The star. (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1874-1875, 1875-02-08

hind the counter; the master was out.
She went up to him.
~ ant some laudanum," she said. "I
am suffering intense pain, ana i must
have some at once"
The boy looked up with something like
a smile.
"Is it toothachel" he asked.
Ana she, whose lips lad never been
sullIed with false word, bowed.
| "You had better take bottle of this"
he added, pointing to some patent med
icine.
YES" she replied, impatiently, 81
will take that as we'll; but l must have
laudanum. Nothing but laudanum will
deaden my pain"
II do not know" said the boy, if | can
sell poison. There is some law OF other
| about it,"
"You can sell it,"s she replied, steadi-
ly, ITO trustworthy people. l have to
sign my name III book. You know my
name-I am Mrs. Rymer, of Lake cot
| tage."
linen, before she had finished the.
words, she remembered that she had no
claim to that name-lt was not hers.
The boy did not understand the crimson
| flush that came over her face, he thought
the pain had caused it. He placed The
| bottle of lauuanum on the counter, and
served her with q small quantity. She
was longing for death-deaIh that should
free her from shame. She sent the boy
to another part of the shop, and he, all
unsuspicious, went. While lie was gone
She took the bottle and filled the little
phial that she had in her hand, then she
paid HIM and FASTENED away. The door
of the other world was opened to her
now. She held the key in her hands.
Slowly she walked down the quiet
street. At the end stood the old church,
from the tower of which came the peal
ing of bells, the sweet old chimes, 1t
was no longer question OF how should
she debut where. Where should she
take her last look at the fair smiling
earth? Before her lay the churchyard;
there the dead slept in peace; there WAS
rest from shame, from disgrace, from
misery. She would go there, and, Sit
ting on one OF those green graves, would
drink the laudanum and de.
"Ihat is my death-knell," she said to
herself, listening to the plaintive, sweet
chimes.
She sat down on grave that had been
made under the shade of a hawthorn |
tree, then looked round on earth and |
sky.
She was going to leave it all, because
Juc ScIHSu Sill u UHc HIGH Udu llluue Hpr |
life inlolerable to her. She was mad |
with shame and sorrow; no thought of
right or wrong came 10 her. She never
once remembered that her life was not |
her own to desiro when she would; she |
only the shame of her posi- |
ton and the blight of her life.
Suddenly, as she sat there with the |
poison in her hand, she thought of the |
little child; in the madness OF her an
guisp, she had almost forgotten 1.-THE |
child who, when she was dead, would be |
left alone and trlendless in the wide |
world.
BETTER that-better that" she moaned |
to herself, ethan that it should know It's |
story"
Then she raised the pbial to her lips,
ard across the bewildered mind and
whirling brain came the thought that
she had to meet her GOD. A lew MIN
lltes more, and she would be face to face
with the Great Father whom she hah
never willlully offended.
She fe!l on her knees, and wild cry
for pardon came from her lips.
''He has driven me to DEATH oh, God"
she said, ''for can not hide the shame
of my life. You are more mercitul than
men, take pity on me-"
She closed her eyes, and placed the
bottle to her lips. Several drops of the
bitter. thick, dark liquid had been swal-
lowed, when a strong hand dashed it |
from her, and it fell broken into hum
dred fragments, the deadly poison STAIN
ing the sweet, green grass.
"What are you DOING" cried a clear,
strong voice. 'How dare you fiv in the
iace OF the living GodY You are seeking
to Kill yourseltw
She raised her haggard eyes, and saw
l. r1 har n 1ctu m MD :,1
was white with age; his face beautiful
with goodness and benevolence.
you were going to kill yourself,
child" he said, looking at her in horror.
But she tell at his teet, crying Wildly:
"Why have you saved me? Oh, why |
did you not let me dieY"