The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1913-03-21
CHRISTLIKE SYMPATHY
BY GLENN H. WIcHMAN.

the fiercely blowing wind, the whirl
of snow and frozen rain. She hest
tated a moment and then leaning for
ward put her mouth to the speaking
tube.
Draw up at the left curb, Jarvis"
| she said.
The chauffeur with surprised look
obeyed and brought the big car up
to the curb, opposite the lone little
figure on the sidewalk. Quickly pull
ing her boa about her neck the girl
alghted. The little child looked up
and instinctively held out his cold
blue hand. A shining quarter fell
therein and the little fingers worked
hard to close upon 1t. Almost sick
ened by the sight she turned as If to
enter the car but suddenly faced about
and leaning over, took the little fell
lows face between her hands and
kissed him on the lips. His face
frightened and then a sad look came
into his eyes and two big tears rolled
down his cheeks.
The impatient driver threw the door
shut with a bang and with scream
of the gears the big car went rolling
down the wet street. In the rear
seat the young lady was sitting, her
snow white handkerchief playing its
part vallantly about her streaming
eyes.
A rather harsh voice pierced the
silence. 1t came from man sitting
beside her.
You women beat ALL" he said,
Every little brat on the street excites
your sympathy"
She took her handkerchief from her
eyes.
Uncle Daniel" she said, "if had
my way I'd take him home"
Start an orphan asylum for chill
dren who still have two parents. So?"
he replied.
You do poor folks, in general, an
injustice, uncle" she retorted. Re
member there is no reason under the
sun why you should not have been
born that little miserable half-starved
wretch back there on the corner and
he-you."
The saints be praised, was Uncle
Daniels answer
Presently they drew up before a big
brown stone mansion and the two |
Gay times there were that |
night within the four walls Of that |
spacious home. Dancing and music
and q dinner.
The old hall clock was just striking
two as girl in a black sealskin
coat came slowly down the stairs.
She stopped at the landing and peered
over her shoulder and seeing no one
through the semi-darkness went quick
ly tiptoe back through the hall and
into the rear part of the house. After
1 deal of feeling about she arrived
At a door and softly knocked Some
one in the room noisily got out of
bed, switched on the light and opened
he door.
Jarvis" she whispered, turn the
light out and don't say word"
The chauffeur blinked his eyes and
yawned.
He started and trembling reached
or the button.
She was speaking again. His face
ell.
Jarvis, you must drive me down
own this minute. You must"
Jarvis shook his head and went to
lose the door. Instantly she held
,ut crisp bill. The driver of auto
mobiles was all smiles now.
Once out into the night she noticed
hat the weather had changed. 1t
vas colder and the stars were bright
y shining. Everything wet had frozen.
The car noiselessly glded through the
anes of dark houses and presently
rev up and stopped at a street cor
er
The girl in the sealskin jumped /,
rom the car before 1t had fairly stop ,,
ed. Horror was written on every !
me of her face. There on the side
'alk, in the pale arc light, lay lit
lie crumpled bundle of humanity.
With muffled shrek she ran to it,
it up in her arms and in l
trice was inside her car. G
Jarvis Home!" she cried and S
tripping off her coat wrapped it about t
le little frozen figure. AS she brushed c
he hat from where it had fallen on \
is face the horror left her own. 5
he little lads unconscious lips were S
ursed for kiss and two frozen lit F
q tears hung from two partially Il
oxen eyelids. a
The girl fell fast to chatting his
ands and Jarvis, looking back, drove
i the harder.
The sun rose like a great ball of ;,
ould out of the east. Presently its -
Iys fell upon wan little figure In y
big comfortable looking bed. Be- :!
de the bed knelt a girl; holding in Z,
9TH her hands the smaller ones of a
hid. She gazed longingly into his o.
ce while the good old doctor on the u
her side of the bed looked on and "
niled.
After while the door opened and
ncle Daniel came in. He stood at
e foot of the bed and looked at the {
ght before him and then a tear tn
owly crept into his eye. to
the good old doctor e1
'dded his head, picked up his satchel be
ID left the room. -
The saints be praised was all Tn.
> Daniel could say.