The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1874-07-24
HER LAST CHANCE.
BY CHARLES BERNARD.

"A HOAA0A VI AAAtAAJ SCNAO'N'
stood on the corner Of the city street,
irresolute. Where go next 2 Whittier
flee from herselfP ?
1t was nearly noon. Bats and
vampires seek the night Gnd shun the
day. This one seemed dazed and
confused by the fair sky and the
bright light. The perfect weather
was a mockery.
The streets were thronged with
happy people. Men, serene in the
honesty of useful labor ; women and
children, content in the Joy of living
and loving. They swept past with
more than neglect. They avoided
her. They gathered their skirts to-
gether, that they touch her not. The
children gazed at her euriously, as
they we're quickly led away from the
contamination of her presence.
Yet she had loved--and INNOCENT
". She, too, had a little one ; had
| loved it, had caressed it, and left it,
size knew uOL WuoI0.
And he-where was he now? She
knew not, and the thought filed her
eyes with fire.
How horrible the sunlight Was it
always thus at this hour? She had
not ventured forth so early before,
but to-day her despair and sorrow
excited her, and she must seek relief
in the only comfort she knew
change, and the streets. !.
She would walk on. 1t was good
to be alone for little while. The
crowded street was the best place,
for no man would speak to her. 1t
was far better than the silence and
accusing presence Of nature, of the
town.
How long she wandered she knew
not. The day was warm, and her
clothing heavy and oppressive. She
was aweary, and would rest. The
steps of the church afforded u seat,
and, in the midst of passing crowd,
she sat down and leaned her head
against the aide Of the stone porch.
None needed her, and with her
thin hands clasped in her lap, she sat
with half-shut eyes gazing at vacan-
cy, and making a pathetic picture OF
4 herself. Her dress was Of the richest
material, and was elaborately made
M. Here and there a button was
missing, and there was stain on the
skirt. The velvet edging was worn
smooth, and one foot, half displayed
beneath the skirt, was poorly cover
ed with a slipper that had beenwhite'
A rosette in front, hanging by 9
Thread, only added to the repulsive'
ness of the sight. Over her shoul-
ders was thrown q cheap woolen
shawl. She had no collar, and hel
hat was of thick black velvet, faded
/ and torn. In figure she was short
and,stout. Her features were broad
t and had been handsome, but were
; now so thin that only certain cheap
: prettiness remained. A mass o.
ssplendid hair clouded her neck witt
Golden confusion and disorder.
Suddenly her blue eyes opened
\ wide, and her nostrils expanded, al
if something excited her. 1t wal
only sound. A murlnur that spread
through the dir, half obscured by th'
tramp of passing feet and the roar o
carriages. Merely q tone. /,
Somehow it reused forgotten feel
: ings in her heart. Her Thoughts
! wandered to the happy '''might hay,
been" Pictures long forgotten flle{
her imagination. The old, old hom'
Of her girlhood. The little house oi
Che hill. Her mother. The day
: that we're dead before-before tn
night Of her sorrow. A,
Still the faint murmur sounded II
the air. What wAs it? She had no
heard the like betofe-yet she vague
S Iy guessed what it meant. TWAS tn
organ. Never since the day, lon
Years ago, when they buried he
mother, had she heard an organ. Sh
b had left the country then, and wit
her father had come to the city. ID
had died soon after, and the rest {
her life had been spent in povert
le and in the streets. She had neve
y y been to school since she left the pr
y. mary school at home. Homeless
= friendless and neglected, she ha
grown up alone in that great city
;, Once she had gone out to service, br
they would not teach her augh
S, save to wash and make fires, and
s. had been her undoing. Uneducatet
and nearly useless, she had bee
turned away from her work. The
ID he had come and offered her ever,
thing. She gave him all, love, sci
everything-and now there was notl
= ing left but despair.
The sunlight fell hot and white Q
the stone steps, and she arose an
T. went to the porch Of the churcl
il The rnufmur Of the organ grew plail
h. h. or. She entered the porch, an
II found the door of the church stoo
%. open. 1t was never closed. Al
@anderer from the noise and worl
Of the city could enter when !
Il. pleased. Here, in the cool, di
ut aisles, was peace and holy stillnes
10 enter and sit awhile in the Co
atmosphere, to look at the picture
the stained windows, and perhap
listen to the brooding organ, was fir
to all. The selfish sectarianism
our churches, that locks Gods hou
10 all, save on the Sabbath, had I
place in this temple.
The place seems to offer shelf
I from the accusing sunlight. She i
stinctively entered, and stood with
the church. The organ seemed
K. roll in sweetest thunder-so dee
e SO trembling, and awesome. Tl
sprringing roof, the long bars Of dusl
light, the silence Of all, save the M
I