Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1870-11-12

ly; "come down and open the door for
me. l am hungry, atfd can &c. nothing to
There was silence at the window for a
little while; then Hattie's voice came
down again tr-
"It will not do, Mr. Ringold; it would
not be proper, as I am all alone in the
house. And then I am pretty certain that
my turn to die will come long before morn.
ing, and should like to be alone then,
without any one to look on. You had bet
ter find lodging somewhere else."
II insist that you open the door for
me-" repeated Stephen, firmly; ga pretty
time, this, to speak of what is proper! It
would not be Christian like to leave you
in that old box of house, with your
fancies of dying tonight. Open the door ;
if you are not tired, we will put the house
aud your belongings in order, SO that I
can get a conveyance, as soon as day
breaks, aud take you to my sisters"
"Very WE'LL" was the tranquil reply !;
"its all the same, proper or not; our
Father in Heaven will judge of that. in a
Gay or two. Wait till get light"
Soon Hattie pushed back the bolt, and
stood on the threshold, shading the light
with her hand. 1t was a year since
Stephen had seen her, and the girl had
grown taller, and oh ! so thin aud pale.
Her eyes once dancing so mcrrily, stood
large and still 0ndcr the heavy shading
lashes, and the little, pale mouth was
closed tightly, rs though it never meant to
smile again. Her dress was queer enough
thrown on in the dark, evidently, and
without regard to fitness or beauty. A
scant, WOODEN skirt, much too short, and a
brown jacket, great deal too large covered
her; and her feet were encascd in thick,
wooleu stockings, and thrust into delicate
dancing. shoes. On her head was night
cap, from under which struggled her full,
brown hair. To add to her worldly conf
cal appearance, there sat a large, black cat
perched on her shoulder, his head pressed
close against her cheek. The girl herself
did not seem to feel what spectacle she
presented, but composedly scanned the
young mans face, saying, as she held out
her hand:.
"Good evening, Mr.. Ringold; is it
really you, then-I thought perhaps it
was another hallucinatiou."
Her hand was thin and cold, aud she
soon withdrew it, to lock tho door again !;
and then led the way up stairs, in a lau.
guild, weary manner.
(Which room will you 60 into :" she
asked on the landing; " "death has been in
all of thcm, perhaps aunty's room is best
it does not smell of vinegar there. She
liked the smell Of juniper berries better,
80 we burned them in her room. o, the
room has been put in order by my own.
hands: they shall not say, when they take
me out of the house, that was nesli-
gent"
"Poor Hattie !" he said, entering the
room a. cannot tell you how l pity you.
But why do you act so like stranger to
me, aud call me Mr.. Ringold? Have We
not been play fellows from infancy up"
II had resolved to do so, since-since
-" slight flush passed over her face.
" But as you choose, Stephen it's all the
same now. 1t will soon be over"
"By no Means" said Stephen, taking
her hands in hiss" all that is the matter
with you'll see it now-is, that you lack
food, aud drink, and fresh air. You poor
child can we'll imagine that the tears
and the sighs you have had to swallow
down left you little strength"
at may be. I have often eaten moth
ing but spoonful of soup, at noon, these
last ten days; Lizzie, our old cook, made
me take that. But she went away, yes
terday, aud has not returned so sup.
pose she went to the hospital to die. Since
I have been sitting upstairs with Peter,
here, on my lap to keep me warm and to
have something living beside me, when
death should approach" t.,4
"Aud instead Of death, I have come to
drive those gloomy thoughts away. Here
in my carpet bag is . bottle of old port
vine, that I had bought for my father.
Give me a couple Of glasses, aud look for
something to eat-we both need it."
She looked absently into the fame Of
the candle, a. if thinking Of something far
away; and then sighiug deeply, she took
up the light and left the room-Peter still
sitting on her shoulder. Stephen was
glad when the girl entered tho room again.
" There is nothing in the house but stale
bread, few eggs, and other material for
cooking I might make a FIRE in the
kitchen, and cook you something to eat
but it was there that auuty was taken sick
while making poultices for little Fred;
and Lixzie said she had seen the little
cholera.man, in person sitting behind the
range. I know. that was nonsense; but
she said that he had gray beard, and q
wart on his forehead-and ! have been
afraid to 90 there since. Wait moment
there are crackers in the sido-board-
you can dip them in your wine"
He passed Hattie her glass.
"No," she said "you drink. Why
shouldI? It would only mako it harder
for me to de-" ,e svE
"Hattie," exclaimed the young man q
little impatieutly, you will drink Of this
A trance to your foolish talk about dying
now--it is wicked. OF course, you do mol
look as rosy just now as you once did, but