The Orangeburg news. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1867-1875, 1873-03-08
The Harsh Look.
BY MARY A. DEHIseN.

Maggie, Maggie, how could you?'
Why? what have l done but look at
the child 2
But, Maggie, you looked at her SO
harshlyv
WELL and if L dds she too good
to be looked 3. ?
'Oh but Maggie, she is an orphan
Maggie Lilburn tossed her head light.
ly, affecting disdain at her sisters tremb
ling lips, but, nevertheless, tie word,
and the fearful glanoe sunk deep into
her heart.
In chamber, richly furni shed, two
little beds stood side by side. Both
were dainti'y aped-furnishcd with
soft linen and delicate netting like lace.
Refinement foated in the air above
them-hung in every fold of drapery
about thcm-touched the rare adoruings
o! the room-laid in each dimplo of the
rounded checks-in each carel.ss curl
of hair, threading its golden way owe.
the pillow.
There were two Of them-two sweet
darling little girls, one in each soft bed;
but one was ruddy aud healthy, the
'ther pale and more slightly farmed
They slept the beautiful sleep ofinfancy;
but, beneath ths kishes of one were
traces Of tears, nn:l1 the infantile lips
curved downward slightly, as with grief
1t was very silent there and, IN the
silence, soon step sounded Mary
Lilburn, gentle, graceia! creature,
came sofly in, and, pausing, Looked at
the children. She kissed the brow of
the rosiest s!umbcrcr but over the other
folded her hands, MS if with ben.dic
ton. and gazed with long, ycarning
glance.
'Ior, dear, sw :es l;tle d,rling she
mur@urtd, at last: how can any ono
speak hlr.hly, or give ouu cold Ga.
Go so gentle child Pour sweet little
orphan! God bless you and she bent
over and kissed her sweet lips, lingering
long on the fair face they pressed, aud
then she went TO her own room.
She had scarcely gone before another
step sounded along the chamber and
Maggie, the young, healthful. happy
mother, came forward As she stood
there, shade of regret stole over her
beautiful face, and she sighed, Il sup.
pose | haven got the patience | ought
to have with her. poor orphan = but she
kissed nei her of the children.
1t was the dead of night, and Maggie
Lilburn, worshipsd wife, happy mother,
tossed restisssly upon her luxurant
couch. She had not yet slept A little
figure, looking mourn!ully out OF dar k
eyes, haunted her. Occasionally she
heard short, quick sob coming from
tie dim corner in which were outline
the beds of the two sweet children. At
last the great clock Of the city struck
:Welve, aud Maggie had found the DO n
her nature craved-she slept Slept,
bu: not in peace-not i'll quiet. Her
head turned uncasily her hands moved,
the lips quivered, aud sobbinS sigbs and
tears aitested a troubled dream.
Still deepeuel the quiet gloom, and
Larger grew the shadows in the chamber.
The babes were moved away footstept
aui whispering voices disturbed the
sileuce A so,nbrs man, dressed in
bluck, ben. over the bed whereou l,y
Masgis LiIburn. A gentleman, much
younger, stood further back, giving
passionate way 10 some strong grief. He
was half hidden by the pale blue hang
ings of the bed. Mary, pale as marble
her beautiful white face an awful
sternness in its anguish : the result of
strife Tor self composure--knelt, clasping
one hand Of tho sufferer in her own. A
servant crouched in the dista o., hiding
her face, aud weeping in silence. o.
the bed lay Maggie, the young wife aud
mother, no louger restle s, but white,
faint, and still. Her blue eyes wistfully
wandered from face to face and the
lips, SO beautiful in repose, were dis.
tortcd in her vain efforts to speak. At
last the eyes closed, the lips were still.
She slept, lightly, gently it was, alas
the sleep that Prccedes death.