The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-02-21

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white face that had been so rosy when j
first took ner from her home. AND, in.
stead of growing stronger, she only
dropped more and more, like flower
in the first trost and the child was as frail
as she.
don't like to tell the story of those
months. Other people were kind and
helped us; and l was forced to take the
help, for the sake of those two creatures
who needed more than could give them.
Her mother came every day, now, to nurse
my wife and fondle my child, and bring
them luxuries that could not buy-such
luxuries as would have been heaped before
them in Edna's old forfeited home.
worked night and day at my clerkship,
bearing as best could in agony of heart
and soul the burden of utter helplessness;
the torments of standing aside empty
handed, while others gave to the woman
and child who were all my own. And then
there came blacker day still, and even the
little had was snatehed away.
There was season OF business losses and
heavy failures; firm after firm gave way,
and men went home idle, and my turn
came with the rest And knelt down by
| my wifes bed and looked into her eyes,
and told her, and asked her to forgive me
| for the wrong had done in loving her.
"Don't feel 80 badly, Shirely," she
whispered, moving her head on my shoul
der. II know I'm burden to you, darl-
ing, but II can't wish it undone; we've
been SO happy-we are happy stin-we've
got each other and baby, and such long
life yet for all these troubles to pass away
in! And it can't last long; you'll get some
thing better than what you lost. Perhaps
it will be the very best thing for us, after
all, that you should lose this place, and SO
be forced to make a change"
Perhaps! It's all chance" said,
bitterly, land must sit with my hands
tied and wait, and you-Edna, they were
right! was selfish brute to draw you
down to this!
She clasped her arms round my neck and
kissed me, and stopped my mouth; and we
were silent for while, and the room grew
dark in the twilight.
"Shifley, she said, softly, atlast; "would
you let my father help you?"
"What do you mean?"
Mamma asked me month ago If you
would leave New Orleans and take a posi-
ton in my uncle's house in New York.
never told you, because-she wanted me to
come home, Shirley, and let you go alone,
and couldn't"
go home I" I gathered her in closer
the baby in her arms, too. "Child, has it
come to that ?"
NO." she whispered, softly. 'Tt never
will; III go with you there, or anywhere
else on earth, Shirley"
'Ts 1t too late to take the offer now?'
asked, starting up. "Why do you ask if
I'll let him help me, Edna? Better that
than taking his aims, God knows -
and I've done that long enough. What is
this place? Child, I'd beg at the street
corners for you, if that was all !"
"Win you go and see papa?" she cried,
lighting up all over her wasted face. -
don't know about it, only that mamma saic
there might be an opening for you, and il
would be so much better than your old
place, and papa would use his influence flo,
you. Will you go. Shirley3"
"Yes, Twill, said, stopping down to kis,
her.
Something was dragging me back all the
while-holding me fast to the bedside
within touch of her little hot hand, ant
hearing of my baby's sleepy-soft breath
but didn't heed it. was desperate, and
her eyes drove me out into the world, to
struggle with it, and win, for her sake
and went.
So the end of it was that letters wen
back and forth; and in two weeks from tn
day that was discharged of my clerkship
4 was engaged by the New York house, o
which Mr.. verderays brother was head, a
salary that would keep Edna safely all tn
winter far enough out of the reach of wan
or the need of aims. Only it was des
perate mans resource, you know-she mus
be in New Orleans, while was in Ne'
York.
It was long before I could show her tha
such parting was inevitable. In all tn
years after I had that to remember-tha
she clung to me to the Last, but had :
put her from me. Ever since our boy wa
born she had been growing weaker, and he
lungs and chest were delicate-eyen dar
gerously 80. A winter at the north, the
said, would kill her, and ] must not 'dreai
of taking her away until she was thorough
we'll again. must leave her behind; an
since could not leave her alone and sicl
she must 60 to her fathers house.