The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1865-06-29
DARK WHITE.

done her all up!" So whispered old Dark
White to her neighbor, as, setting down hel
basket of clothes piled high like 80 much new
fallen snow i'll agreat white drift, she stood
arms akimbo, OH the stoop of the many-sto
ried tenement house where she dwelt. and
gazed after a carriage rolling away through
the rosy mist of a soft spring sunset.
her dark hood had fallen back, showing
face of fifty five or sixty, tanned by sun
and wind, and with some gray hairs in the
locks about the forehead, but comedy enough
to show what pretty woman she might
have been ere toll and time had laid their
hands UPON her. And as long az the car
rage was i'll sight she stood perfectly mo-
tiouless, her arms akimbo, her black eyes
glittering, drinking in the picture with an
exstacy not to be accounted for, gorgeous as
was the equipage and lovely as was the la
dy who recliued upon the scarlet cushors
When it was gone she picked up the basket
and mounted to the attic where she dwelt
with step which aS yet had nothing in it
of age aud decrepitude
Mrs Murphy looked after her with grin
tOld Dark is clane crazy about Miss HainI-
ton. . she said to herself or some invisible ia
miliar. I'D not break my heart an' wear
out my life for ladys white dresses She'll
have stroke some day sitting in the sun
keepin' the clothes dry. Och. the fulisil
cratner! An she riding past without look
or nod. Done her up! Much she cares for
that Dark White !" r@~
,- But whether the lady cared or no, poor
Dark, up in the garret-roouI. was busy for
her still at her laundreSs craft-nor for love
Of pelf, That grew strong when other PEG.
0i..J ,IX fhnc, l..
but with pure pleasure in her work AS the
poet writes his tenderest sonnet ior his lady's
ear--as the musicians song is sweetest he
meath his DuIcineas balcoDy-so did Dark
White do up" Miss Hamilton's white robes
and dainty trilis and sleeves to more per
feet pitch of snowy purity than those of any
other customer. 1t was her way of showing
alteration. Now. with her charcoal at a
ruddy glow, she sat to work ironing, polish
ing the muslin with dainty touch, folding
and crimping aud flutiug with artistic care.
''There amt lady i'll the land done up
nicer, she muttered, indulging in her in
veterate habit Of talking to herself. An
there amt lady more lady. seen the
gentleman look after her, and the lady's
whisper. Oh, she's pretty as picture, just
as pretty J"
If dark White loved beauty it seemed a
pity she should not have more of it about
her. Her garnet home was high and black.
The paint, such as it had been, worn
away from the dormer window Castings =
Without that window, glmpses of chimney
pots, and an occasional cat Or two, and the
sky light on somebody's roof Within. four
walls, or rather three and half, for the
ceiling slOped low on one side, leaving bare
ly two feet between its termination aud the
floor two strips of rag carpet black bu-
reau, on which repoSed an old Bible, on the
fly leaf Of which was recorded the birth of
Dorcas White -Dorcas being the original
name of the washer woman, though custom
had converted it into Dark White"-and
four chairs ADD to these a clock, two can
dlesticks, and something in frame, which
casual observers always took at first sight
to be a bronze jug, but which proved on in
quiry to be paper profile of the late Mr.
White, cordwaiuer, and you have the entire
contents of the apartment which in addition
to being attained by the most break neck
flight of stairs ever manufactured, was mis-
erably hard to warm III wiuteT. Yet Dark
had lived there ten long years, for two rea
Sons: firstly, there was in the back yard
what the laundrcss called "a good drying !"
and seeundly,it was ouly few blocks dis
lance from the aristocratic region where the
Hamilton's Inausien reared its marble walls.
To be near That, to see eheiress at times
roll past III her carriage, to- go softly out
al night and hear the floods Of music and
see the CLEANS of light fronil the window Va,
aud now and then when it was warm, to
distinguish through the open easement the
voice Of Charlotte Hamilton, were pleasure
the old woman would lave relinoushed
much for. Ii ever humble heart shrin.d All
idol, tue heart ofold Dark White SO ershrin
ed the beautiful heiress. 1t had been 30 since
the latter was a child. Twice a week for
eighteen long years Dark had opened the
servants door Of the great house with ia
miar hand, and with her basket of liner
poised on one hip toied slowly up the vel
vetrcovered stairs and tapped at the door
Then waiting and listening she would heal
the cry, Come in, Dark !" aud glow
would pass over her face as though lamp
light had ftlleu on it for an instant. 2 =
At fist the Voice that cried Come in
Dark Was the voice OF Il young child jus
able to talk Then it was gi,ls voice
Now was a wonau's musical aud mellow
Always it W Is just as sweet to poor Dark.
ear. Tonight as the clock struck ten, tn
white drift was polished and the baske
brinful And dark looked out Of her win
dow. u ass sass"
it's fiue - she said. and I'll take the,
over now. Id like to Ste her afore sleet
1t makes me feel good"
And tying on her hood she took up he
burden aud departed. Down the clesn br
shabby street, along a better one. and the
suddenly Into the magnificent avenue wher
the stone sails snd tie porch column
were half draped by clinging festoote
vines and lunches Of purple blossoms. I'll