Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1875-04-08


answered.. "but Everybody calls me
Flhne-except my mother.ni stwa =
VII! she not be uneasy about you
Fihnew The child's eyes filed up with
tears. "Oh, veryw she cried, !" and she
IS 80 sick. too" Then she told her little
story. She lived sNumero col Rue de
BAG, az sirieme-and, they, were very
poor. Her mother was too i'll to 20 out
or work and the little girl supported both
BY selling cigar-lighters about the cafes
and the doors of the .theaters. Last even.
Ing she.was later out than usual and had
lost her way when the Turco pursued
her, Her father was a gambler, seldom
came home, and did nothing for her
mothers support, only abused her.
Our young diplomatist called q oar.
riage and took Fifpe to her home, sixth
story of No. COL Rue de Bac. He was
introduced TO scene of distress and DIES
titution such as fairly appalled, his unac-
customed eyes. In q bare garnet, stripped
OF every comfort and convenience of life,
ne found a young woman in the last
stage Of consumption, lying unattended
upon a'pallet This unhappy creature
welcomed Fifne's return with painful.
~ convulsive Joy and those maternal
cries of relief from agony which no one
can listen to unmoyed. A few syllables
told her all and then her gratitude to
Misty drew tears, from that young fell
lows eyes snch as he, never expected to
shed. The, woman, whose name was
Carlotta. Gomez. was ! evidently a
lady. She told Tomkins that she
was South American, gave him
to understand that she was the victim
OF an unfortunate marriage, but alb
stained from telling him more or accus.
ing any person besides herself Misty
could see for himself that she was dying
and was extremely destitute. He went
out and presently returned with cap
fu, of delicacies for the dying woman,
and physician, q young American doc
tor who was walking the hospitals and
with newspapers at home.
DIR. Ellicott easily saw that Mime. Gomez
life was to be a very short one, and told
Tomkins so. Our diplonatist deter
mined that the child should not beg any
more, and should remain with the mother
during the rest of her life. He took care
to provide everything that was needful
for the invalid's comfort and the child's
well-being, gave the case in charge of
DR.. Ellicott and then avoided the place to
escape the gratitude of his beneficiaries.
( Five or six weeks later DIR. Ellicott
came for him hurriedly "She wants to
see you,p said he; she will not live
more than two or three days" Misty
went with him to the chamber of death
with that feeling of awe which always
overcomes young, hearty natures in such
presence. The dying woman held out
both hands to him and gazed at him earn
sstly with her large, wistful eyes. Ffine
kissed him and nestled to his arms The
lear little girl was sober and silent, but
Misty felt a strange yearning toward her
IS he stroked her hair and sat down by
he side of the bed. "a .bat 80
I" You have kind heart, !" said Car
otta Gomez, "and /. who have taxed
is generosity so lavishly, am now going
o appeal to il again. lam dying and |
10 not want my husband to have my
,hild. He is a brute and he will dispose
If her according to his instincts. Prom
sc me he shall not have my child"
Misty promised, fervently. ~ fsa h. Il
My father, Jose Rincon, is very
'ich man, proprietor of mines and a
great merchant in Peru. He discarded
me for marrying Sancho Gomez, but ]
think he will adopt my child when / am
lead. Apply to him; but If he is still
promise me at least that
Sancho Gomez shall not have my child"
Again Misty promised. 10
The woman, with a great sob, kissed
Tomkins' hands, and pit the child into
MS arms AS she did SO another actor
appeared upon the scene, a low browed
5paniard, with vicious face, flashily
attired, and smoking cigar which made
ais wife cough II was Gomez, He
bowed low. "You have company, /
,ee," he said, with an attempt at sarcasm.
+ trust do not intrude." .F4 ]
q " Company, yes; friends who have
come to see me der said the woman,
liking her great eyes upon him. have
eft my child to this kind friend" she
continued. II wish Mr.. Tomkins TO be
reresa's guardian Promise me you
will not interfere with my last wish,
Sancho." taE rHara'H 1Eis'tG"E't 4
81 cannot permit my child to be de-
pendent upon the charity of strangers
,aid Gomez, reaching out to take hold OF
Fifine, who shrank away from him.
: Besides, at your death, she becomes the
only heir of the rich Jose Rincon, who
ought to be made to, repent his treat
nent of u.s. AID agssy#s8 hW& -.1lt
Carlotta half rose, in bed, but Misty
urned suddenly on Gomez. If You
ion't let go the child and throw that CT
gar away III pitch you out the win
iowp' 4s..s - st,yssa laa ...4 Ggi3a
The two men glared at each other a mo
nent, when DR.. Ellicott put his hand on