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〃I had just enough money to buy my ferry ticket back to New York。  I  felt as if I didn't want to live another day。  I must have looked as I  felt; for I saw him on the row of seats opposite me; looking at me as  if he understood。  He was nice…looking; but oh; above everything else;  he looked kind。  When one is tired or unhappy or hopeless; kindness  counts more than anything else。

〃When I got so miserable that I couldn't fight against it any longer;  I got up and walked slowly out the rear door of the ferry…boat cabin。   No one was there; and I slipped quickly over the rail and dropped into  the water。  Oh; friend Hetty; it was cold; cold!

〃For just one moment I wished I was back in the old Vallambrosa;  starving and hoping。  And then I got numb; and didn't care。  And then  I felt that somebody else was in the water close by me; holding me up。   He had followed me; and jumped in to save me。

〃Somebody threw a thing like a big; white doughnut at us; and he made  me put my arms through the hole。  Then the ferry…boat backed; and they  pulled us on board。  Oh; Hetty; I was so ashamed of my wickedness in  trying to drown myself; and; besides; my hair had all tumbled down and  was sopping wet; and I was such a sight。

〃And then some men in blue clothes came around; and he gave them his  card; and I heard him tell them he had seen me drop my purse on the  edge of the boat outside the rail; and in leaning over to get it I had  fallen overboard。

And then I remembered having read in the papers that people who try to  kill themselves are locked up in cells with people who try to kill  other people; and I was afraid。

〃But some ladies on the boat took me downstairs to the furnace…room  and got me nearly dry and did up my hair。  When the boat landed; he  came and put me in a cab。  He was all dripping himself; but laughed as  if he thought it was all a joke。  He begged me; but I wouldn't tell  him my name nor where I lived; I was so ashamed。〃

〃You were a fool; child;〃 said Hetty; kindly。  〃Wait till I turn the  light up a bit。  I wish to Heaven we had an onion。〃

〃Then he raised his hat;〃 went on Cecilia; 〃and said: 'Very well。  But  I'll find you; anyhow。  I'm going to claim my rights of salvage。'   Then he gave money to the cab…driver and told him to take me where I  wanted to go; and walked away。  What is 'salvage;' Hetty?〃

〃The edge of a piece of goods that ain't hemmed;〃 said the shop…girl。   〃You must have looked pretty well frazzled out to the little hero  boy。〃

〃It's been three days;〃 moaned the miniature…painter; 〃and he hasn't  found me yet。〃

〃Extend the time;〃 said Hetty。  〃This is a big town。  Think of how  many girls he might have to see soaked in water with their hair down  before he would recognize you。  The stew's getting on finebut oh;  for an onion!  I'd even use a piece'of garlic if I had it。〃

The beef and potatoes bubbled merrily; exhaling a mouth…watering savor  that yet lacked something; leaving a hunger on the palate; a haunting;  wistful desire for some lost and needful ingredient。

〃I came near drowning in that awful river;〃 said Cecilia; shuddering。

〃It ought to have more water in it;〃 said Hetty; 〃the stew; I mean。   I'll go get some at the sink。〃

〃It smells good;〃 said the artist。

〃That nasty old North River?〃  objected Hetty。  〃It smells to me like  soap factories and wet setter…dogsoh; you mean the stew。  Well; I  wish we had an onion for it。  Did he look like he had money?〃

〃First; he looked kind;'' said Cecilia。  〃I'm sure he was rich; but  that matters so little。  When he drew out his bill…folder to pay the  cab…man you couldn't help seeing hundreds and thousands of dollars in  it。  And I looked over the cab doors and saw him leave the ferry  station in a motor…car; and the chauffeur gave him his bearskin to put  on; for he was sopping wet。  And it was only three days ago。〃

〃What a fool!〃 said Hetty; shortly。

〃Oh; the chauffeur wasn't wet;〃 breathed Cecilia。  〃And he drove the  car away very nicely。〃

〃I mean you;〃 said Hetty。  〃For not giving him your address。〃

〃I never give my address to chauffeurs;〃 said Cecilia; haughtily。

〃I wish we had one;〃 said Hetty; disconsolately。

〃What for?〃

〃For the stew; of courseoh; I mean an onion。〃

Hetty took a pitcher and started to the sink at the end of the hall。

A young man came down the stairs from above just as she was opposite  the lower step。  He was decently dressed; but pale and haggard。  His  eyes were dull with the stress of some burden of physical or mental  woe。  In his hand he bore an oniona pink; smooth; solid; shining  onion as large around as a ninety…eight…cent alarm…clock。

