Part 47 (2/2)
”Mamma,” cried Mildred, in sharp distress, ”we must leave this place. It's killing you.”
”I wish we could leave it, dear,” sighed the poor woman. ”I think I'd be better anywhere else.”
”We shall leave it,” said the girl resolutely. ”Let the rent go.
I had already about decided upon it, and now I'll go with Mrs.
Wheaton to-morrow and find rooms among more respectable people.”
The events of the evening confirmed her purpose, for the young roughs that rendezvoused nightly at the entrance of the long pa.s.sageway determined that they would no longer submit to the ”uppish airs”
of the sisters, but ”tache 'em” that since they lived in the same house they were no better than their neighbors. Therefore, as Belle boldly brushed by them as usual on her return from the shop, one young fellow, with a wink to his comrades, followed her, and where the pa.s.sage was darkest put his arm around her waist and pressed upon her cheek a resounding kiss. In response there came from the entrance a roar of jeering laughter. But the young ruffian found instantly to his sorrow that he had aroused a tigress. Belle was strong and furious from the insult, and her plump hand came down on the fellow's nose with a force that caused the blood to flow copiously. After the quick impulse of anger and self-defence pa.s.sed she ran sobbing like a child to Mildred, and declared she would not stay another day in the vile den. Mildred was white with anger, and paced the room excitedly for a few moments.
”Oh, G.o.d, that we had a father!” she gasped. ”There, Belle, let us be patient,” she continued after a few moments; ”we can't contend with such wretches. I promise you that this shall be your last day in this place. We ought to have left before.”
Then, as the girls grew calmer, they resolved not to tell either their father or Roger, fearing that they might become embroiled in a dangerous and disgraceful quarrel involving their presence in a police court. Mildred had given her mother a sedative to quiet her trembling nerves, and she was sleeping in one of the bedrooms, and so happily was not aware of Belle's encounter.
Mr. Jocelyn soon came in, and, for the first time since Mildred's warning, was a little the worse for liquor, but he had the self-control to keep quiet, and after a few mouthfuls of supper went to his room overcome by the stupor he had sought. After the children were sleeping the girls gladly welcomed Roger, for he had become the chief source of light and hope in their saddened lives.
And he did brighten and cheer them wonderfully, for, content with a long and prosperous day's work, and full of the hopefulness and courage of youth, he imparted hope and fort.i.tude to them in spite of all that was so depressing.
”Come, girls,” he said at last, ”you need some oxygen. The air is close and stifling in this den of a house, and outside the evening is clear and bracing. Let's have a stroll.”
”We can't go far,” said Mildred, ”for mamma is sleeping, and I would not have her wake and be frightened for anything.”
”Well, we'll only go around a block or two. You'll feel the stronger for it, and be in a better condition to move to-morrow,”
for Mildred had told him of her purpose, and he had promised to help them get settled on the following evening. When they reached the end of the dark pa.s.sage-way they feared that trouble was brewing, for a score of dark, coa.r.s.e faces lowered at them, and the fellow that Belle had punished glared at her above his bandaged face.
Paying no heed to them, however, they took a brief, quick walk, and returned to find the entrance blocked by an increasing number of dangerous-looking young ruffians.
”Stand aside,” said Roger sternly.
A big fellow knocked off his hat in response, and received instantly a blow in the eye which would have felled him had he not been sustained by the crowd, who now closed on the young man.
”Run up the street and call for police,” he said to the girls, but they were s.n.a.t.c.hed back and held by some of the gang, and hands placed over their mouths, yet not before they had uttered two piercing cries.
Roger, after a brief, desperate struggle, got his back to the wall and struck blows that were like those of a sledge-hammer. He was dealing, however, with some fairly trained pugilists, and was suffering severely, when a policeman rushed in, clubbing right and left. The gang dispersed instantly, but two were captured. The girls, half fainting from excitement and terror, were conducted to their room by Roger, and then they applied palliatives to the wounds of their knight, with a solicitude and affection which made the bruises welcome indeed to the young fellow. They were in terror at the idea of his departure, for the building was like a seething caldron. He rea.s.sured them by promising to remain until all was quiet, and the police also informed them that the house would be under surveillance until morning.
On the following day, with Mrs. Wheaton's aid, they found rooms elsewhere, and Roger, after appearing as witness against the rowdies that had been captured, and informing his employers of what had occurred, gave the remaining hours to the efficient aid of his friends.
CHAPTER XLI
GLINTS OF SUNs.h.i.+NE
Their new rooms at first promised remarkably well. They were on the ground-floor of a large tenement that fronted on a rather narrow street, and their neighbors seemed quiet, well-disposed people. Mr.
Wentworth soon called and congratulated them on the change. Mrs.
Wheaton frequently came to give Mrs. Jocelyn a ”'elping 'and,” as she phrased it, but her eliminations did not extend to her work, which was rounded out with the completeness of hearty goodwill.
Roger rarely missed an evening without giving an hour or two to the girls, often taking them out to walk, with now and then a cheap excursion on the river or a ramble in Central Park. In the latter resort they usually spent part of Sunday afternoon, going thither directly from the chapel. Mildred's morbidness was pa.s.sing away. She had again taken her old cla.s.s, and her face was gaining a serenity which had long been absent.
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