The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1883-10-31

with tnelf SORROWS, but the poor cannot. I
once knew an old woman who in the same
year lost her daughter and her husband,
two terrible blows one afterthe other; but
she had large family to care for and
farm to manage. From sunrise to sunset
she was busy. "But on Sundays said
the widow to me, Il am happy" And
what was this woman's idea Of happinessl
1t was that in the loneliness of her room
she could pass the day on her knees, pray
ing and weeping for her lost husband and
child.
But Mrs. De Lacy had not even Sun
days. Remember that she was the only
bread-winner for the family, and her
fingers were not as dexterous as her
daughters. Medicines were expensive,
and she could not deprive her h,sband of
one of his comforts. Thus, at whatever
hour the girl opened her eyes she beheld
her mother at work and when the cur
tains of her bed were drawn, she heard
the little metallic clink of the scissors as
they were laid on the table.
Seeing her mothers fatigue was one Of
Dora's greatest sorrows.
Give me some work." she would say,
trying to raise herself in bed. Her moth
er, seeing in this wish an indication of re-
turning health, gladly drew the pillow up
to sustain the fragile form; but the needle
was too heavy, the eyes too weak, and the
street-cries brought back to the girl the
memory of her wanderings, ''that night"
No. she had no wish to live.
"Are you comfortable asked the moth
er, looking at the white face.
ayes, quite, dear mother said the girl,
with faint smile which showed all the
ravages made by illness and grief, like
g ,..Ax 4
| ings of the poor, instead of frightening
them, only brings out their desolations
and discomforts. The mother dared not
speak lest she should weep aloud; and
the daughter stupefed by fever was al
ready wrapped in the shadow of approach
ing death.
The iliustrious We're De Lacy was rarely
there. He had not changed his daily
habits in the smallest degree. Neverthe-
less, he knew that his child was dying;
the doctor had told him SO. If he had
loved her--but in his nature the truest
and most natural emotions acquired GER
tain meretricious air; just as when pla-
card is fastened crookedly upon a wall,
every word on it looks crooked tool
De Lacy aired his grief, and played
with success the part of the broken
hearted father. He was seen at the the
atre, and all his usual haunts with tum-
bled hair. red ewes. and n ,ale face, and
liked to he met with sympathizinp oues-
tions. to which he repiied nv COMPRESSED
ling and q melancbolv shake If the head.
But he was full Of thouptfnl attentions
for his daughter during her illness. He
brought her flowers. but was not content
with the simple yiolets that are to be
found at every street-corner In these
gloomy autumnal DAYS nothing would con-
tent him but roses and iessamine. or
snowy exotics. costly flowers reared I'M
der glass.
at is too muchi too muchw said the
sick girl each day as he appeared. bouquet
in hand; but he replied in SO lofty a tone
that she ceased TO demonstrate Never
theless II was a great EXPENSE. the bur-
den of which fell on Mrs De Lacv. But
far from complaining. the poor woman
Thought this extrayapance very noble on
the nart Of her husband. This contemnt
for money filed her with admiration. and
she was more imnressed than ever with a
belief in his talents.
He also. even amid NIL the mournful
lessons Of his wasted life. never doubted
his own genius, but a hot diving hand was
to lift the veil from his eyes.
One night Dora awoke in singular
state; the doctor had found her some
hours before very much better, the fever
all gone. He did not attempt to account
for the change, nor did he say that the
improvement was more than temporary.
awe must waitl' he said grayely, hoping
that it might be one OF those extraordina-
nv efforts made by nature and youth. Had
he looked under Doras pillow he would
have found letter with the Cairo post
mark; four pages, signed Frank-four
pages of confession and explanation
1t was such letter as the sick girl had
dreamed Of in past days. Had she her.
self dictated its words she could not have
found any so tender and loving. Every
thing which could soothe her wounds and
spare her delicacy was there. He inn
plored her pardon, narrated to her all the
Temptations to which he had been exposed
and all his struggles. He babe Dora dis
trust Sylvia, and with cleaIness Of per-
ception born of his former passion, he de.
scribed her heartlessness and total lack
of honor or principle
Had that letter reached Dora but few
DAYS earlierl Now all its tenderness was
like food brought too late to man dying
of hunger: he sees it. smells It, but can
not swallow it. Over and over again the
sick girl read this letter. She drew it
from the envelope. kissed it lovingly. and
even through her closed lids saw it's ey-
ery word and the color of the stamp
Frank had not forrotten herl And she
fell asleep MS If her head had been upon
his shoulder. Suddenly she awoke. and.
as we said before. in n most peculiar state;
she felt ali nerves. and vet as if she held
on TO life with but the slenderest thread
1t was night. and the room in which she
Law was in shadow. The lamp. half turned
down, lighted only the scattered work ta-
BILE and moor Mrs De Lacv's Steering face
Dora's whole past came back To her:
forgotten incidents of her childhood;
scenes that nj the time she had not nm
derstood; words heard as in dream.-all
returned,
The girl was bewildered. but not terri
fed. She did not know that yery often
death is heralded bv exactly this exces-
siye excitement of the faculties.
She saw her father tbronrb the omen
door. Her mother Law back IN her chair.
utterly worn out. and alI the traces Of
wears of misery and of toll were visible
on her worn face. Dnring the day thew
were. in a measu,e. masked Inv will and
by constant occupation /: hut sleep brought
them ont The deem wrinkles and red
dened eyelids. the scantv hair. already
white nj The temnles. were nil too visible.
and Dora saw them ali. How she lonced
for the strength and mower to kiss away
~ -''.~y