Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1881-12-31
How | SAVED TWO LIVES.
JOAQUIN MILLER.


It was only O few days after my
mother died that old Kate, the blind
woman who lived in the room next tc
ours, lost her little dog, and offered tc
share with me her small means of liv.
ing if would fill to her his place.
was glad enough to accept her offer,
and so day after day led her through
the streets, and at night shared her
humble cot. 1t was IN that way, through
passing so often the same houses, that
l noticed and was attracted toward the
inmates of one. 1t was an elegant
stone dwelling, with bay window, and
in that window often sat a lady, with
the gentlest, mcst beautiful face I had
ever seen, while leaning at her knee
would be boy Of about twelve years,
with eyes and brow like her own, but
features in general more ike the dark,
| handsome face of one who would some
times come and talk with them for a
while.
1t was all the same to old Kate where
led her, so long as she knew by the
sounds about her that we were in pop
ulous neighborhood, and I often would
pass and re-pass that house with the
bay window and its beautiful occupants
as many as dozen times day; and so,
though they knew me not, | came to
know them well.
The months went on and summer
came with its pleasant evenings. Then,
when old Kate, tired out, would fall
fast asleep, l would watch my opportu-
nifty and slip out unheard. Perhaps il
was wrong for me to do so; but surely,
l thought, no one would harm little
eight-year-old girl.
One evening, drawn by the splendor
within an open door, stood looking in,
when lady who was passing left the
arm of the elderly gentleman whom she
was with and came to my side.
"Come away, my child" she said
earnestly, edo you not know that that
is one of Satan's most deadly traps ?"
/ was not afraid-she spoke so kind
ly; but it did not seem to me that what
she said could be true.
"Oh, it is too beautiful to be that" l
answered; sit is just like fairy-land.
Her voice was even more earnest as
she spoke again, and there was bitter
ness in it as if somehow she had
suffered through just such place.
"But it is SO, my child. 1t is the
straight road to that dreadful place
where only the wicked dwell. True, it
is beautiful-Satan knows only too well
how to entice and ruin"
L walked on by her side for a couple
of streets--the gentleman all that time
never saying a word, but looking,
thought, little amused-and then she
loosed my hands and sped home.
otherbright, moonlit evening came;
the room was hot and sitting, and all
looked so clear and inviting without
that could not resist the temptation to
once more stray out. This time my
steps turned toward the house in which
| was so much interested. The lights
were lit but the curtains were all drawn,
and though crouched low by the iron
rail l could see nothing, and was turn
ing away, when light carriage sud.
denly drove up and stopped, and q
| gentleman alighted and ran up the
steps. At the same moment the door
opened, and the lady with the beautiful
face came with outstretched hands to
meet him. But her face was as / had
|
tears that yet fell, though with heI
white hands she tried to brush them
away.
"Ohl George, where is CASTOR
Herbie is ill-perhaps to death ]
have longed so for you, TO come, foi
only yon could | ask to search for him.
My poor boy has done nothing but moan
and call for his father for the last three
| hours, and the doctor says if his wish is
not satisfied and his mind set at rest he
fears the worst. Oh, George, / pray
! you leave no stone unturned till you
| find my husband. | cannot tell you
where to look, for have not seen him
since early this morning. He did not
know that Herbert was in any danger,
for even did not. The fever became
violent for the first time this noon."
The gentleman stopped and kissed
her forehead.
J." Ny poor sister, I only wish for your
sake had any clew as to where CASTOR
is-but will do my best"
But ere he had left her / had gone,
on the wings of the wind, for / knew
where to look for him. Only an hour
before had seen him enter the door
that opened upon that brilliant, glitter
ing scene I had heard called" Satan s
most deadly trap"
| [ knocked, and, no one answering,
though in my heart was frightened,
pushed open the door and entered.
saw not this time the great crystal lights
or the bright pictures that lined the
walls, for my eyes were fastened upon
two forms who, in the center of the
room, were confronting each other.
"You shall pay for your words-and
now !" one was saying; and as he spoke
he drew something black and glittering
from his pocket.
The man before him who was thus
threatened with the deadly weapon, was
him sought sprang forward.
"Stop 70 [ cried, with frantic energy.
4 Il = L. a.