Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1884-02-15

not remember the words, but he took
s fatherly q tone to poor w. that from
q man Of bis age the effect was ininita-
bic" ~
Two members we're talking together
In an ante-rOOm. l: 2. yy&*
BEST speech Of the session! 7 never
believed there was SO much IN that lazy
fellow Pelham. q ,F
1T is all his wife's doings. She has
brought out his dormant powers"
The shadows are passing : over the wall
again. bend forward eagerly. What
is It? What blurred looking picture!
It is raining East, pouring, with the hiss
ing sound Of rain on pavement. 1t is SO
dark that can only Just distinguish q
narrow alley, such den of pestilence as
Shoreditch can best show. 49,
On the right stands public house. I
see faint lights through the chinks Of its
dirt: encrustad shutters, and here 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, missusl"
A faint glimmer from lantern shows
me two figures picking their way
through mud and filth-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 Sister of Mercy; lit
tie black wooden cross on her breast,
and long cloak round her. The face on
which the yellow light shines, is homely.
with a slightly worn expression, and
eyes full of kindly sweetness.
IL am very glad to have arrived" she
says cheerfuly, shutting her cetton UNI
A man from within pushes her back
roughly but not unkindly.
"Do you know what you undertake,
| Missus2' he says. Five of em-two
| brothers, wives, and child. And it's
black smallpox"
I xnow; let me pass! Thank you for
I your warning" she answered gently.
The man understanding and draws
back.
She N. goes in' :.
suppose some days, even weeks
must have passed in my dreams, for I
awoke to find my little circular picture
fnll 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 little group of people
surrounding the sister of Mercy. Two
of them as if their hearts were too full
! Of speech; on the arm Of one hangs q
weaklw woman, the other stands alone.
They pcess her hands, one man raises
lis hem, with tears raining down his
Oh eks.
Kindly words she says to all, little
practical advice little exhortalion. They
listen as il she were saint from heaven,
and then she goes on her way.
One old man excaims las she disap.
pears: well, if there be God, He will
hear our. blessingg on that there Sister,
The shadows gathered so quickly oyel
my picture that hardly saw her to the
end of the street. leant nay head on my
hand and tried to make out these visions
bnt seemed strangely unable to fix my
thoughts.
Exceptional cases, nothing but ex'
eeptional cases." l heard myself mutter
and the words half aroused me. [ fill
for my penc.l 70 make another memo
randum, when my attention was again
arrested.
Il II =
Shadows rose up one after another
like thin curtains from my magic circle
and new scene presented itself to. my
gaze.
A charming houdour, furnished will
every luxury, the walls hung with Grim
son silk, full Of pictures and cabinets o.
precious china. A white bearskin rus
young lady, who leaned her arms on the
lap ofan older woman reposing in deer
arm chair. .r., !
They were very like each other, but
it was doubtful whether the elder lady
colud hav" been SO lovely:as her gold
haired child.
The girl held out to her mother {,
closely written letter, saying il broker
voice "Mother, want you to see wha
I have written to him."
Her lips smiled bravely' while the
tears were streaming UNDECIDED dow1
her cheeks.
The mother took her letter. I seemed
to be reading with her eyes, for heard
no voice, yet knew what that lette'
contained:
| any DEAREST HARRY: Your lette
came TO me this morning, and it is 8.
difficult to answer that I hope you viii
be patient with me. We have known
each other so long, and loved each 9th
er so dearly, that it grieves me bitterl,
to refuse TO marry you. Yes, dearest.
is indeed to refuse you that write, and
perhaps you will think me hard and pc
dantic for my reasons, and perhaps un
feeling and uDkind. Oh, do not thinl
so, for l have been crying all the TIM
that have been writing this, and
can scarcely see to write it now. L
goes to my very heart to griev,
you so. And must 7, need I, tell yor
why? Harry, if you do not grow more
steady, you will break my heart.
have tried to believe what you say, that
could save you. am only girl, ant
very full of faults. I could not hear o
my husband gambling, or see him help
less from drink without terror, disgust
horror. l dare not, Harry; your sal
walton is in higher hands than mine
Do not lean on broken reed. W.
have no strength in ourselves. I an
doing this.-I am sending you away frou
me- but it is breaking nay heart. Fo
| love you, my darling-I love you a
know that you love me. Do not tt,
to see me, or to alter my determination
for 1t cannot be altered. Good bye, my
darling. I will pray for all Gods bless
ings on your head. Goodbye, Good
bye, "MAUDE."
over the circle, folding it softly out o
sight. rs, ...*