Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-06-11
MY CONFESSION.


insurance company had failed, and thrown him
out OF employment. he had been tramp
That's the word" he interrupted, nerceiy.
"You needn't say any more. That covers every
thing. Tramp, That's what have come to at
Never. Look at it, 1 say-look at it's
mad been looking at 1t ever since he put it on
the fender. 1t was terribly broken, to be sure.
IL was IKE the one-hoss shay, and had given
SO had Charley. All his patience, persever-
ance, and persistency had oozed out at that
awful hole "a man can stand anything but
coat can become weather-beaten to all the
colors Of the rainbow; the knees OF his pants
may grow baygy, and the seams white his hat,
80 oag It's get to any
i was deadt'
"You mean, selfish wretchr 1 cried, finging
my arms about him. what would become OF
"Your people would take care of you and the
youngsters, Kate. I'm only clog and curse
to you: my dear Your people would be glad
''Oh, Charley" cried.
But they were. There's no doubt ABOUT it.
On that dreadful day Charley kissed US all as
usual when he went out. He seemed TO be
calmer and more resigned. But l renem Oered
the ghastliness OF his smile when he drew a
rubber over hts broken boot. The day was
Lated them In any weather. He was calm but
1t was the calmnesS OF despair. Days and
weeks, whole month, went by, and On lrleY
did not come back TO US.
done. They appointed conference TO meet at
my house, which was already rented, and the
new lessee desired Immediate possession. Ny
awful suspense about Charley. Their con-
V1ct10ns were very decided.
:" He must have gone and drowned himself
that very morning." they said and added, with
an air OF commendation and relief, that per-
haps 1t was the best thing he could do under the
circumstances. Ny heart was full to bursting.
flew Into passion OF grief and rage. and drove
Youth send for Us when you get cooled
down." they said. And doubtless should, II
Aunt Maria had not been belated at the family
conference, and arrived wheE my passion was
at its lowest ebb. l was as limp as rag, and
quite as helpless.
Just ike EN- said Aunt Maria "a more
selfish, cold, heartless SET OF people the Lord
This cOnsCled and strengthened me. We be-
gan abusing them. and 1 felt better and
stronger. Aunt Marias was one of those
Schentng, turbulent natures that had never
agreed with mine In the days OF my prosperity,
but IL was 3 kind OF bitter tonic to me just
then.
I'D "a given 'em piece OF my mind II I'd "a
got here In time. But, you see Mrs. Rogers
you know the woman that kept our boarding.
house"
/ shook my head. Aunt Maria's presence was
already losing Its strengthening and consoling
qualities.
"Well. she died last night, and Mr., Chandler
he came to me TO talk things over I've boarded
JOB died. for nigh On to fifteen years; and Mr..
Chardlers Wife she died the very next summer.
and he's kept his second story front ever since.
You see, he OWLS the house. and like enough
has mortgage on the furniture. He's a wishy-
washy sort or man that most anybody Can get
the best CT Good gracious metz
''What is IL, Aunt Maria? WHAT'S the mat
teri"
nWbv comic opo hoatos, q +b,-o a,n,t
special providence In this thing, my name Amt
Maria Peckham. It came to me then, just like
tlasn-the hull thing. Why can't You step
esren 7i Ran 4s
some one right away. It'n be kind o. comfort
aGle for me TO have some one there that l can
depend On, and the Lord knows it IL be CON-
Portable to you to hes some one you can de.
pend on: and Mr.. Chandler, II you get the right
side Of him. is as easy as an old shoe. The
funeral IL come off tomorrow. Her children
I'll hev TO be divided round among the relatives.
I'll go home Low and talk the hull thing over
with Mr.. Chandler. and you come around to-
night and settle every thing. There's nothing
like strikin' when the irons hot. It don't do
to let the grass grow under your feet. That
was the trouble with your Charley; ne was too
slow; hadn't enough push about him-le asst
ways that's what the folks say"
"Slan0erers! backctterS, falsif1ers MY
Charley was the best, tue dearest"-
"YeS, yes, no doubt; out he Amt here Just
now TO earn Twin for you and the children,
ana you don't want to sponge on your folks"
mo. 10, Aunt Maria, any thing but that
"Well. the ways OF Providence is tnscruL aole
1t seems TO be app1ated that you should take
that house. MIS-. Rogers dy1n' unat way, Just
In the nick OF time, and your hevin' ToY With
the fo}ks--ft'S wonderful. I'll go hoIne right
away. and hey talk with Mr.. Chandler before
he fails In with somebody else; he'll let you
hev The furniture on installments. know. The
kitchen OtlciOth I'll stick to the floor, any way.
But Il go home and see about 1t. and you come
round tonight, dye hear, ?"
''Yes. ma'am," said, and guiped down sigh
that was almost grOan as sne diSa ppeare1.
The consolation had all gone out of her presence
long ago. suppose 1 ought to have oeen
grateful My Iced was desperate, but Aunt
Maria made the proposal SO repelitng-the poor
dead woman, the division OF her children. the
mortgage Oh her furniture; / couldn't even see
much comfort In the Kitchen Oil clOth sticking
TO the floor. ] looked upon my children as they
trooped In, shabby ouI rosy. from their winter
amons and my hs heg nsy Wed vhss
my turn came to die, and theirs to be di s.
banded. Charley and l had always said
we'd rather die than board or keep board
children and were left, and something had
to be done. 1t seemed as though Mr.. Chan
dler was my only hope; but went around
of the stoop when saw a fiutter q Grape on
the bell handle. i never In the world could
have gained courage to pull It. Fortunately a
n came 9a H. and
his way down the street. / crept by the parlor
floor, where some people stood Ia groups, talk
Ing and laughing quite unconcerne1iy IN the
awful presence OF death itself. The dishes
were Gathering on the dumb waiter; a woman
came down the stairs, smiling and happy,
cioaked and hooded for The opera. she carried
huge bouquet In her hand, and wondered
how she could pass the pArlor door. The people
In that house may say what they please about
my GOODNESS aud assurance, but ! should be
very sorry TO have as little heart as they. Aunt
Maria was already haggling ABOUT the kite Zen
oilcioth, and nothing would do but we IaaSf
all go down and see that 1t really did slcl to
the floor.
MI. Chandler was Short, stout man. With
scarcely any hair on mis- head, and q S hort
little nose that he had 20 keep percnei Ia the
air so his spectacles wouldn't Ial Off. lis eyes
were very round, and his cheeks were TAT and
red, and fringe OF white beard gave him some
how very benevolent air That was Calculated
10 inspire confidence. We descended into what
seemed TO me the very bowels OF the earth, and
as we entered the big cavernous gloomy
rats, and an army OF CrotOn-ouy5 fed at our
approach. / was weak and nervous, and utter
Ing an exclamation OF terror chung 60 Mr,
Chambers arm.
GOD bless my SOUL" said Mr. Chandler
starting back. .0h, It's you, Don't be fri ghr-
ened, madam. Don't be q. all frightened. I'll
take care OF you
He had himself been considerably shaken by
the size and quantity OF this Subterranean
10 MD somebody even more startle1 than hin.
self. He took the hand: with which had grasped
his arm and held IL u his own, assuring me that
he would protect ms. Nevertheless, was glad
when he was so easily persuaded that the
Kitchen oN-cloth would really stick TO uhe-floor,