The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1873-09-13
MILDRED'S FATE.
CHAPTER lV--CoSCMsIoN..
rs ". II. VI.

] llNl lbOl VIZ WV lbNN''F vi " 'i"'h'
! where lay moan ing half-drcsscd child
scarcely twelve months old. The
| tears fcll upon the coarse work the
woman held in her hands, and she
( bent anNiously over her child, as II
rolled its littlc'hcad from side to side,
and walled out its pain and agony.
'O!my God! this Is too much," she
groaned, laying down her work and
! lifting the little one in her arms, she
| held it to her breast hut after trying
in vain to find any nOurishment there,
the poor baby's strength seemed gone,
and it lay back in her arms faint and
exhausted.
Mildred Livingstone, the beauty, the
belle, the tlirt, bowed her head upon
her furnishing child, aud wept alone.
The door opened and the iandlady
came in to ask for the quarters rent,
but finding her lodger in spch griel
she did not mention it, but kindly in
quired ifshc could help her in any way.
"My baby" sobbed Mildred, "my
poor child is dying of hunger and cold,
and have nothingto give it,"
"Have you no friend, child"" asked
the woman.
Mildred shook her head, and her
whole frame trembled with emotion.
~ will bring the little one some tea,"
said the good woman, ";.nd then we
will have talk and see what can be
done" She left the room, and soon
returned with cup of warm tea for
the child, which the hungry little one
drank greedily, and then fell into n
sound sleep upon its mothers knee.
In the meantime the good little wO-
man had good fire built in the CRATE,
and brought Mildred Il large plate of
bread and butter for herself.
"Now," said she, when they were
seated before the blazing fire, after
Mildred had eaten her supper, '.just tell
me all about Yourself, and we will see if
we can mend matters for you.' Mill
drcd told her all OF her past liiehow
she had married q man who called
himself a Count, but who squandered
her money and deserted her in her
hour of greatest need, and how, six
months later, her little Jennie was
born, and her lanllady had turned her
out of doors when the child was only
sin weeks old because she had not
money to pay for her lodgings in ad-
vance.
IT was Il sad sad tale to listen to, and
the good little woman wiped her eyes
many times with the corner of her
apron during its recital. Poor Mildred
moved from place to place, living ON
the small pittance she could earn, until
the child fell i'll from want and expo
sure. Then all her courage gave way,
and despair chilled her Very soul.
"What was the Counts name %
asked her new friend, when She had
finished her recital.
Leonidas," replied Mildred. "How
long since you saw him:
"About eighteen months"
at must be the same man." mused
the landlady, as though speaking to
herself.
"Have you ever met hin ?n asked
Mildred hastily.
"Well, | cant say exactly" was the
reply, "but there was II burglar shot
in the next house just after sou came
here, and think he was the one from
what you tell me. You see when they
shot him he jumped clean through the
window, and staggered rs far rs our
door, when he fell, and the police
brought him in here. The poor fellow
was most gone, but when | spoke to
him he tried to tell me something, and
gave him some whisley. That bright
ened him up a little and he asked if
"Jeff" got away, meaning the fellow
that was with him. l told him Yes,
anu biltll lic Sui'i, thi SllttN vi ti'otj
but they've god me for good
He told me his real name was Jim
Miller, but that he passed himself off
for Count once, and married Il rich
girl; then he gave me ring with Il
picture in it, and said il was his wifc's
likeness. I'll 20 down stairs and get
it, for you directly; the poor fellow
died one hour afterwards. You can
tell if its your picture, can't youw
"Of course" said Mildred; "please
get me the rim :"
The woman brought it, and Mildred
immediately recognized it as one she
had given her husband short time
after their marriage. l...
The woman said he told her that he
had served time in the State prison
down South, and "Jeffn was always
threatening TO expose him, making 1t
Very expensive TO purchase his silence.
4 few days after the foregoing con-
veFsation, Mildred sat sewing as usual,
when the same lady came into her
room to bring little Jennie cake. At
ter talking awhile, she asked Mildred
why she did not go back 10 the old peo-
pie who were SO kind TO her when her
mother died?
'I have never thought Of going" re-
piled Mildred sadly, ~ do not even
know if they are living.r
fWell," said the other, ~ would go
back TO them. You are as thin as a
knife blade, and that cough is bound to
take you Oh, if you don't take some
rest, and in my opinion the sooner you
go tho better.n sne rose and went
down stairs. leaving Mildred to the
task of preparing her little ones din
ner. She took nothing herself, and as
soon as little Jennie who had inn
proved slightly since Mrs. Good, the
landlady, had found them starving)