Jane Horton had promised to make one more attempt and she is now
carrying to Marie the good news that her efforts have been crowned with
success.
Following the directions given her, she passes from the broad,
well-lighted streets to smaller, darker ones. Finally she turns down a
narrow, crooked alley and enters a tumble-down house at the farther end.
Bad as was the tenement home of her early childhood, this place is far
worse, and a wave of pity fills Jane's heart as she thinks of that
delicate, patient child growing up in surroundings like these. Marie
herself opens the door in response to Jane's knock, her eyes anxiously
asking the question her lips dare not utter.
"Good news, little one, good news," cried Jane joyously, advancing into
the room and taking in at a glance the terrible poverty of the place,
the shabbiness of the woman laying the table for supper, and of the
barefooted, ragged children who stare at her in open-mouthed
astonishment. "Where is your father, Marie? Take me to him at once for I
bring him what he asked for--one more chance to make good."
In answer to Marie's call, the door leading into an adjoining room opens
and a man steps forth. The light of the lamp shines full upon his face,
and for one breathless moment they face each other in silence, the woman
who has succeeded in life, the man who has failed, and to whom she
brings one last chance of redeeming his failure.
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