The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1884-02-09
TWO HOMES.
A CHAPTER CT REAL LIFE.

There was trouble on certain morn.
ing III two homes at opposite ends of the
city OF Dublin. The homes were very
different, and so was the nature of the
trouble; nevertheless, the latter was
felt with considerable keenness by the
respective inhabitants of both.
The first of these dwellings, was on
the south side of Merton Square, a
goodly mansion, the abode of wealth
and luxury. The lofty drawing rooms
opening into each other by folding
doors draped with velvet portieres, were
gorgeously fitted up. Bull and mar
quetrie IN tables and cabinets; carvings.
statuettes, bronzes; brackets and eta,
ceres heaped with rare old china and
objects OF virtu, reflected and multiplied
by Venetian mirrors and lookine-glasses
IN Florentine frames; couches and chairs
OF every luxurious shape, satin and vel
vet upholstered Draperies of antique
lace were arranged with picturesque eff.
feet among gliding and brackets; costly
toys lay scattered abo1t the tables
among the vases filled with dollhouse
flowers IN lovely profusion, that made
the rooms sweet with their fragrance.
The lady to whom all this belonged
sat dlsconsolate in the midst of her rich
Surroundings. Books and embroidery
were on the dainty little flower decked
table at her side, but they are urtouch-
ed; and restless, troubled expression
was on her face, while she nervouslv
ciasped and unclasped the jeweled hands
lying idle in her lap.
The door opened and footman an
nounced visitor.
"Oh, /" she exclaimed, rising to greet
her, you got my note. How kind of
you to comei / am In such Distress"
"And for what asked her friend.
"Tell me all about it..
You remember my cousin Emma
H-?"
"Of course. Bat no one has seen her
for years. She has shut herself up in
her country place ever since her husband
died, has she not?"
eyes; and she is still prey to grief.
Before they married her husband gave
her, as her engagement ring, valuable
Jewel that had been in his family for
time out of mind, and hal come tC him
from his mother. 1t was diamond-a
single stone of great size and the purest
water. OF course, she valued it I'M
mensely, as indeed she would have any
gift from a man to whom she was so de-
voted. Since his death this ring has
been simply inestimable in her eyes
the earnest of happiness ruined so soon.
Priced SO highly by the giver as an old
family possession, and III itself of such
exceeding value, it has never left her
finger day or night. Latterly she has
fancled that the stone was becoming
loose IN the setting, and spoke of send
ing the ring to me to have it examined
by a jeweler, but could never make up
her mind to part with it, even for few
days. At last, however, the stone came
out. She sent it to me, nd"-here the
speaker broke down-"I have lost i'll"
"You have lost the stone? How very
unfortunate No wonder you are so
wretched. Tell me how it happened. "
The lady told her story, pouring the
details OF the grievous misadventure in
to sympathetic ears. Her friend, with
kind tact, abstained from the, elf you
bad only done this or that" or, 81
wonder you did so-and-so," common on
such occasions; remarks that drive pain
fully home the arrow of self reproach
and fruitless regret, already singing so
sharply. Every one is SO wise, 80 full
of precautions, after thing has hap
pened.
The means that had been adopted for
the recovery of the lost treasure were
discussed by two ladies', and fresh meas
ures anxiously suggested. At last the
visitor departed, leaving the owner of
these gorgeous drawing rooms with a
heavy heart under 4" silk attire"
The other home was In very differ
ent quarter of the city. 1t consisted of
one room in house let out in "tene-
ments to poor families In a squalid
black slum. fireplace was clean, though
bare OF everything except mere neces-
sarles, every article of furniture that
could be dispensed with, as well as the
wearables OF the inmates, having gone
to tn pawn shop to procure food. Ly-
ing outside the bed, partly dressed, was
mantle wreck of fine, stal~art,
broad shouldered young fellow. He was
day laborer, and had lately left the hos
pital after long and heavy fit of illness.
Two small children were playing quietly
in corner; and the wife-her apron
thrown over her head-was sitting be-
side the tireless CRATE, rocking herself
backward and forward, sobbing bitterly.
A don't take on so, my girl" said
the man, "don't now, Mary, honey.
Sure God is good. Maybe He'll rise
up something for us. I'll get strong
and able again, perhaps. Didn't the
doctor say, when l was leaving the hos
pltal, that l hadn't ha'porth the mat.
ter with me? I was cured; and he need
do no more"
" Ay; and didn't he say, too, that you
was to have good food-good nourish-
ment, and that without it you wouldn't
do? And It's that what's breaking my
heart entirely" added Mary with fresh
burst of grief, Cooking at you there
melting before my eyes day by day;
wore to d skeleton with next TO starva-
ton, and nothing on the living earth to
give you. And now here's the man
come for his rent, and l haven't half
penny to give him-not onel Sure and
certain, we'll be turned out on the world.
Nothing for it at last but to go to the
work house, and be all parted asunder
from one another-you and | and the
children. And we so comfortable, SO
happy in our little home before you
took i'll, with full and plenty of every
thing, Oh, Jim. jewel, isn't it hard p
"Well, twas from no fault of ours,
and couldn't be helped. The sickness
came from the Lord-glory be to His
holy name How do we know but that