Omaha daily bee., 1883-03-10
MAY AND

In o wei turnlsned apartment III
one of the houses In Bloomingdsle
street, there sat, IN the morning l
speak CT, three persons One was q
man whose smooth brow and unfsded
locks told nothing of age, but whose
limbs we're completely paralyzed. The
second was a lady who might have
once possessed great beauty, but on
whom consumption was making hasty
and unmistakable ravages. The third
was q girl of eighteen or nineteen,
whose likeness to each, as we'll as her
evident devotion to their wants, pro-
claimed her their daughter. Kate
Ashcroft was not beautiful In the COM
mon sense of the word. She had fine
exp ressive eyes and q sweet mouth;
but even these cid not en,itie her to
be called a beauty. The highest
charm of her face was q sweet and
lovely Ok preston, speaking of Inward
peace and gentle, kindly thoughts.
Mr.. Ashcroft had long been a mis-
cradle Invalid. When still In the
prime of life paralysis had done its
work upon his frame, bringing all the
appearance of old age to his noble fig
ure, while his fice was still youthful.
| Mrs. Ashcroft had watched beside hin
faithfully and devotedly, until con.
sumption had touched her with itt
chilling fingers, aud laid her upon 8
bed OF pain and distress. Tnus 1t fell
to the daughter to nurse both invalids
and she did it with q devotion tina
made the tack light. She was tn,
light of their eyes-the only being
whom they could not cheerfully Civ,
up, In the prospect of death.
What would she do when they wer'
gone, was the question that weighed
upon their minds most heavily. The.
had no relatives near enough to TAX
an interest In the child; aud the new
friends they possessed were in foreign
lands. Judge, then, how desolste wa
the path that seemed to be before tn
daughter they loved so well. l
added, too, TO their anxiety, that the.
must leave her penniless. Sicknes
had melted away their resources unit
the little that was left would hardy
Mr.. Ashcroft thought, pay the ex
penses Of the double funeral whicl
must inevitably follow their long ant
~lipaerlng illness.
"Do not grieve 30, dearest father,
Kate had been saying; II shall surel,
be provided for. / a work rs vel
as many others. The littte l shal
want, l can earn"
Her father gazsd at her with tearfu
eyes. "Poor child" be exclaimed
show little you know of the world
How will you, who have koown s
little of the trials OF hfe, b abla t
stem the rude torrent of adVersi'y
How will you bear up against III
terrible burden OF poverty? Wi
those little hands be strong enough t
earn your daily bread? You, VIII
have never been trained TO work, VIII
have never borne the weight of crush
ing sorrow. o merciful Father! Biin
her into thy fold, and make her thin
especial care!"
Tears hot and bitter impeded h
utterance. 1t was long ere Kate coul
soothe him Into anything like oompos
ure. Mute and still was the mother
grief, yet as deep as that of her hui
band. All the terrors of q desolatC
lonely life for X ate uprose before hel
yet she conquered all trace of emotion
1t was but the prelude of great suffer
Ing, for that night saw her In tn
shadow of the dark valley. TIL
breaking of a blood vessel was the col
sequence of her suppressed emotion
and before morning the weary spir
was released from the suffering bad,
"There sat the shadow feared
man."
More rapidly than ever Mr.. AL
croft was failing. The death of h
wife was his own death blow. Fro,
the moment of hor departure he CEASE
to speak, and lay wrapped In sile'
grief. 1t was pi'itul indeed to see POI
Kate. She went from room to roo.
to look upon her mothers llfeless r
mains, and back again, to try to spes
comfort to the poor mute suffere
Scarce a day interviewed before he, to
was also summoned away.
ooh, for one word-one look of re
o~gnition!" sighed the poor girl wi
hung over him. Alas, II was n
granted her. Slowly the pulse ceaa'
beating, and then stopped foreve
Kate was, indeed, doubly orphsne
Kind noighbors tried to bring col