The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1888-03-17 00:00:00

THE
BARRIER BETWEEN;

ItEPENTED UNTO DEATH.

r.....411=1.

CHAPTER XlV.—(Continued)
mOther held up a bunch of grapes from which she
n away the paper, and he uttered a cry of joy. She
never expected to hear such a sound from his
43 again, and it made her heart leap, but she said:
,ct a moment, my darling, you must first take
p," Of this nice wine. It will -warm and strengthen
g

..,
port. tow moments the bottle was opened, and a small
loti Patieat of its contents offered to the pale lips of the
viith sufferer. He swallowed the whole of it,
out effort, and declared himself better in a few
..,ottents.
wi'ltkiflter having partaken of the grapes with delight,
pal a Sigh of thankfulness he again sank back on his
47, and said :
11,40.41.1 do much for your little Grief, mother, and I
st wish God would let me grow to be a man, that
I.2,ight helP you in turn; but the shining angel will
IZatiot have it so, for sometimes I almost feel his
dra t°4l.lching me. The wine you gave me made him
qiliNt:" away a little, but just as you came in it was
near me."
tte.`l6ef, dear," said Margaret, softly, "you dis-
our
'IS Y
thild.„ mother when you talk so. Don't do it, my

44
d :8 it Wrong, Margaret? Well, I promise not to
144°
sallY more--only the shining presence is there.
to, ee see it now—there—there," and he pointed
ke"4l:_cls the foot of the bed: "but if you don't like
(Teak of it, I will not do it."
fo; "'hat does it matter ?" asked Madeline, with
whe,ed, calmness. "Do you not think that 1 know
must come, as well as if we spoke of it every
tisllr of the day? But you are right, Margaret; let
th evil away from us as long as we may. Let
wiethli.ttle gleam of brightness this morning brought
it shed its faint glimmer on my weary path,
without looking forward to the inevitable,
14:Ireit Were successful, then! Ah ! I thought so.
13recil. of cultivated tastes must have at once ap-
Nrielated your beautiful pieces. No doubt they have
De 'PM well, .and bespoken contributions from your
'Or the future."
ladeline smiled mournfully.
teLl bear Margaret, when you have heard what
!orally befell met how will your sanguine hopes
ftehil One kind publisher took one of my sketches
compassion for the miserable-looking being
faze offered them. Other trials were an utter
c ; and when I entered the office of the Literary
cisket I
ray full was so worn out with disappointment, that
h
deat• —eart gushed forth in a confession of my
110 itution to the editor, even before he had an op-
paltptlity of looking over my pieces. He took them,
oceVn: e liberally, and promised to find a place for an
10-1"al contribution from me. I am certain that
w's9e this to his compassion, more than to his desire to
ke4riets2s, the writings, though he assured me they have

