The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1872-07-11

"No need!' says I, out of BREATH
"No need, when the bottle has got Poi.
son marked on it"
"Poisou, dear, if you take it ALL"
says Mary, looking at me very tender.
ly; "aud a nights rest if you only take
little."
I watched her for a moment doubt.
full whether I ought to believe what
she said, or to alarm the house. But
there was no sleepiness now in her eyes,
and nothing drowsy in her voice and
she sat up in bed quite easily without
anything to support her.
"You have given me dreadful fright
Mary" says I, sitting down by her in
the chair, and beginning, by this time
to feel rather faint after being startled
50.
She jumped out Of bed to get me
drop of water; and kissed me, and said
how sorry she was, and how undeserv.
ing Of 50 much interest being taken in
her. At the same time, she tried tc
possess herself Of the laudanum bottle
which 1 still kept cudd]ed up tight in
my own hands.
"No," says I. "1 ou have got into O
low spirited, despairing way. I won't
trust you with it,"
~ am afraid I can't do without it,
says Mary, in her usual quiet, hopeless
voice. What with work that I can't
get through as l ought, and troubles
that I can't help thinking Of, sleer
won't come to me unless I take 8
few drops out Of that bottle. Don't
keep it away from me, Anne it's the
only thing in the world that makes me
forget myself"
"Forget yourself!" says I. "Yor
have no right to talk in that way, al
your age. There's something horrible
in the notion Of girl Of eighteen sleep.
ing with bottle Of laudanum By he,
bedside every night. We have all Of
us our troubles. Haven't I got
mine 2"
"You can do twice the work I can,
twice as we'll as me-" says Mary -
"Ao ou are never scolded and rated at
for awkwardness with your needle and
1 always am. You can pay for you,
room every week; and I am three
weeks in debt for NINE"
"a little more practice" says I,
"and a little more courage, and you
will soon do better. You have got all
your life before you-"
III wish I was at the end Of it,
says she, breaking in. "I'm alone in
the world, and my lite's no good to
me.'
"You ought to be ashamed of your.
self for saying so," says I. "Haven't t
you got me for q friend. Didn't 1 tako a
fancy to you when FIRST you left your
stepmother, and came to lodge in this
house? And haven't I been sisters
with you ever siuce? suppose you
are alore in the world, am I much bet-
ter off? I'm an orphan, like you. I've
almost as many things in pawn as you ;
and, if your pockets are empty, mine
have only got ninepence in them, to
last all the rest Of the week."
"Your father and mother were honest
people," says Mary, obstiuately. "My
mother ran away from home, and died
in a hospital. My father was always
drunk, and always beating me. My
stepmother is as good as dead, for all
she cares about me. My only brother
is thousands Of miles away in foreign
parts, and never writes to me, and nev
or helps me with afarthing. My sweet
heart"
She stopped, and the red blood few in
to her face. I knew, if she went on thai
way, she would only get to the saddles
part Of her sad story, and give bott
herself and me unnecessary pain.
MY sweetheart is too poor to MARI.
NE, Mary" I said. $50 I'm not 81
much to be envied, even there. Blu
let's give over disputing which is wors
off. lie down in bed, and let me tucl
you up. I'll put stitch or two int
that work Of yours while you go tt
Sleep"
Instead of doing what l told her, sh
burst out crying (being very like chill
in some of her ways), and hugged "a
so tight around the neck, that she quit
hurt me. I let her 60 on, till she ha'
worn herself out, and was obliged to Ii
down. Even then, her last tcw words
before she dropped off to sleep, wer
such as was halt.sorry, half.friehten
ed, to hear.
~ won't plague you long, Anne,
she said. II haven't courage to 20 on
of the world as you seem to fear 1 shall
But I began my life wretchedly I an
sentenced to end it,"
1t was Of no use lecturiug her again
for she closed her eyes. I tucked he
up as neatly as I could, aud put he
petticoat over her for the bed.clothe
were scanty, and her hands felt cold
She looked so pretty and delicate a
she fell asleep, that it quite made NJ
heart ache to see her, after such talk a
we had held together. l just waite'
long enough to be quite sure that sh
was in the lands of dreams then empti
ed the horrible laudanum-bottle int
the crate, took up her half.done work