The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1885-03-13


any thing better than the petty
Sights aud sneers to which Fhe is
daily subjected in her uncle's
house. She takes small room and
obtains some sewing; the remuner-
alton is very slight, but as nothing
else offers she is glad to get any
thing by which she can earn enough
to get food for herself aud Harry.
But soon her rent falls due and
she has no means to meet il. She
is wondering what she shall do (;
she has just finished some sewing
for Mrs. Lawrence, but it is Satnr-
day night and nine o'clock, TOO
late for her to take it home, SO she
abandOns the thought Of dinner to-
morrow, and thinks Monday morn
ing she will give all her earnings
to the landlord, which will fall short
of what she owes, but may per-
haps give her a respite. AS she
takes up Harry's little torn trow.
ers TO mend, her eyes fall upon a
neatly tied package, marked "Mrs.
Lawrence and that name sends
her thoughts adrift, away back to
another Saturday night when Sue
had watched aud waited in vain for
the coming of one of that name.
Presently she hears mans step
coming upstairs; her heart beats
faster, and she holds her breath as
it pauses before the door; ii second
passes and then comes knock (;
she is timid about opening the door.
She halt rises, then sinks back intO
her seat. The knock is repeated.
Shall she open the donrf Who can
it bei The landlord, perhaps.
With this thought she rises just as
the knock is again repeated. With
trembling hand and scared face
she opens the door.
Her nerves are unstrung, and she
almost screams aloud as she be-
holds Eugene Lawrence, but not
quite.
I have come for some sewing of
my mother'S,' he begins, stepping
across the threshold; the light is
in his face, and he has not recOgnl.
zed her.
She closes the door without turn
ing around, trying TO keep her face
from him, but as she Las eaten
nothing siIce the day before, her
step is rather uncertain, aud she
staggers forward as her hand leaves
the knob he springs toward her
aud catches her arm.
"ROse Lagrange! Is it possiblei7
he exclaims, in CONSERVATION.
"At your SERVICE" she returns,
try ing to speak lightly, but sinking
wealily in chair.
"Has il come 10 this = he asks,
looking around the room.
~ am not ashamed to work, she
says, proudly.
"No, no! not ashamed to! 0,
but that you should be obliged /!
Will you tell me about yourself and
how you came here n
"Be seated, please. If you care
to hear, | will tell yOu," aud she re-
sumes her meudlng invOluntarily.
'There is much to tell !" she begins;
she has been sewing Il button on
Harry's pants; something drops
out of the pocket and falls on the
floor, aud as she discovers Il hole
in the pocket she empties it in or.
der to mend it. She takes out some
twine, marbles, an old key, pals,
aud many other old traps, and at
the very bottom a bit of crumpled,
dirty paper; she lays them on the
table aud resumes her sewing and
her story.
He picks it mechanically aud alb
sently smOOths it out. 1t is a let
ter sealed aud stamped. Sudden.
~ he becomes aware that he is
reading the name OF "Mlss Rose
Lagrange" in bis own handwriting.
He hastily tears it open and reads
bis own letter to her written over
"A year ago.
She is surprised at his behavior.
"Mr. Lawrence, you forget your
self" she says.
"Will you be kiud enough to read
that letter." he exclains, excitedly,
sit is evident il never reached
you"
She takes it wOnderingly, reads
it slowly, then looks inquiringly
into his eager face.
"Do you understand I" he asks,
imploriugly.
"Hardly," she returns; then reads
it over; light seems to break
upon her, for the tell-tale color
rushes into her face and betrays
her.
"Had you received it when it was
due, what would you have said p
"Come," she whispers.
"My darling! my darling y he
exclaims, folding her in his arms.
She falls limp upOu his breast.
"What have | done! have l kill
ed her y he cries ia alarm.
"NO," she said, II am only faint
and weak it will pass presently"
"What is iti what is the mat
terri
"Nothing, nOthingl / have had
nothing to eat since yesterday, aud
1 am little dizzy that is all.7
''Great heavensl J that is enough !
You shall go to my mother to- night.
l will not leave you again alone.
n that x-ou rhould havo .sorna IN