The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1878-11-21
a RIVER MYSTERY.

40 ne-r you siam 'ne satel
1,y,n ,~nsn,,y
M En- IN
Mile-end was small country town
but such townl Itwas very old as we'll
as very dirty place, and one particular
house in it's principal street stood for
ward into the road several feet beyond
its neighbors, its upper story quite
.oyerhanging the basement. This house
was so old that it almest tottered when
the wind blew-as it often did at Mile
end-even in spite of the wooden props,
themselves rotten now, with which it
had been buttressed up. But spite, or
perhaps because Of its age and discom-
fort and general dilapidation, it was
beautifully mellowed and harmonious in
the tone of its coloring. Tufts Of vivid
green moss, and yellow and gray liehen
at intervals carpeted and softened the
red tiles; and hardy clumps of orange
wall-fowers filed up the gaps left BY
departed bricks and mortar: thus throw
ing over the actual decay and rottenness
glamorous veil of picturesque beauty.
Within, this house was cruelty old and
cold and comfortless; the beauty of de-
cay was all outside, and only IFS stern
reality existed within the frail and
draughty walls. There were ten rooms
in this house, which gave shelter to
seven families. The noise and brawling
were incessant, never seeming to stop
night or day, for when at last the sickly
children were asleep, the night was
made hideous with the drunken
bIasphemies and low quarrels of the de-
graded men and women and the reeking
air was was thick and heavy with gin
and tobacco and disease.
In one of these roomsAit was in the
projecting upper story, which through
an unusually wide window commanded
a view all up and doyn the street-lay
on a straw pallet on the floor. barely
covered with an old patchwork Quilt. a
boy of about fourteen, who, Judging
from his constant cough, labored' breath
ing and emaciated limbs, was in the last
stages of consumption. Beside him on
the narrow bed lay girl few years
older than her brother, fast asleep. She
was pale and thin and dirty; but there
was a rare beauty in the firm soft curves
of the mouth and chin, and in the low
broad brow, up from which was swept a
thick tangled mass of curly brown hair.
Tears glistened on the long brown lashes,
and the eyebrows were knit together in
a painful frown, which suddenly relaxed
as the sick boy watched her with tired
sunken eyes, and sudden glowing smile
- L e.
fs She can allus dream, and escape to
the beautiful world she tells me about, !"
he muttered with a wistful i'm
patient sigh; "and 1 can never even
Sleep"
Yes, she was dreaming, but not SO
deeply but that the movement and
sigh OF her brother wokeher. Whaten's
the trouble, Harry dear? Be yo worse
to-nightP'
60 no." he said, and sighed again.
I was lust a-Wonderin' where yo was.
yo smiled SO: and ] longed to be there
too."
so Harry, was way off, out O.
houses an streets an, such ike, all
alone in the valley; an all the trees an
the flowers an the river spak' to me. to
give me comfort"
"Ahl the valley" said the sick boy
/" that's where / wants to 90. as used
TO, 'fore / was took bad. If I could
sleep, p'raps could 90 too.n Here he
was interrupted by a terrible fit Of
coughing, which only left him strength
to gasp feebly for water"
A cracked cup without a handle stooc
on the window-sill, and in it was a littl,
water. The girl rose to get it; but a
she was handing it to her brother tn,
door opened, and their father staggered
in. For an instant he looked at hi
children, and in drunken fit of sense
less passion, struck the girl g savag
buffet which made her reel, and shat
tered the cup into fragments in he
hand.
Ine girls brow flushed crimson wit
anger and pain, and her brown eye
flashed fire. " You miserable drunke
brutep she said. Hsg
"None o. yer SARGE, gal, or I'll xii
yerp said he glared at her dangerously
with arm uplifted to strike.
"Faither. faitherp' commando
rather than implored the sick how. ST
ting up with an effort, and holding OF
a thin male hand between them while
hectic red blazed in b;scheeks and :, q v;v;
light shone in his sunken blue eve
Don't yer strike her-don't strike he
or God will strike VOL, There was
strange almost unearthlv look in n
bows spiritualized suffering face th,
awed the man into Temporary sobernes
AS he paused with arm unified, lool
ing at his SON, an expression of shan
and uncertainty. crossed his feature
he hung his head. avoided the bov's +
tense eyes, and his arm slowly droppe
by his side.
(" Father - said the how in oentJ
tone "vo'ye bnrt berSvo have or
.- she's SC, good to yo.n