The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1884-03-15


II.
The gale which had been blowing all dav
had fallen, with the setting of the sun, to
the dingy white of the half-melted snow
sparkled with the gathering frost, in the
light of the large moon. Up and down the
streets of the great, grimy, hurrying.
never-silent city, the trailing folds of pale
white light and shadow made all things
dimly beautiful. Down the streets, now in
| light, now in shade, Tim and Uncle Tony
went silently on their way, Uncle Tony
taking queer little back step, at regular
| intervals, to keep himself in pace with
Tins hating gait.
"Uncle Tony" said Tim, looking up into
the old mans face, "wo--would you mind
telling me how it all happenedW
! The old man hesitated moment, and
then said:
"Tim, will tell you; but 1 must begin
pretty well back, or you couldn't under
stand it."
"You see, Tim, my father was a musician
| by profession. He had great musical
! talent, and a touch of genius, just enough
to make him ambitious, and he was never
very successful. He wanted me to keep
away from the music, but, Tim, couldn't
do it. And tell you," said the old man,
growing quite emphatic, 81 could play
marvelously well in those early days, for
one who was not genius"
'You remember told you that played
in the orchestra at Drury Lane Theater.
| Well, the great folks liked my playing,
and some of them sent for me to cqp lup
to West End almost every 1figfrs, -sksf I
was through at the theater. 1t was + that
way that became acquainted witt AIDE
laide, Sir William Norton's only laugh
ter"
Uncle Tony's tone had been grbwing
lower and lower, and now, with bent head,
he walked on in silence until Tin said
| softly:
"Wh-where is Adelaide now, Uncle
Tony~
"Ah," said the old man raising lis head,
and lifting his rusty silk hat re.erently,
"she's an angel, Tim; an angel With God,
these many yearsW
A few moments and he went On huskily:
"After time, Tim, we stole away and
| were married"
"There never was a lovelier being, Tim,
than she was" The old nan sighed
heavily and went on in silence until Tim
said:
"Was she ever in America, Uncle TonyP'
"Yes," said he, rousing himself. Eyes.
| When Sara was born, Adehide called her
Sara for her dead mother. When her
father heard Of it he wrote her. This was
the letter, Tim, remember every word of
|
er's sainted memory by calling Anthony
Marshall's daughter by her name. 1 will
never look upon your face again, nor hear
from you, If l can avoid it?"
HE was a mean, hard one, wasn't heT'
said Tim, his brown eyes flashing indigna-
tion.
81 don't suppose he meant to be. l be.
leve I can understand how it was" said
the old man in his gentle, direct way.
!"After this Adelaide grew more frail
every day, and, for the sea voyage and the
change, we came to America. She was
better at first, and then she failed in that
| fatally sure but imperceptible way which
only victims of consumption do, and grow
ing more radiantly beautiful, Tim, with
each succeeding day"
The old man dropped his head and did
not speak again until some one, going in
the opposite direction, shouldered roughly
against him aud reused him.
sit was then, Tim, that L learned to worl
on the shoes. l only had what earned by
playing in the orchestra. You see there
were no great folks in New York who
wanted me to play for them"
"Ah, Tim, it is great comfort to me tc
think that Adelaide never wanted for any
thing which money could buy, and that sht
never knew about the shoes!'
The old man said no more until Tin
asked:
"And how was it about Sara, Uncl,
Tony?"
after it was all over" said Uncle Tony
in quiet, weary tone, 81 could not play
There is much in us, Tim, which may dit
out while we live on, with a long sigh
land l have worked only at the shoe
SINCE"
He paused a moment and then continued
Mrs. Wieks-that was mothers nam,
then-liyed in the house with us, and sh,
looked after Sara and l. When Sara wa
ten years old, mother came in one morning
looking very severe. After she had ar
ranged everything she said:
MIR. Marshall, you must get some on
else to do what have been dom ever sine
your wife died, and before, too, for tina
matter. Not that don't want the money
or that l mind the work, but'-she stopped
and asked her what she meant. We'll,
said she, to tell you the unvarnished truth
Mr.. Marshall, you are q widOwer. | am
widow. The neighbors lgW talk | didn'
know what to do, and told her so. Yo1
see, Tim, | was used to 'mother.' She tool
the kindest care of Adelaide, and | Away
remember that. You know how mothe
! smoothes her dress, Tim, when she is say
ing something very particular. Well, sh
smoothed her dress, stopped a little, an(
then said: 'We can fix it by getting mar
ried, Mr.. Marshallr"
" So she asked you, Uncle Tony?" sale
Tim, opening his eyes very wide.
I" Yes, Tim. l should never have though
of but one kind of marriage. Well, Tim,
knew that Sara must have a woman's care
That decided me-"
"You know, Tim, that mother means well
but at times is little wearing"
Yes, Uncle Tony, and she's pretty
savin'; always"
Just so, Tim. Well, she couldn't un
derstand Sara, and as Sara grew older
mother wanted her to wash dishes, ment
the stockings and sew, and, as she said, %
like other girls Sara could no more d
these things, Tim, than lark could draw
) pillow. You should have seen her PEREZ
herself on my bench, Tim, and then hear
her sing. How size could sing! There neve
: was another such throat!
" The summer Sara was thirteen an Ital
ian singer took apartments in the hegse
Many musicians came to see him, and Sar
was with them great deal. She was Dor
songstress, Tim. She had the genius whic
her father and her grandfather missed!
" One morning, after the singer ha
moved away found Sara gone. In littl
note TO me she said she had gone away t
study and be a great singer; that she love-
} me better than all the world, and that sh
would come back for me, her dear littl
father-that was what she always calle
me, finland make us all happy an
proud, and that l was to be always sure sb
was very good and was working hard 1!
{ The old mans voice had a sad little trembl
in it as he added, land that was eight year
agoW
"And it was in New York, wasn't it?D
eyes, Tim. Sara had been gone almos
year when we came here"