That Printer of Udell's: A Story of the Middle WestWright, Harold Bell
General
That Printer of Udell's: A Story of the Middle West
Wright, Harold Bell
Christian fiction; Middle West -- Fiction; Printers -- Fiction; Young men -- Fiction
The woman grew very kind. "You poor child," she said, "you look as
though you were in distress. Can't I help you?"
Tears filled the brown eyes that were lifted pleadingly to the face
of the questioner, and a dry sob was the only answer.
"Come with me, dear," said the woman, taking her kindly by the arm.
"This is my car. Come and let me help you."
They boarded the car, and after a long ride, entered a finely furnished
house in a part of the city far from Amy's boarding place. The woman
took Amy to her own apartments, and after giving her a clean bath and
a warm supper, sat with her before the fire, while the girl poured out
her story to the only sympathetic listener she had met.
When she had finished, the woman said, "You have not told me your
name."
"You may call me Amy. I have no other name."
Again the woman spoke slowly: "You cannot find work. No one will receive
you. But why should you care? You are beautiful."
Amy looked at her in wonder, and the woman explained how she had many
girls in her home, who with fine dresses and jewels, lived a life of
ease and luxury.
At last the girl understood and with a shudder, rose to her feet.
"Madam, I thank you for your kindness; for you _have_ been kind; but
I cannot stop here." She started toward the door, but the woman stopped
her.
"My dear child; you cannot go out at this time of night again, and you
could never find your way back to your lodging place. Stay here. You
need not leave this room, and you may bolt the door on this side.
Tomorrow you may go if you will."
Amy could do nothing but stay. As she laid her tired head on the clean
pillow that night, and nestling in the warm blankets watched the
firelight as the flames leaped and played, she heard the sound of music
and merry voices, and thought of the cold, poorly-furnished bed-room,
with coarse sheets and soiled pillows, at her lodging place, and of
the weary tramp about the streets, and the unkind faces that refused
her a chance for life. What would the end be when her money was gone,
she wondered; and after all, why not this?
The next morning, when she awoke, she could not for a moment, remember
where she was; then it all came back, just as a knock sounded on the
door.
"Who is it?" she called.
"Your coffee, miss," came the answer, and she unlocked the door,
admitting an old negro woman with a neat tray, on which was set a
dainty breakfast.
Later, when she was dressed, Madam came. "And do you still feel that
you must go?" she asked.
"Yes, yes, I must. Don't tempt me."
The woman handed her a card with her name and address. "Well, go, my
dear; and when you are driven to the street, because you have no money
and are cold and hungry, come to me if you will, and earn food and
clothing, warmth and ease, by the only means open to you." Then she
went with her to the street and saw that she took the right car.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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