Today's Reading

The wonder of the moment ended with that. He straightened and stood. "I hope you'll be feeling better soon, Mrs. Stanford."

"Again, thank you for your help." She drew in a deep breath. "I am much revived and quite myself again."

Roman smiled and gave a bow. He certainly wasn't exactly himself. The encounter had left him more than a little shaken. Something important had happened, but exactly what, he couldn't say.


CHAPTER ONE

May 1870

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Comfortably seated in her home office, Judith perused the list her secretary Helen had just given her. "There are just so many needy souls in the world."

In the four years that had passed since Harriet Silverman had begged her to come on board a committee to help poor widows, Judith had immersed herself in concerns for the destitute. With Harriet's help, she had mastered the ability to influence those around her, and she was known for her fund-raising parties and speeches. Most every women's group in the Philadelphia area had hosted her to speak on more than one occasion. Church ladies' groups were especially fond of bringing Judith to their special events, where she could offer them insight and encouragement, as well as suggestions for how best to benefit the less fortunate in Philadelphia.

"As you can see by the names put together from the area churches, the number of widows and orphans continues to grow. The churches that offer food goods tell me that they are nearly depleted. Their donations have been quite minimal."

Judith nodded. "Oh, Helen, it is a sorrowful sight to see. I visited one of the orphanages yesterday, as you know. There must have been at least twenty infants at that location alone. The staff are overworked, and the funds to support those precious lives are at a minimum. I must find a way to send more money."

The nearly forty-year-old assistant nodded. Helen was a plain-looking woman with brown hair and eyes. She was short and of petite frame, but to Judith there was nothing small about Helen Jessop. The woman worked just as tirelessly as Judith and shared her employer's deepest concerns.

Judith put the list aside. "I'll simply have to host a party to get more donations."

Helen reached into her pocket for the leatherbound journal she kept ever at the ready. "What type of party would you like to give?"

"Well, the weather has been quite nice, and the garden is starting to bloom in full. I suppose we could plan a garden party with the provision to host indoors if the weather turns bad. Or even a riverboat excursion. You know how the well-to-do seem to enjoy that diversion."

"There are benefits to both," Helen assured.

"Well, we can decide that later today."

Helen jotted notes in a furious fashion. Without looking up, she posed additional questions. "Shall we invite from the red list or the blue? Or shall we include both?"

"Both, I think. I haven't been pressing any one of them since the Christmas season. It's time for them to step up and do their part."

Judith got to her feet and went to the large window that looked out on the upper-class neighborhood. The house she lived in was not overly grand, but the area surrounding her was, and her neighbors were affluent and more than capable of donating to the cause. Elsewhere in the city, the very rich were more than aware of the growing problems in their community. But, while knowledgeable about the situation, they were rather slow at times in coming to the aid of their poorer brothers and sisters. Like a church minister, Judith would simply have to bring to light the fact that they had been blessed and needed to bless others.

A carriage pulled up to the curb of her property, immediately capturing her attention. Judith tried to place the rather handsome man who stepped down. For a moment, her thoughts went back to the dashing young man who'd caught her after she'd fainted years earlier at a fund raiser. Dr. Roman Turner had drifted around in her dreams and thoughts ever since. She'd never had the opportunity to visit Minneapolis, but she had considered it several times, especially when she thought of once again meeting the distinguished doctor.

The man at the carriage conversed with the driver for a moment and then proceeded up her walkway. It wasn't Dr. Turner.

"I believe I have company," she said, turning away from the window.

Helen looked up. "I shall see who it is. Are you receiving?"

"Of course." She smoothed down the overskirt of her bustled blue gown. "Show him in. He may come bearing gifts." Judith came to stand at the edge of her desk. She had no idea who the well-dressed man was, but perhaps he represented a new donor. She could only hope.

What our readers think...