Year: 1865

mother! In the name oil all dear to


you, help me TO escape ruin


"Without word she took my hand


and thrust me into closet motioning me


to keep quiet The next moment she


had resumed her chair and began to hum


a lew lullaby TO her babe, while the feet
of the men outside clattercd upon the
stairs.


"Well, there was surprise, of course,
and search for me all over the house. -
Then they went into the road nd sought
for me along the highway, giving my
kind benetactress an opportunity to re


lease Inc from very uncomfortable pU-
sition. | followed her out through the
garden, then across an orchard TO Il clump
of trees through which ran a little path.
She badc me follow that straight for
about mile, and it would bring nc out
into the highway again, where | could
.gct into the stage as it passed at four
o'clock. She put Il little purse of money
into my hand, and uttered few kind
words Of advice for the future that filled
my eyes with tears. | kissed her hands
gratefully, with soLbing thanks, but she
drew them away and ran back to the
/ house.


/ 81 follow her directions, and when the
stage came along, got into it and went TO
strange village, from which place
took the cars home. But when got
here my mother tarned away with re-
prOaches, refusing to believe my story
My masters family had sent her dread
iul story about me, and she cast me off
for ever.


II had done wrong, madam. l ought
not to have been led away by my vanity
and affection into the belief that man
so far above me would make me his wife,
and accepted my punishment; but it
has been very bitter Everywhere go,
the proud eye and scornful tongue have
wounded me with the stings Guc to those
guilter than l. TO live is hard thing
| dare not go lrome, for they will not let
me; and sometimes | have had to beg
for the food that sustains the miserable
life within Inc. No one will take me to
work, and if they do, only TO turn me
away again when they find out something
about me. Now | am reduced to such
misery dare not even ask for a place as
servant, and am driven to the streets to
beg for my bread or starvc. l wish
could die"


rose up and paced the floor thought
fully. Could this girls tale bc true -
Truth was in her tone and manner. She
had not spared herself, but laid bare all
her folly, all her weakncss-no SIM
Even the cruel world had not driven her
TO it as il last resort. | looked at her
earnestly, The small mouth betrayed
suffering, but ii was not wicked mouth,
and the large black eyes were pure and
clear as they met mine. Soft folds of
black hair fell around her thir, white
face, fine and glossy in spite Of neglect.
With flesh and color | could imagine her
very pretty, and she talked well. Young,
simple and ignorant, it was not hard to
understand how She had been led into
folly, but no crime left its black stains
stamped upon her sorrowtul face. | made
up my mind TO lust her, and frankly
told her so.


II believe you have told me the truth,
and | will belriend you. A lonely, help
less woman has right to look to us for
help, and, God willing, will never let
one Of my sex sink for want of a sustain
ing hand. will arrange some plan to-
night through which 10 set you in fair
way with life again."


She thanked Inc in low, faltering ac-
cents, and | sat down to think, leaving
her to rest while the shadows gathered
more darkly around us, pierced only by
the glow from the CRATE.


We sat for some time in silence, till
coal fell and kindled Il brighter blaze
lightning up the whole room with ruddy
gleam. My eyes turned to her face,
which looked deathly as she leaned back
against the crimson lining of the chair,
and only for the wandering eyes, might |
have been mistaken for the face of Il
corpse.


Suddenly tle wandering orbs fixed up
on an object at the other side of the
room, and she leaned forward, gazing
with dilated pupils and quick coming
breath. Following her gaze my eyes fell
upon the picture of my Charley, and for
Il moment my blood ran chill in my veins.
Her low cry of distress brought me to
my feet-forccd the question to my lips:


"Why do you look so at that picture !
What is there in it to move you so
?"


"Oh, madam" shudderingly, SIT is his
picture. That is the portrait of Charles
Delaney" !"


/ reeled as though struck by some cruel
blow, but did not fall. My own voice
surprised me with its calm, even tone as
| asked


swell, what of it7 Do you know
him-and when, where I"


"Madam, did not say it was his pic
iure That is the man who would have
destroyed me, soul and body--who caused
ne TO be driven forth into the world,
friendess, dependent upon the
charities of this great city for
ood and shelter Oh, my God, my God"


could have echoed her bitter cry as
he covered down in the chair and
in her anguish, for it seemed as /
{ a weight had fallen upon my heart and
rushed it. With weary, tottering steps