The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1884-02-28

dressed, sitting on sofa, with TWO OF
three men round her, and buzz OF po-
litical murmurs.
"Best speech of the session! outdld
himself; never thought Pelham would
come out like this!'
..Well, Lady Pelham, l congratulate
you heartily. We all look upon Sir
Joseph as the rising hope OF the party. "
aYou should have heard the roars OF
LAUGHTER with which his Shakspearian
quotation was received. Havard, you
can tell Lady Pelham what it was. l
| do not remember the words, but be
took so fatherly tone to poor w. that
from man of his age the effect was in
mitable."
Two members were talking together
in an ante-room.
"Best speech of the session! / never
believed there was SO much in that lazy
| fellow Pelham"
'.It is all his wife's doings. She has
brought out his dormant powers.
The shadows are passing over the
wall again. l bend forward eagerly.
What is itp What blurred-looking
picture! 1t is raining fast, pouring,
with the Kissing sound of rain on the
pavement 1t is SO dark that l can on
ly just distinguish a narrow alley, such
a den of pestilence as Shoreditch can
best show.
On the right stands a public house.
| see faint lights through the chinks of
its dirt-encrusted shutters, and hear
loud tones and evil words from within.
A man reels to the door. and looks
out; nothing but rain and black mud,
and horrible stencil from the rushing
cutters. He shuts the door with an
oath and goes in again.
''Take care, missus!
A faint glimmer from lantern
shows me two figures picking their
way through mud and flth-a rough
| looking man, whose old fur cap is
drawn low over his brow, and behind
him woman, dressed in the coarse
gown and white cap of an English Sis
ter of Mercy; a little black wooded
cross on her breast and long cloak
| round her. The face, on which the yell
low light shines, is homely, with
slightly worn expression, and eyes full
of kindly sweetness.
II am very glad to have arrived
she says cheerfully, shutting her cotton
umbrella, and about TO step into the
house. A man from within pushes her
back roughly but not unkindly.
''Do you know what you undertake,
missus?" he says. Five of 'em-two
brothers, wives, and child: And it's
black smallpox"
81 know; let me pass! Thank you
for your warning she answered gent
ly.
The man mutters something and
draws back.
She goes in.
suppose some days, even weeks,
must have passed in my dreams. for I
awoke to find my little circular picture
full of daylight.
1t is the same alley, but narrow
pathway along it is swept clean and
dry. and here and there strewn with
straw. At the door of the public house
stands a little group of people sur
rounding the Sister of Mercy. Two of
them seem as if their hearts were too
full of speech; on the arm of one hangs
a weakly woman, the other stands
alone They press her hands, one man
raises the rough sleeve of her gown
and kisses its hem, with tears raining
down his cheeks.
Kindly words she says to all, little
practical advice, little exhortation.
They listen as if she were a saint from
heaven, and then she goes her way.
One old man exclaims as she disap-
pears: "Well, If there be God, He
will hear our blessings on that there
Sister"
The shadows gathered so quickly
over my picture that l hardly saw her
to the end of the street. l leant my
head on my hand and tried to make
out these visions, but seemed strange
ly unable to fix my thoughts.
Exceptional cases, nothing but ex-
ceptionai cases." heard myself NUT
ter, and the words half aroused me. /
felt for my pencil to make another
memorandum, when my attention was
again arrested.
Shadows rose up one after another
like thin curtains from my magic cir
Gle, and new scene presented itself to
my gaze.
A charming boudoir, furnished with
SfSly ld-Sdi tlC w oil Will
son silk, full of rare pictures and cabi-
nets of precious china. A white bear
skin rug before the fire, on which was
seated young lady. who leaned her
arms on the lap of an older woman re-
posing in deep armchair.
They were very like each other, but
it was doubtful whether the elder lady
could ever have been so lovely as her
golden haired child.
The girl held out to her mother
closely-written letter, saying, in a
broken voice, Mother, l want you to
see what l have written to him."
Her lips smiled bravely, while the
tears were streaming unheeded down
her cheeks.
The mother took her letter. I SEEM
ed to be reading with her eyes, for
heard no voice, yet knew what that
letter contained.
my Dearest Harry: Your letter came to
me this morning, and it is so difficult to an
sWer that hope you win be patient with me-
We have known each other SO long, and loved
each other so dearly, that it grieves me bit
terry to refuse TO marry you. Yes, dearest
1t is indeed TO refuse you that / write. and
perhaps you viii think me hard and pedant-
ic for my reasons, and perhaps unfeeling and
nkind. On, DO not think so, for have been
crying all the time that have been writing
this, and / can scarcely see TO write ii now.
1t goes to my very heart to grieve you so.
And must j, need |, tell you why? Harry. if
you do not grow more steady, you will break
my heart i have tried 10 believe what you
say, that could save you. / am only girl
and very full of faults. / could not hear OF
my husband gambling. see him helpless
from drink without terror, disgust, horror.
dare not, Harry; your salvation is in higher
hands than mine. Do not lean on a broken
reed. We have no strength in ourselves. ]
am doing tbis-I am sending you away from
me-but il is breaking my heart. ForI love,
you. my dariing-I love you i know that
you love me- Do not try to see me, or to aher
my determination, for it cannot be altered
Goodbye, my darling. / will pray for ali
Gods blessings on your head. Goodbye,
Goodbye.
'Msude."
Then the shadows stole lingeringly
over the circle, folding it softly out of
sight.
Again must suppose a lapse of
time. perhaps years. 1t is war time,