New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-07-25


Morton was a clergym ms widow. and obligated
TO do something for herself. Very regular with
their rent, like yourself sir"
| cannot trace how that casual meeting with
my fellow dodgers grew TO be feature in my days
engagementsj but, although our greeting was
silent one one I should have been sorry some
to encounter those, black-veiled figures.
was sue they were very poor; neatly rs
they were clways dressed could see their gar
ments were well-worn. and they worked very
hard. They often came home later than did from
business and sometimes, when was returning
rom the rare dissipation of visit to the theatre,
| could see the light still burning IN the SIT
ting room above mime. My gauulous landlady
informed me that the ladies did a sight of writ
ing when they were AT home whence inferred
that they occupied themselves either with copy
ing on some such employment in their leisure time.
mus passed some months then came change
only the younger lazy went out daily. After
observing this / inquired of the landlady II Mrs.
Morten were lndSpoSed. Yes, the poor lady was
"Queerlsh, and MISS had persuaded her 10 keep 1t
home for a day or two. Meeting Miss Morton ON
the stairs next day, Ventured 70 inquire after her
mother. and was answered gently and courteously.
but not III a manner that encouraged further ad-
vances Nv fellow dodgers were decidedly reserved.
However, having broken the ice, regularly
inquired after the sick lady every time | met the
younger one, and was surprised 10 ma now the
sweet lace, mOmentarlly lifted to mine IN reply,
dwelt IN NV memory all day.
Mrs. Morten did not get better; ANXIOUS lines
were showing themselves III the daughters face.
and my lanGlady told me that she thought Miss
Morten was working too hard l was really be
fighting the battle OF lie, so bard to lonely women
could it the old sad story illness bringing
Increased expenses, and means ialiihg 10 meet
them, the poor girl working douDle 10 supply the
mothers failing powers. Strangers as they were TO
me- piticd and sympathized with them.
One evening my musings were Interrupted DJ Il
tap at my door, and on opening II, 10 my eXtreIAe
surprise | found Miss MOrten on the threshold IN
pref agitated words she apOoqzed tor her In.
trusion but her mother was taken SO suddenly
worse the landlaiy and servant were out, she was
afraid 10 leave the Invalid would pardon the
liberty, and " l will 20 tor the doctor AT once,
cried, seizing my hat and hurry ing on before the
poor girl could Stanmer out her apologies ana
thanks ana being fortunate enough 10 INA lnat
gentleman ut home, We soon returned together. VI
course | did not accompany HIM up stairs, Dut
after some interval, he came 10 my roDm 49,
q" Are these ladies' relatives OF friends OF yours T.
/ cxpiained that they we're NOT.
." fear the case is hopeless one" he SAID
gravely.
.Ifthey have friends they should be communicated
with at once. The young lady does not reaiize
the danger. but believe airs. MOrteu is SINKING
rapidly Ii is a case OF low fever, not infectious, but
n yrrv had type: should say greatly induced by
overwork Of some kind, ana probably augmented
by insufficient nOuTisnment."
{ limited that LbclleNed that the ladies' were not
too well OFT. Probably, very probably, Sald the
doctor .he was klnd-hedrted mah, Dut ctSes OF
genteei poverty were SO common III MS g. peIIVHyc
that his interest III them was somcN IN uuHc'.l'
" will look IN again tomorrow bul repeat
if the ladies have any friends, they ought 70 De
communicated with" l found means OF convey
ing this opinion rs gently as possible 10 hiss
Morton shortly alterward and at the same time
requesting her to employ my services IN any way
they could be of use. she thdnNed me Win tlie
same gentle reserve OF manner. WAS very soOu'
but there was nothing she required.