wh"eAnd SO they have. Why should you doubt it,
se„11 You received money as an equivalent for them ?"
erov,,led Margaret with exultation. "I knew that you
le4;:i.d succeed, and this will only be an opening for a
ant future. What signature did you put to your
luquctiores
i°3lllY my own initials. Why do you ask ?"
Dew_ ecause in these days the signature seems as im-
th,;:'nt as the writings themselves. It is imperative
111,3 tbe two names shall begin with the same letter,
are ?anll3' Fern has made her name so popular. You
trom the country, and you must be rural to.
wur
rati.do you say to Dora Daisy ? or Hatty Harebell?
i„*"tY reingcup ? they are all natural and pretty."
eline shook her head with a half smile.
4,4 will be useless to find a name for me, for I shall
41: make it famous."
4-6011! nonsense! Now you have secured a hear-
-3,e1; You have as good a chance as any. I insist that
„eshall have a signature of your own."
the Let it be Faith, then," broke in Mrs. Seyton; "for
rieecl'eln which has come to you when you most
'ars ed it, verifies the words of the Holy Book—
%ever yet have I seen the righteous forsaken, nor
eler Eeed begging bread!"
111(eu •
are right, Mrs. Seyton," said Madeline,
P. atically ; and if I claim a nom de plume at all, it
'gall be Faith."
It Will not be half as effective as either of those I
Page4ed," persevered Margaret; "for the world
ue„ never guess why it was assumed, and readers
Probably give but one glance at a poem with
h;t7 Puritan name tacked to it. However, mother
woriscp4pkerle and the question is decided. See my
p
, too, is it not beautiful ?" and she held up a
iof lace of the finest texture, on which a most
,Lleate pattern was imitated with an accuracy that
d not be excelled.
You rival Arachne herself," said Madeline; "but
1,611 have laboured diligently to finish that piece of
„." Yes," replied Margaret, with a half sigh. "I
tlonder if the daughters of fashion ever turn their
tiLi9nghts for a moment from the beauty of such
wl,ngs as these to their weary makers ? If this filmy
tea could only reveal all it has witnessed here in the
se of its fabrication, it would be a strange, weird
eO be spoken in the brilliant gatherings in which
vvill be worn."
th" 'Yes," replied Madeline, as she sadly contemplated
6 costly trifle. "It may fall into the possession of
itt -who would not pause to listen to its teachings, or
f,aY chance to adorn one who would only need the
r
esintest whisper of its early history to seek out its
Z4_aker, and find some remunerative employment for
before the inevitable doom arrives. Margaret, are
i'llereeyes as strong as they were?'
N, with ' a hasty glance towards her mother, and a
a‘rrling gesture, the lace-worker quickly replied:
a, NN'hy should you doubt it? Look into my eyes—
,•;,B they not clear and strong as those of the eagle ?
17, I have years of profitable labour yet before me,
tit Which I may be able to lay up something for the
riae,YB in which my sight may grow less clear than
I love my beautiful art, and should be sorry to
stve it up as long as I am able to work at it."
Margaret, are you sure you are speaking the whole
tremulously asked Mrs. Seyton. "Have
gpla eeen any indications of failing vision, Mrs.
f,l3rclon ? 0 Heaven! in mercy evert this calamity
0,111 my child !"
b °lle dropped her knitting, and clasped her wrinkled
tallds in supplication. Her daughter, with a reproach-
:l:l glance at Madeline, sprang to her side, and tenderly
ressing her, eagerly spoke—
ke" Mother—dear mother, do not distress yourself
„ueut a mere random remark. I promise you that at
‘ue first indication of falling vision, I will seek other
tni)loyment ; I will not risk blindness. For your sake
Will be careful."
'Promise me truly, my daughter. Oh! you don't
rtlew what this darkened life is. Always night; no
itght—no sunshine! It is horrible! If God, in his
eirnite mercy, did not sustain me—did not give me
nrage, I could not live.
e" Poor mother !" murmured Margaret, with tears;
knew it was bad, but I did not think you felt it in
is way. yes, I promise you that I will not risk be-
e4)llling blind like you. I will begin at once to seek
other employment—to learn a new trade."
" Then all is not so well with you as you would have
Itlle believe ;" and in spite of her assurances to the con-
rarY, the old woman retained this fixed belief, which
Was in truth not far from the fact.
Though scarcely conscious of it herself, Margaret
"ad been observed by her companion bending lower
lower over her bobbins, and fixing her eyes so
intently upon the pattern, that she was often compelled
raise her hand and press it on the quivering eyeballs,
Lk) restore the steadiness of vision, so important to
tile accurate finish of her work. She would not
tegard this as a premonition of the calamity that
nlight follow, but persevered, in the hope that it
as a transitory affection proceeding from the ex-
;'rerne intricacy of the pattern she had been required to
Lnlitate,
, When !qrs. Seyton's calmness was again restored,
hr daughter went to a closet, and taking from it a box
ned with tissue paper, drew forth a pair of sleeves,
Wrought in a pattern similar to the collar she had just
e6rnpleted. She compared them together, and then
asked of Madeline—
"Is not the match perfect ? • The collar is to go with
them!,
"One would think that the same hand wove them
ail• I wonder who they are for? Some one that
ruust have a great deal of money, for Madame Leon-
tine will ask a very high price for them."
" Yee," replied Margaret, with a sigh, "she profits
largely by my labour. If I only had the means to
61Den a little slop for myself, I could soon see my way
,
indep-ndence. I happen to know who ordered the
Collar to match these sleeves, for I saw the young
lady at madame's and heard her name. She is a great
heiress, and one of the loveliest girls in London. Miss
Chard looks as good as she is pretty, too."
"Then I trust the collar will whisper its story in her
ear," replied Madeline, "and bring her to your assist-
luxe, Margaret, before it is too late."