Smyrna times., 1876-03-22


you should lose this place, and so be forced
to make change"
Perhaps It's all chance" l said,
bitterly; "and 1 must sit with my hands
tied, and you-Edna they, they were right
was selfish brute to draw you down to
this.
She clasped her arms around my neck
and kissed me and stopped my mouth, and
we were silent for awhile and the room
grew dark in the twilight.
"Shirley," she softly said, at last, "would
you let my father help you?'
"What do you mean?"
Mamma asked me month ago if you
would leave New Orleans and take posi-
ton in my uncle's house in New York. 1
never told you, because-she wanted me
to come home then, Shirley, and let you
go alone, and l couldn't"
$50 homer gathered her closer-the
baby in her arms, too. "Child, has it come
to that d
"No," she whispered softly. alt never
will; I'll go with you there, or anywhere
else on earth, Shirley"
ais it too late to take the offer now p
l asked, starting up. "Why do you ask
if I'll let him help me, Edna? Better that
than taking his aims, God knows-I've
done that so long What is this place ?
Child, I'd almost beg at the street corners
for you, if that was all ?''
"Will you go and see papa?" she cried,
lighting up all over her wasted little face.
4" don't know about it, only that mama
said there might be an opening for you,
and it would be much better than your old
place, and papa would use his influence for
you. Will you go, Shirley?"
"Yes, will" said, stopping down to
kiss her.
Something was dragging me back all the
withholding me fast to the bedside
within touch of her little hot hand and
hearing of my baby's sleepy, soft breath
but didn't heed it. was desperate anG
her eyes drove me out into the world, t.
struggle with it, and win for her sake-anC
l went.
. So the end of it was that letters wen
back and forth, and two weeks from tn,
, day that was discharged from my clerk
ship, l was engaged by the New Yorl
house Of which Mr.. Verdery's brother wa
head, at a salary that would keep Edna saf
all the winter, far enough out of the reacl
l r. e II. n -
desperate mans resources, you know-sh
must be in New Orleans, while was il
New York.
/ A winter at the north they said, woul
! her away until she was thoroughly we
again.
Q This was the way it happened. The
:. were so glad to take her back-they ha
" forgiven {" her so entirely and wanted he
so, and that they were so fond of littl
d Shirley, ! ought to be willing and glad
q leave them both to such tender care.
e was neither; but knew it was my duty I
/ give her up and did it. l kissed ht
% goodbye at last, and dragged myself ava
4 from her arms; she tried to hold me bac
K even then, and the last glimpse had
u wife or child was little slender figure
an open window, half buried in white, SO
$. wrappings holding up baby, who laughe
to and sprang in her arms, and whose lit
hand she tried to wave to me.
rs Then came lonely winter at the north
Al. 81 eEn re 4Iro
at nights and days; the longing impatie
o. hope 1t only lasted a little while.
nd knew should have her in the spring, in
,o- home of our own that l had plann
ne already.
an 1t was in March when her letters, viii
his had come faithfully all winter on tn
es, stated days, failed suddenly. week we
he by without message from New Orleai
it and when it came at last, it was written
another hand.
ill 1t was a long letter, but never read
ing through. l only read three lines, Il
vas told me she was dead-that my baby '
e / buried in her arms. The yellow fever h
nd broken out in the city, and my two W
got among the first to go. Her parents
IN left New Orleans, and before their let
lid reached me would have sailed for Engla
So never saw the little, white wrapl
ust figure and the laughing baby any more.
me, | never saw either Of their parents ag'
ger. 1t was better for us all. Mr.. sVerd
led had said that the intercourse should &C
der with Edna's and the childs death; a
,oor God knows, felt so too.
ked So lived on in New York alone,
, so rose in the firm, travelled, and made mon
me. and wandered from city to city at last,
she cessful in everything that | touched, "
the out trouble or anxiety in life--only
e as burden Of my empty heart. | was II
years old when my darling died; |
,sses plenty more years to live. and d.
rave was still, long way off. People ca
my me a young man still after my hair was
nelt gray, and j seemed to have grown old
her tired down to my hearts core. And
for vesrs went by weaIly; and ] was +
4 n.