But the weeks went py, aud gradually
acouircd a slight intimacy with her. Mrs. Morton
ln-, red on. steadily declining. l darcd not oHer
any assistance That iuOSed like pecuA!dIy aIl
but uscu 10 bring dalIl 5lts OF IIt anu lioN'L9
for the dying wOmaut AN AFRAID sald they were
presents to me from the Chaplain hOthouscs,l ana
I went on errauds and Once-the night before
faf
thaU Minnie had promised 10 sUnd 10 J!e publishers
that day and could not quit her mothers PHio"
to complete
Poor gentle Minnie those days Of trouble brought
us much together. soon learnt ali her ItJie story
Obliged TO leave the pretty country VlcaTage aIter
ber father, deatll-coung 10 London. hoping 10
le able TO earn a living VIII her mo ncI-Worklng
hard living scantIIF-It Is the Old, Ola talc OF
hundreds Oh poor women, well born, wel-educated,
left alone I'D The world. without assistance 70 nghJ
tnc.r way a. best tley can The Mortens had no
frieu Is in England. Mr.. MOrtcns brother had emil
grated wears ago and settled IN Australia Minnie
know his address Mrs. Morton had been an
orphan j cousin OF her fathers was the Only
person Minnie could apply to Tor either advice |
or ass. tauce but he was "a hard cold man with a
large FANNY, very unlikely To 10 much' Neyerl1e-
less when poor Mrs. M0rten died, MINNIE ana wrltc |
to him. asking, not for prcunary help, out Ior en-
ploymcnJ perhaps he could obtain Ter SITUATION
AS goyerne-s OF companion His reply came the day
OF the funeral had made the simple arrange |
meuts, and now Minnie and the KIND hcdEJru ian0-
lady who had accompanied her on her sad Journey
had returned went up stairs 10 see u could be Of
any further service. found Minnie weeping !
bitterly. and she at last showed me her cousin
i never felt such feryent desire to kick |
fellow being as / experienced on reading th al /
letter What creature the writer was 1t was !
"A long epIstle. His surprise at being applied 10 /
d" by 80 distant a connection TOOK LII page TO /
express itself Ihen hc mad "a great deai 10 say !
about Mr.. MOrtcus sinful mprudence ia not /
providing fOr his family after has GcceaSe the /
value OF his living having been IJJ pounds a year. !
Il . ftal cam lsl
times and his own heavy expenses thdt began 20 /
despair OF ever coming 10 reply 10 ANIME : |
real pth of the letter. The cousin, WhO was rch |
man and had been under considerable Obligations /
to Miume's father, Eiade Inc orphau giII
The following muuinccnL proposal Ie Qulte |
agreed that she Was too young 10 con
tluue living in lodgings and gong cut giving /
da liz lessons as she and her mother mad done. lie
could not see his way 10 obtain her any employ
ment, and could not support her III ldieness T.
never asked such thing broke IN poor Minnie,
with flaming checks and therefore, everything
considered II seeged her wisest course to try and
track out her uncle Australia, nearer relative
than l. and more bound 70 assist yOu." Iht writer
was willing 10 advance the sum IOf slecIdse
passage TO sydney, and trust 10 "your gratitude
and sense of honesty to repay me out OF yt hrst
earnings Once arrived IN the colony, Minnie
would doubtless be able to discover traces OF her
uncle OF obtain some employment. Anyhow,
,he would he cheaDly OF her cousin hants: ." \
Storage passage aud TO arrive IrlendieS' III an
unknown cUuntry-and the man had young
daughters of his own ! looked at tho fair, del
cate girl. Minnie had borne up bravely for long
lme. but IA sense " utter desolatlOn scored 10
- Oh. what shall do p she cried pteouslr.
L took her cold little hand DO not take q
tcernge passage u Australia. stay II England
me-"
OF course it was foolish business. l always
acknowledge that, though neither or us ever
eg, etted IL for a second aiterwaTd. IL seems like
. bad moral 10 our nprudence that our marriage
hould have been such IN exceptionally happy
ne hut therc-so 1t was. Alter al, we nad seen
|. great deal of each other during those weeks or
IRIS Mortens illness. and had grown more
Intimately acquainted with each others character
md dispOsit,un IN this intercourse than we could
ave done during a whole London season parties IL
vas seeing the deep unseish affection that existed
between Minnie ana her mother that hIsJ opened
nv eve- TO the loneliness OF my own lot. No one
.ad ever loved HE after this manner. My uncle
L-.... - L.1l me- m