Hetty stopped。  So did the young man。  There was something Joan of  Arc…ish; Herculean; and Una…ish in the look and pose of the shoplady she had cast off the roles of Job and Little…Red…Riding…Hood。  The  young man stopped at the foot of the stairs and coughed distractedly。   He felt marooned; held up; attacked; assailed; levied upon; sacked;  assessed; panhandled; browbeaten; though he knew not why。  It was the  look in Hetty's eyes that did it。  In them he saw the Jolly Roger fly  to the masthead and an able seaman with a dirk between his teeth  scurry up the ratlines and nail it there。  But as yet he did not know  that the cargo he carried was the thing that had caused him to be so  nearly blown out of the water without even a parley。

〃Beg your pardon;〃 said Hetty; as sweetly as her dilute acetic acid  tones permitted; 〃but did you find that onion on the stairs?  There  was a hole in the paper bag; and I've just come out to look for it。〃

The young man coughed for half a minute。  The interval may have given  him the courage to defend his own property。  Also; he clutched his  pungent prize greedily; and; with a show of spirit; faced his grim  waylayer。

〃No;〃 he said huskily; 〃I didn't find it on the stairs。  It was given  to me by Jack Bevens; on the top floor。  If you don't believe it; ask  him。  I'll wait until you do。〃

〃I know about Bevens;〃 said Hetty; sourly。  〃He writes books and  things up there for the paper…and…rags man。  We can hear the postman  guy him all over the house when he brings them thick envelopes back。   Saydo you live in the Vallambrosa?〃

〃I do not;〃 said the young man。  〃I come to see Bevens sometimes。   He's my friend。  I live two blocks west。〃

〃What are you going to do with the onion?

begging your pardon;〃 said Hetty。

〃I'm going to eat it。〃

〃Raw?〃

〃Yes: as soon as I get home。〃

〃Haven't you got anything else to eat with it?〃

The young man considered briefly。

〃No;〃 he confessed; 〃there's not another scrap of anything in my  diggings to eat。  I think old Jack is pretty hard up for grub in his  shack; too。  He hated to give up the onion; but I worried him into  parting with it。〃

〃Man;〃 said Hetty; fixing him with her world…sapient eyes; and laying  a bony but impressive finger on his sleeve; 〃you've known trouble;  too; haven't you?〃

〃Lots;〃 said the onion owner; promptly。  〃But this onion is my own  property; honestly come by。  If you will excuse me; I must be going。〃

〃Listen;〃 said Hetty; paling a little with anxiety。  〃Raw onion is a  mighty poor diet。  And so is a beef…stew without one。  Now; if you're  Jack Bevens' friend; I guess you're nearly right。  There's a little  ladya friend of minein my room there at the end of the hall。  Both  of us are out of luck; and we had just potatoes and meat between us。   They're stewing now。  But it ain't got any soul。  There's something  lacking to it。  There's certain things in life that are naturally  intended to fit and belong together。  One is pink cheese…cloth and  green roses; and one is ham and eggs; and one is Irish and trouble。   And the other one is beef and potatoes with onions。  And still another  one is people who are up against it and other people in the same fix。〃

The young man went into a protracted paroxysm of coughing。  With one  hand he hugged his onion to his bosom。

〃No doubt; no doubt;〃 said he; at length。  〃But; as I said; I must be  going; because〃

Hetty clutched his sleeve firmly。

〃Don't be a Dago; Little Brother。  Don't cat raw onions。  Chip it in  toward the dinner and line yourself inside with the best stew you ever  licked a spoon over。  Must two ladies knock a young gentleman down and  drag him inside for the honor of dining with 'em?  No harm shall  befall you; Little Brother。  Loosen up and fall into line。〃

The young man's pale face relaxed into a grin。

〃Believe I'll go you;〃 he said; brightening。  〃If my onion is good as  a credential; I'll accept the invitation gladly。〃

〃It's good as that; but better as seasoning;〃 said Hetty。  〃You come  and stand outside the door till I ask my lady friend if she has any  objections。  And don't run away with that letter of recommendation  before I come out。〃

Hetty went into her room and closed the door。  The young man waited  outside。

〃Cecilia; kid;〃 said the shop…girl; oiling the sharp saw of her voice  as well as she could; 〃there's an onion outside。  With a young man  attached。  I've asked him in to dinner。  You ain't going to kick; are  you?〃

〃Oh; dear!〃 said Cecilia; sitting up and patting her artistic hair。  

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