The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1876-04-01
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O nine months stay with Mr.. Shadrach waa
Q poor little work-woman in the neighbour
ing room a washed-out, timid, wretched
little creature, with scarcely enough STAN
ina about her to rally after slight attack
of pneumonia. Her little fee had been
0 ready for him after every visit--n fact OBJ
trusively ready, for it was out of the oues-
ton, of course, to take the money. at
was merely neighborly service" he had
said, when, upon his fifth visit, he found
her up and at work again, and upon his
, departure she had stammered out something
about bis bill. II am only too glad, Miss
Miss"
"Turpin," she had whispered.
ITO be OF service to you, and beg YOU
VIII call me in whenever my presence is
desirable"
Mise Turpin faltered out her thanks. A
burning blush chased the pallor out of her
face, as warmly he pressed her trembling
hand in his and babe her good by.
"Poor little devil y he said, as he strobe
away to the lecture-room. cts bad enough
for great strong OK Ike myself to battle
with this grim old grindstone of the world.
but for a miserable little wait like that
phew, it's monstrous y
lie thought of her pityingly till he cross
ed the threshold of the college, then gave
himself up to the subject in hand, which so
engro:sed his mind that he forthwith forgot
the existence of little Miss Turpin. But
she, upon her part, repeated over and over
the words of Young DR.. Blake, blushing
again when she became conscious of the
fact that she really had the temerity to
dwell upon this genial but commonplace
courtesy.
Miss Turpin's work was delicate and ar
tistic, but not soul-absorbing. like the doc
tors. She could tint her photographs oil
the better for this little episode in her life.
| The vines and tendrils took tenderer shapes
under her def little fingers; shy, sweet
melancholy helped to make the shadows at
least more and more perfect; under the
| rose-buds grew the thOrns; but there seem
ed to Turk even in their cruelty d subtle,
mysterious charm. 1t was enough tor Miss
Turpin TO dream. The physi and prac.
tical reality OF the doctors nearness, per-
haps, had its weight. but not consciously
so, to the little woman. She never ven
tured to get up a cough or cramp for the
sake of stamping more clearly lhs shape
into these vague but ex'ravagant feais of
fancy. In truth, so timid and afraid was
she of pulsation of practical joy, she
actually Stunned and shrauk from its an
proach.
But more and more imposing, grander
and grander, grew this one figure Of her
fancy, around which revolved The satellites
of health and wealth, popularity and fame
all that could render life sweet or de-
sirabe.
Perhaps it is detrimental to my heroine
| to say that che would have been quite con-
tent to have lived upon the fruit OF her own
fancy for the remainder of her natural
life. Had circumstances compelled her to
change her abode, and had she thus lost
sight of DR.. Blake, the dreams would have
gone along just the same, the fact OF his
dying in neighboring hospital of weak
ness and want, and the queuchiug OF all
her material in pauper's grave, not inter-
:ering in the least with Miss Turpin's airy
fabric. 1t would have been impossible to
80 dire an extre mlty. IIau uUr tnv nuO~ irugo
been forced in upon her in a way that she
could not refuse.
She absolutely heard the eruff voice of
MIR. Shadrach upon the morning in ques-
ton, and the lew, musical, but bitterly
mocking words of the doctor in reply.
She sat down upon the rug, and clasped
both her hands. lie was going away, then2
Until that moment she had not realized the
extent of such disaster. She could have
borne, perhaps, TO have been compelled to
90 away herself, because the inevitable for
her had become, long since, a matter of
course but to have the iron hand OF mex
orabe necessity grasp this magnificent
young man was terrible He OF the flash
ing eyes, the lordly mien, the exultant step
for thus had little Miss Turpin been wont
to classify the somewhat a.luring personal
attractions of young Blake-he to become
the prey of an adverse destiny
Miss Turpin's breakfast, that morning,
was a failure. By dint of long practice,
and an exceedingly gracious gift in house,
extraordinary little meals Tor nerseI. II
was as if little sooty angel sat up aloft in
the chimney and assisted the culinary ef-
forts of the lone little woman. Her toast
was of brown the most golden, her COT
fee was of Mocha the most delicious, her
bit of steak so juicy and appetizng that
sometimes poor Blake in the neighboring
room, with some chunks OF brown bread
floating helplessly in cha!ky huid before
him, finding this savory odor under his
no.trils, raised his clinched hand at the
stern wall between them in envy and de-
spair.
But even the little angel in the chimney
became impatient with the behavior of little
| Miss Turpin that morning. The little wo-
man, usually so practical and capable, while
| strainipg hsr ear to listen TO a faltering,
stumbling step in the next room, deiioer-
| ately burned the toast and boiled the cot
fee, and the sooty wings spread themselves,
taking flight in disappointment and dis-
gust.
She held her breath as the familiar foot
step passed her door, and slowly, one oy
one, went down the worm-eaten stairs.
Oh where was he going? What would ne
do? She had read sometimes of an eve
ming, when working hours were over, the
shaded lamp upon the table at her side, the
Goals leaping and blazing in the refulgent
crate, her little slippered feet upon the ten
der-she had read of people who, having
neither money, means, nor content, had
| drifted into a moment of frenzy and de-
epair, and thus leaped the awful bar that
separates the known from the unknown,
content to risk any fate but that which
awaited them here. She had read thus of
poor, strange unfortunates, and her heart
had ached in their behalf. But Low! Wen,
now her heart almost ceased 10 beat. She
nut away her work-ot what avail was II,
all blotted and blurred by her l.ar', or
ruined by her shaking brush All uay she
feared and tIembled; at nighisfall some in
tuitive hope caused her to brighten tae IRE,
cook dainty meal, and; placing the liable
opposite the door leave the tempting, cozy
room open upon the wind. swtp,, gloomy
corridor.
Then she waited aud waited. The clock
struck at midnight, then /, 2, 3, from
neiphboring beliry the meal WAS cold the
} fire. burned low; the chill, gray morning
had almost da~ ned, when at last it came !
yss-lhank God talering and slow, but 1t
was his footstep; none other could quicken
little Miss Turpin's pulse.
He re cached The landing, the door of her
room. Why, truly, he did panse-yes, and
stagger in.
Any other woman but this, perhaps,
+, would have recoiled with disgust and hor-
ror, and, above all, with fear, for the young
man was evidently not himself. His hair,
damp and dishevtled, hung in heavy disor-
der about his face and neck his eyes,
CLASSY and lurid, hlazed upon hers red