Year: 1876

tons OF desperate mood.


1t thrilled the girl like a cry for help
and made her forget everything except
that a fellow creature suffered. She shook
the big hand warmly. and said, with all
her heart:


you're welcome, if it helps you. Good
bye and good luck to you y and ran away
as fast as she had come.


The man stood motionless and watched
her till she vanished, then turned, and
tramped sturdiy on, muttering to himself
with a suspicious grutfness in his voice:


1T | had little mate like that along
side, know my luck would turn


A wild December night, with bitter
wind and binding snow, reigned outside
the long, rude building, lighted only by
furnace fires that went roaring up the tall
chimneys, whence poured clouds of smoke
and showers of sparks. like beacons
through the storm, No living thing ap-
peared in that shadowy place except a
matronly gray cat, sitting upright upon
an old rug spread over a heap of sand
near one of the fires A newspaper and
tin pail We're beside her, and she seemed
to have mounted guard, while the watch
man Of the foundry went his rounds.


A door stood half open upon the shell
tered side of the building; and suddenly,
as if blown thither like rm-driven
bird, Il little figure came futtering in,
breathless, half frozen, and quite bewil-
dered by long struggle with the pitlless
gale. Feebly brushing away the snow
that blinded her. the poor thing looked
about her with frightened eyes; and, see
ing no one but the cat. seemed to take
courage and crept toward the fire, as if
suffering for the moment conquered fear


"Oh Pussy, let me warm myself one
minute, for I'm perishcd with the cold, ~
she whispered, stretching two benumbed
hands to the blaze


The cat opened her yellow eyes, and ev-
identity glad to meet one of her own sex,
began to purr Hospitality as she rustled
across the newspaper to greet her guest
There was something ineXpressibly COM
torting in the sound and. treasured by it,
the girl pushed back her drenched hat,
shook her snowy garments. and drew q
long BREATH like one nearly spent Yet
even While she basked in the warmth that
was salvation. her timid eyes glanced
about the great, gloomy place, and her at
titude was that Of one ready to fly at q
moments warning


Presently a step sounded on flight of
stairs leading to some lott above. The
wanderer started like hare, and, draw
ing nearer to the door, paused as if to
catch glimpse Of the approaching face
before she fled away into the storm, that
hoWled just then with a violence which
might well daunt a stouter heart.


A tall man, in a rough coat, with griz-
zled hair and beard under an old fur cap,
came softly down the steps, whistling soft
ly to himself as he swung his lantern to
and fro.


IAN old man, and the cat is fond Of
him. | guess III dare to ask my way, or
Ill never get home," thought the girl, as
her eve scanned the newcomer with a
woman's quickness.


An involuntary rustic Of her dress
caught his ear, and, lifting the lantern, he
saw her at once; but did not speak, as it
afraid Of frightening her still more, for
her pale face and the appealing gesture of
the outstretched hand told her tear and
need better than her hurried words:


"Oh please. Eve lost my way and am
nearly frozen. Could warm myself bit
and find out where am p


"Of course. you may. Why, bless your
heart | wouldn't turn dog out such
night as this, much less poor little soul
like YOU answered the man, in hearty
tone, that rang true on the listening ear of
the girl


Then lie hung up the lantern. put
stool nearer the fire, and beckoned her to
approach. But even the kindly words
and act failed to win the timid creature:
ior she drew back as he advanced, gave
glance at the door, and said as if CON
sciously appealing to the best instinct of
the man, whom she longed vet feared to
trust:


Thank you; but it's getting late and
ought to be getting on, if knew the way.
Perhaps you've got some girls of your own
SO you can understand how scared am to
be lost at night and in such strange
place as this


The man stared, then laughed, and shak-
ing the snow from his curly hair and beard
showed himself to be young and pleas
ant looking fellow. with merry eye, an
honest brown face, and q hearty voice.


"Iou thought | was an old chap, did
you9 Wish | was, if it would be any
comfort to you. I've got no little girls,
neither, mores the pity; but you needn't
be afraid of me, though it is late and lone
ly. Why, Lord love you, child, I'm not
brute. Sit down and thaw out, while you
tell me where you want to 60"


The halt-indignant tone of the man
made his guest ieel as if she had insulted
him; and she obeyed him with docility
which appeased his anger at once. Seat
ing herself upon the stool, she leaned to-
ward the fire with an irrepressible shiver
and tried to keep her teeth from chatter
ing as she told her little story


Il want work badly, ard went long
way, hoping to get some. But | didn't
find 1t, and that discouraged me very
much. | had no money, so had to walk,
and the storm got so bad lost my way.
Then | was scared and half-trozen, and so
bewildered | think I'd haye died it hadn't
seen the light and come in here"


Il guess you would. And the best
thing you can do now is to stop till the
storm lifts. Shouldn't wonder if it did
about midnight" said the man, stirring
up the red embers, as if anxious to do
something for her comfort.


but that is so late, and | must be ever
50 far away from home; for came over
the wrong bridge. On, me! What shall
do?" And the poor thing wrung her
hands in dismay.


won't your folks 60 to look for you ?"


81 havnt any one in the world to care
for me. The woman where board won't
trouble herself; or she'll think I've run
away, because | owe her money. No. /
might be dead in the river, and no one
would mind" sighed the girl leaning her
head on her hands, while some bright,
dishevelled hair fell over her face, as if to
hide its youth and innocence from world
that seemed to have no shelter tor either.


That's hard But don't you be down
hearted, child. Things often mend when
they seem worst. l know; for I've been
through the mill, and had friends raised
up to me when I'D about done with living
as bad job. can't leave here till sum
rise; but I'll do the best l can for you till
then Dan will be along early, and he'll
see to you, if you can't trust me for he is
as gray as a badger, and he's got six girls
OF his own, if that's recommendation I've
\ IL,