The Romance of a Poor Girl

• 1909
• Other

This little drama illustrates the trials of a poor domestic servant, who has a sailor lad deeply in love with her. When the youth bids his sweetheart good-bye, promising her that he will return soon to make her his happy bride, the young woman, who is employed in the office of a doctor, goes about her duties with a light heart and happy air. Her employer, attracted by her beauty, one day attempts to make love to her, and when the indignant girl resents his unwelcome attentions, the latter discharges her on the spot. Taking her few belongings, the brave girl secures employment in another household, but her time spent here is of short duration, for she has a similar unpleasant experience. The son of the lady whom she is working for makes advances to her, whereupon the infuriated girl immediately leaves the place. Going then to an employment bureau to secure another position, she takes a seat in the waiting room, and while there a man, who is attracted by her unusual beauty, forces his attention upon the unlucky girl, and as she is in the act of resenting the stranger's effrontery, the superintendent comes into the room. Witnessing the unusual proceedings, the latter, blaming the young woman for the unbecoming affair, orders her out of the place. The next scene shows the unfortunate girl two months later, when, feeling that the whole world has turned against her, she is an outcast, starving in the streets. Driven to desperation from her terrible distress, she attempts to steal a loaf of bread, but is caught and driven away amidst a tirade of abuse. At this juncture the man whom she met at the employment bureau comes along, and telling her that he will see that she secures food and shelter, he lures her into a den of vice. The poor girl is ill at ease in her new surroundings, but makes the most of her embarrassing situation until she secures some food. A violent quarrel takes place, and in the midst of it the frightened girl makes her escape, glad to be free once more of such degrading associates. While strolling down the street, she falls in a faint from exhaustion and is picked up by a man in a passing automobile, who happens to be her former employer, the doctor. In the meantime the sailor lad returns in high glee, and immediately goes to the place where he expects to find his sweetheart, but, to his astonishment, learns that she is not there. He is just about to turn away when the automobile bearing the sick girl and the doctor arrives at the door, and the invalid is carefully carried into the office, followed by the awe-struck youth. When the poor girl is revived, she seems to awaken in another world, for she is so surprised to see her sweetheart standing over her, and imbued with the hope which is actuated by love, the poor girl leaves the place with her fiancé to become his bride.