Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1884-04-24

Drougnam trotted out OF II. Inc next
showed a London drum. The hostess
standing at the head Of the stairs re-
ceiving her guests; a lady, exquisitely
dressed. sitting on sofa, with two or
three men round her, and buzz Of po-
lilical murmurs.
BEST speech Of the session! outdid
himself; never thought Pelham would
come out like this!'
"Well. Lady Pelham, / congratulate
you heartily. We all look upon Sir
Joseph as the rising hope OF the party"
you should have heard the roars Of
laughter with which his Snakspearian
quotation was received. Havard. you
car tell Lady Pelham what it was. i
10 not remember the words, but he
took so fathcrly a tone to poor w. tha'
from man of his age the effect was in
imitable."
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"
at 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 it? What blurred-looking
picture! 1t is raining fast. pouring,
with the Kissing sound of rain on the
pavement. 1t is so dark that can on.
ly just distinguish narrow alley, such
a den of pestilence as Shoreditch can
best show.
On the right stands 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 a lantern
shows me TWO figures picking their
way through mud and tilth--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; little black wooded
cross on her breast and long cloak
round her. The face, on which the yell
low light shines, is homely, with a
slightly worn expression, and eyes full
of kindly sweetness.
Il 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,
MISUSE" he says. Five of 'em-two
brothers, wives, and a child: And it's
black smallpox.
II know; let me pass! Thank you
for your warning she answered gent
ly.
The man mutters something and
draws back.
She goes in.
1 suppose some days, even weeks,
must have passed in my dreams, for
awoke to find my little circular picture
full of daylight.
1t is the same alley, but a 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 sur
rounding the Sister OF Mercy. Two of
them seem rs 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 hardly saw her
to the emf OF the street. leant my
head on my hand and tried to make
out these visions, but | seemed strange
y unable to fix my thoughts.
Exceptional cases, nothing but ex-
,eptional cases." heard myself NUT
.er, and the words half aroused me. I
elt for my pencil to make another
when my attention was
lgain arrested.
Shadows rose up one after another
ike thin curtains from my magic cir
lie, and a new scene presented itself to
ny gaze.
A charming boudoir, furnished with
very luxury, the wall hung with Grim
on silk, full OF rare pictures and cabi-
lets of precious china. A white bear
kin rug before the fire, on which was
eated young lady, who leaned her
rms on the lap of ~ older woman re-
ug in deep armchair.
They were very like each other, but
was doubtful whether the elder lady
ould ever have been so lovely as her
olden-haired child.
The girl held out to her mother o
losely-written letter, saying, in
roken voice, Mother, want you to
30 what | have written to him."
Her lips smiled bravely, while the
'ars were streaming unheedcd down
er cheeks.
The mother took her letter. SEEM
l to be reading with her eyes, for
card no voice, yet l knew what that
tier contained.
MY Dearest Harry: Your letter came to
@ this morning, and 1t Is so difficult to an-
yer that hope You will be patient with me.
q have known each other so long. and loved
ch other so d.; ~, that it Rrievos me bit.
ry to refuse to marry you. Yes, dearest,
is indeed To refu ~ you that / write, and
,rhaps you wi think me hard and redant-