyes; and good ones, too. "
/, He seemed strangely agitated, an
she looked at him little curiously
"Oh, if l only had either! l al
all alone in the world-all alone
the world!" She repeated the word
like a sad refrain. "No one know
what it is to b. all alone unless the
E have experienced it. When | fa
i'll the hospital or a gloomy hotel
3 the only shelter have"
E He thought there were tears in he
eyes, but she turned her head S
quickly that he was not certain
And this delicate girl was workin
for her daily bread, and he, a strong
healthy man, with father, mother
and a good home, ate her bread liB
a dog! The thought was maddeninf
A lump rose in his throat, and
stranpe mistiness came before h