The Kalida venture. [volume] (Kalida, Ohio) 1841-1865, 1852-11-12
THE LAST STROKE OF FORTUNE.

Twenty years ago, an old house was
still standing iu Cologne, which showed
TO the street frontage Of FIVE small win
dows. 1t was the house in which the
frst painter Of the Flemish school, The
immortal Rubens, was born, A. D. l577;:
Sixty years later than this date, the
ground flooi was occupied by two old
people, shoemaker and his wife. The
upper story, which was usually let 10
dodgers, was empty at the time we write
of. Two, however, occupied tho garret.
The evening was cod and wet, and The
shoemaker and his wife were sitting TO
Aeiher in the room helnw.
"You had better 60 up stairs again."
said the man TO his vile, sand see how
'hs poor lady is. The I'D gentleman
went ou, early. ard has NOT been in since.
Has Rhe not taken anytbinp?r
''li 10 only hall al hour since was up
stairs, and lie had no, come in. took
her some broth up at noon, bnt she
hardly touched il, aud | was hp again at
R,Iee; she was asleep then, and at five
she said she should not want anything
more"
> "Poor lud}! This time oc year, and
nai,her fro nor wa5m clothes, and not
even a decent bed 10 lie on; and yet
am sure she ID somebody or other. Have
you noticed The respec, with which the
old gentleman treats herr"
"lf she wants for anything, it is her
own fault, Tha, ring she wears on her
finger would &C, her the best of every.
thing"
Then came knock at the door, and
the woman admitted the old man they
had JUS, spoken Of, whose grizzled beard
fell down upon his furnished velver coat.
The hostess sadly wanted 10 have a little
gossip with him, but he passed by, and,
bidding them short "good night" CROPPED
his way up the steep and crooked stair
case. On entering the chamber above,
feeble voice inquired the cause Of his
y y &
long absence.
~ could no, help it." he said. "l had
heen copying manuscript, and as was
on my way here, servant met me, who
was 10 fetch me TO raise the horoscope Of
two ladies who were passing through;
they were ladi, whom have known be-
fore. Thought could get little money
to paw for some simples which will be Of
service TO yon."
"l am cold"
e"It is fever cold. will mako You
something which You must take directly"
The 4 me of small tin lamp sufficed
10 heat some water, ana the patient,
having taken what the old man had pro.
vided, was diligently covered up by him
with all1be clothes and articles Of dress
ho could find. He stood hv her motion
l.ss ill he perceived that she was fast
asleep, and, indeed. long after; he then
retired into small closel, and sough'
repo.e ~ tho hard floor.
The next morning the lady WIS 81
much better that her attendant proposed
she should endeavor 10 leave the house
Cor MON snt or two, and he succeeded
in getting her forth Us far as The Place
81. Cecilia. It was seldom tha, she lef
the house, Tor, Notwithstanding The mean
ness of he, dress, there was that nbou
her carriage which rendered il Difficult
to avoid unpleasant observation.
"Did yon see that person yonder?" sh'
said suddenly. "lf I am not much mis-
taken, i, is certainly the Duke of Guiae.'
The strangers attention had also beef
attracted, and he had now approached
them.
"Parbleu!'' said he, "why. that j
Mascali. What, are you married7"
'He does not know me-" sighed th
lady. 81 mus, indeed be altered"
Mascaii had, however, whispered
single word in ,he dukes ear, and h
started os # struck BY thunderboh; bu
instantly recovering himself, he has'il
uncovered, and bowed nearly 10 th
ground.
IL beg your forgiveness" be said
"bu, my eyes are grown SO weak and
could 50 little expect to have The homo
ofmse,ing your"
4,"For the love OF God, interrupted sb
lady, hastily, "nams me not here
~ ~ a. -. sN,VN