The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1879-12-26
Murleps Christmas.

s and1ng IN the full glare OF light that
came from the gayly-dressed window of
Darcy & Co., dealers in laces. embroid-
cries, fancy notions, etc., started, and
and as the last stroke of seven died
out upon the air, raising her eyes to
where, above the gaslight, the great,
gray stone tower with its heavy turrets
loomad dim and half defined against
a background of lowering gray clouds
that were drifting sullenly across the
winters sky, she exclaimed, 'sSeven
o'clock I've been out over an hour;
poor motherp and tender tears came
into the great dark eyes, that but a
moment since had been burning with
anger, when the bell startled her into
consciousness of the lapse of time. =
The eyes grew angry again as she
glanced once more at the windew where,
in the most tasteful and elaborate en-
broidcry, she recognized the product of
her own skillful fingers. How long
she had been standing there. she knew
not, for with flashing eyes and burning
cheeks, she was conscious of nothing
sa re the insolent manner and hardness
of her nployer, who, in spite OF her
entreaty, refused to advance one cent
of pay Tor the completed work she had
brought, assuring her that Saturday
was their regular payday, and that they
never departed from their usual GUS
tom; even when from the pale lips was
forced the truth that her mo ther lay at
home i'll and starving, he only blandly
smiled and bowed her out at the door
She folded her shawl closer about her
slender figure as a gust of wind came
scurrying keen and bitter down the
street, and fixing her eyes upon the
pavement to shut out the brilliancy of
this week before Christmas, she walked
rapidly onward.
Pausing once before a large grocery
store, she stood moment irresolute,
then, with determined look, entered.
Here, as everywhere, was hurry and
hustle; busy clerks were weighing and
measuring out savory parcels to the
crowd that throhged the place; people
were chatting together as they waited
for their turn at the counter, and no
one had eyes or ears for the new conner
save as here and there clerk glanced at
her to see if she were customer of i'm
portance, but, at sight of her faded gar
ments and weary look, turned carelessly
to his weighing and measuring again,
content to let her wait until others of
more prosperous mien should be salts
fed. At the farther end of the long room
leaning with one shoulder against the
cashiers desk, stood kindly looking,
gray-haired gentleman, talking with a
younger man, who was evidently per-
son of wealth and culture. Their con-
versation was about finished, and with a
pleasant "Good evening"" the younger
gentleman turned to come away; catch
ior1,f ho of MrIrI q a
face and dark eyes, with their look of
mingled timidity aud determination.
The expression of her face and
her evident poverty and wear
mess seemed to make an i'm
preston upon him, for he turned to look
after her as she passed on, and an express
sion half of pity half of admiration cross
ed his fine features. But Muriel saw
him not. Finding the gray haired gem
tleman, who was proprietor OF this busy
establishment unengaged, she at once
addressed him, saying, Mr.. Wilson, I
have come to ask of you kindness. /
should not have troubled you, but your
clerks refused to trust me when applied
to them this morning. My mother is
just recovering from long illness and
needs nourishing food. Darcy & Co.
owe me for work already done more than
enough for what / want tonight, but they
refuse to pay me before Saturday, their
regular payday. / never before owed to
any man cent, and but for my mothers
illness should not ask trust now" Mr..
Wilson, who had studied her face intent
ly as she spoke, said, ''It is not our Gus
tom to trust any one, and my clerks did
exactly right in refusing you; but am
glad you came to me, for though L never
- 11,
and viii gladly supply your need. If
YOU Will give me your address perhaps
my wife may be of some comfort and as
sistance to your mother; she loves to look
after the sick and needy"
Thanking him for his kindness she
gave him her address, made her pur-
chases, and left the store. A few min
utes' rapid walk brought her to the door
of a house in one of the narrow side
streets of the city; the house was the
poorest upon that street, but the locali-
ty. though not aristocratic, was respect
able. She opened the door anG assembled
cne narrow flight of stairs, and then an
other, feeling her way along in the dark
ness. At the head of the second fight
door opened into low-ceiled room,
where few Goals cleaning through the
CRATE sent shadows dancing over the bare
Hoor and walls Poor and meagerly fur
nished as the place was, one could tell,
even in the semi-darkness, for there was
no light save that made by the fire, that
the room was scrupulously neat and or
derly. A smaller room opened from this
one, where, upon q low couch. the sick
woman lay, wearily watching through
the open door the playing shadows.
sSI've been gone a long time, mother
dear" said Muriel, laying her packages
upon the table and going to the bedside;
"but I've brought you something nice
for supper. I'll stir up the fire and put
the tea to steep right away"
Tea! pet, have you got tea? That is
good, for I am very thirsty; but can eat
nothing tonight, for the pain has come
back, and fear am getting worse. .
80 mother darling! don't say that;
thought you were SO much BETTER said
Muriel, as she fastened to mix some
medicine to relieve the pain.
She gave the mixture to her mother,
and as it seemed to quiet her Immediate
ly, she went about getting supper, think
ing the sight of food might tempt her
appetite. The meal prepared, she sue
ceeded in getting the sick mother to eat
few mouthfuls, and then, arranging her
comfortably for the night, she ate her own
supper, and lighting the lamp took her
work and sat down near it to finish the del
icate sprays of embroidery at which she
earned her living, a living hardly worth
the name-a hard, careworn existence,
where only anxiety for her mother and
dread of that bug-bear of toiling
woman, debt, were the sensations of
which she. was conscious Sometimes. as