Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1871-11-28

help myself. The carriage was his,
mother. and the bar.keeper called him
doctor-and.- ever since them" sobbed
the girl, II have felt wicked and wretch
ed, and humilated--,hat's all "
"My poor, poor darling ~ murmured
her mother, tcarlully, "what can he done9
Something must be done cannot con-
sent TO see you sacrificed"
81 have thought so long have dream
ed So many things ~ sobbed Florence.
IL only we might disguise ourselves and
ily from this miserable life"
"And leaye him ?"
"Alway, him - cried Florence. bitter
ly; don't speak. mammal know lam
wrong; can't lear it 50 well, perhaps
because oI that memory-as grow older
/ may grow patient"
AL day those piliIul words haunted the
drunkards wife ~ may groc patielH.'
She knew too well. that for the impetuous,
sensitive girl, it was well nigh impossible
To bear with composurc, any i'll that
threatened the future with torture too
dreadful to be endured.
They ute their frugal meal together;
frugal enough, since there was only
bread and water in the house. Florence
was aic; all the rest OF the day with
a ieyeIish headache. and her mother
sat 10y her side, alternately soothing her,
and sewing on the coarse work that
brought them y miserable pittance. At
last The gi;l tell asleep.
1t was quite dark when she awoke, and
her mother stood by her bedside with a
cap oi tea. y penny dip burned ou the
table, when Florence looked up in her
mothers face
Take this, dear said her mother;
borrowed little tea OF the kind old
widow woman next door; we can pay
her to MORO ", perhaps
at WAS such beautiful dream, NAM
ma, said the girl, as she closed her
wcaricd eyes, after slipping few mouth
luls. Il thought we were all back in
Italy, and papa looked young and hand.
some again; but now--thcre's his step |!
Oh, mamma, don't let him sec you; don't
let him be cruel to YOU again--or can't
answer tor the consequences
She sptang from the bed. and hurry
iug down stairs. let her father in. He
staggered, rs usual, 70 a seat, and in the
dim light, Florence thought he looked
uneanhIy pale.
"lll get YOU something to eat, father,
of what there is in the house. she
said, alphabetically.
"No, you needn't trouble yourself, Flor
ry, shall never eat anything again"
"Why ?" the cup she had lifted fell
from her hand
al shan'i need it, child, any longer.
You'Il be rid Of the poor old drunkard
before thi, nights gone"
"W What-is-it- father ?'
A cold tlemor seized her heart; she
began to trcmble from head to foot
What uncarlhly presence haunted that
humble room
Your dreadful words broke ny heart,
Florry. they were sounding in my brain
ali day. The thought tnat | had made
my child not only despise, but hate me,
maddened me. | couldn't stand it drink
wouldn't drown il; so ~ | was coming
home | said to myself I've diSgraccd
them too long; something dreadful will
come of it; | might as well put an end 10
it, iirSt as last"
ooh, father! -
Her face was as palid az his. She
hall crouchcd rs she drew nearer, fright.
encd, yet eager, every nerve creeping,
her whole being under the influence of
some deadly, horrible charm
$50 stepped into Ellis's" continued
the man, brokcnly, land God forgive
me, asked for -poison-to kill rats,
and after little while he gave it to me-
and kept it ill just outside the door here
and thcun-his head and hands fell for.
ward, helplessly, II swallowed it."
A terrible cry covered his voice,
shrek that rang through the house.
Mrs Belden flew down. white as ashes,
TO see Florence tearing her hair, and Us.
ing all manner of grief.stricken eacuIa-
tons
Mother mother !" she grasped, "he
has taken poison; he is dying; he is dead!
1t was through me; | have done it |
shall have il to answer for. 1t was what
| said this morning-those wicked, wick
ed words Oh let me die, too; kill me,
| am not fit to ive;" and so she ravcd till
some Of the neghbors came, and doc
tor was sent for.
Inc uldn ialu on the Wrelcneu lounge,
pale ard suffering, his wan brow thick
with the cold dews of agony. His pulse
grew more and more feeble, and his
gaze was fixed upon his wife
II see it all" he gasped. 81 am going,
God knows where; if | could live it
should he so different You were al
ways too kind to me-"
The patient, long suffering woman only
kissed him, drew his head closer TO her
bosom, and laid her cheek on his. 1t
seemed 10 her that this last blow she
could not bear.
Florence crouched, utterly Woe begone,