Bridgeton pioneer., 1915-02-04
Mrs Treut's GOOD humored smile was

That is the WlOie punt you hIION'
"Certainlv, ma'am." Emma said.
Miss Vosper arose. and Emma seat
ed herself in the desk chair. An angie
of the wall WAS between the desk and
the couch. She heard Miss Vosper
reading concert program to Mrs.
Trent.
Emma found blank sheet of crest
ed paper underneath manuscript list
of charitable hospitals on the desk.
She selected one of the mother-of-pearl
penholders. consulted the jade ink
stand and wondered what she ought to
write. Then she turned her perplexed
glance. and il met the pictured face of
Franklin Trent. She had not seen him
for twenty years.
Middle age had marked him but
slightly. Framed by wide band of
gold, the mastcrful, handsome face
was that of the boy who had vainly
implored Emma to love him. 1t al
most seemed that he was imploring her
now, so perfect was the portraiture
and so vivid was her remembrance.
AS she gazed at the photograph she
became a girl again. She fancied that
she was aware of the pure fragrance
of apple blossoms. the sleepy twitter-
ing of neSted birds. the timid luster of
early stars. The lurking dread slowly
vanished from her eyes. That queer
shadow of apprehension which had
darkened them for an hour was lifted.
\ resolute. eager light replaced it.
She was like one lost in a dreary
swamp. who suddenly finds safe
path homeward.
Miss Vosper coughed suggestively.
II beg your pardon" Emma ac-
knowledged, and she wrote the names
of the months on the sheet of paper
and submitted it to Mrs. Trent.
The lady examined it with regret
ful scrutiny. Emma's handwriting. in
fact. was the commonplace script of an
old fashioned copybook, devoid of dis
tinction and character
I'm so sorry" decided Mrs. Trent
gently. but really fear-I'm so sorry
to disappoint you
IT'S only an ordinary workaday
hand, ma'am. and. if you'll excuse me,
I'm not disappointed.
Not disappointed| murmured Mrs.
Trent She smiled thoughtfuIly at
Emma, vaguely impressed by some
elusive change in the bearing and voice
of this gray. shabby woman.
Mrs. Trent sighed without knowing
why and moved petulantly among the
velvet pillows.
'Are you going back to the agency
this evening. Miss SaXon?''
mo, ma'am. am going-somewhere
else"
Il shall take care that your employer
doesn't criticiSe you because | sent
you away. Miss Vosper shall attend
to that in the morning. Good night"
Thank you, ma'am, and goodby,"
said Emma. smiling inscrutably.
III.
The supercilious maid led Emma
haughtily down rear stairs to the serv-
ants entrance. but Emma was un-
touched by the Slight or by the grim
mockery of such Il departure from the
house which might have been hers.
The determined smile was still upon
her face, She walked erect now, with
her shoulders squared. In the street
she turned her back on the glare of
the splendid avenue and set off at Il
brisk mace toward tho aaSt
With lips parted expectantly and
firm chin pointed upward Emma hur-
ried on, like one speeding to a goal.
A blue cloaked and blue bonneted
girl emerged from saloon jingling
an aims box of the Salvation Army.
Emma tugged coin from her knotted
handkerchief and dropped her pittance
in the box.
God bless you for it, muttered the
girl.
Emma did not pause to hear the
benediction. She turned the corner
INTO side street. 1t was a street of
old brick houses converted into tene-
ments. Beyond the distant end of it.
under the lights of a towering bridge.
was revealed the sullen current of the
river
The shadOwy street would have been
quiet had it not been for the count
less children. but over sidewalk. curb
and housetopS they swarmed like fren-
zled bees, A desperate bandit of sew
en- years triumphantly caught and held
Emma's skirt as she passed. She bent
uo"h TO loosen the chubby fist and
round that for lack of breath she could
hardly speak.
she waited for minute among the
chlldren, with hand on her leaping
heart. Then she went into the tene-
meht house and up the sagging and
narrow stairs.
Ine humble room which Emma en-
tered was poorly furnished, but very
neat and clean. A man sat beside the
ramp reading book. He looked up
pieasantly-a tall. powerful man. al
though be had the bleached face of
ah Invalid. One of his arms was in a
sling.
why Emmy" said he. what is
it?'