The daily gazette., 1882-03-04

with mlscreable bed, made the whole
furniture.
"step softly, Death is here" said q
trembling voice,in which only too-well
recognized the young lady whom had
brought there ten days before. But how
she had changed In this short time Her
cheeks we're hollow, her face was pale
as death, and hsr eyes had an unnatural
brightness.
When had gained the necessary salf-
command, l said with my face turn8d
aWay-for II was impossible fer me TO
look on mysolf as other than . cowardly
villain:
IL bring the bag OF gold which"
and then | mu.tered something about
having only just seen the notice.
"It is too laIe!" she whispered, sadly.
"Ee for whom that money was destined
is no longer living. Here be lies. He
died some hours ago. Yesterday you
could have saved him--saved us both
but HOW II is too late, too latei"
And she murmuring to herself, "too
late, too late!' as II she had fAllen into
heartrendiDg stupor.
Suddenly the poor woman rose slow
ly from the chair where she sat by the
death-bed, and, after walking up aad
staring at me, gave hollow cry which
thrilled me to the marrow Of my bones.
sit Is only right that you should know
what you have 10 answer fjr,' she said.
"That is your work. You can be proud
Of it.; it has been q complete success.
She laughed wlldly-it wa, more a
mingling of laughing and crying-and
looked ct me.
"He was my husband, )" she went ON,
after while, awe lived apart; why
and wherefore, is nothing to you. For
three years have heard nothing of him.
During that time lived out as gov
ernes,, and eAruel that money which
you hold in your hand. May God for
give you for what you have done'
Here she had seSe.e fit of coughing,
and when she took the handkerchief
away from her mouth IL was wet with
fresh blood.
'AL last he fund me-" she continued,
"and wrote, begging me TO come to him.
/ came. He lived 10 this hole in sick
ness and poverty. Had / not lost nv
gold then, / would have taken him
away, and cared fJr him. He died of
hunger. We have had no food for the
last three days, and there is no other
for me but to follow him. Oh, you have
done manly deed! Look there-your
work !"
She drew q cloth from the face of the
corpse; IL looked almos. a skeleton, aud
the sorrow Of the sight overpowered her.
She threw herself over 1t, and sobbed
violently. This emotion brought on
another fit Of coughing, with frlghtful
torrent Of blood, during which she ex-
pired. Her disease had gone too far for
her to survive the shock If her husbands
death, and If she could not die 10 his
arms, she died byShis side.
The landlady was very difident about
the fate Of the unfortunate pair. She
merely said that nothing dlff-ren had
been expected, but she was much pleased
when l asked what they owed, and pro-
ceeded to pay her.
/ went to an undertaken and arranged
with him for fitting funeral fJr the
couple united in death. 1 could not and
would not s,ek for their friends and re-
latives to draw sspicion upon myself.
II was now clear TO me why the advar-
tlsement for the loss Of the money ap
peared but once. The poor souls had
not the money to pay for a repetition.
followed the coftins to the grave. No
stone marks it; bus 1 know it we'll, and
II often follows me in my dreams.
The very same day drove to the
Hospital for Oonsumptives, and put the
rest of the bag of gold in The collection
box, f1r | would rather have died of
hunger than have kept a peuny Of it.