The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1885-11-07
BY MERE ACCIDENT.
BY LIZZIE LYONS.

| was white with frost and everything
| she touched seemed turned to ice
ohe had burned her last lump of coal
Estne night before, and consequently
could not have any fire. She went
ltO the cupbOard-nothing there she
searched everywhere. and finally
found crust of bread, This she tried
70 eat in the vain hope that it would
allay the gnaWing hunger.
Putting on her threadbare shawl
and descending the attic stairs, she
started, stiff and breakfastless, to face
The cold.
Is, She was employed at one of the
:, = tls;;.. 20 stuisH,;1ssai sais>l,i.ltya everv
!, large oI 8 as,-aa Stores wne,.i,u.s - =
Saturday night, she was handed an
envelope containing just 81. 80 as re-
munention for her life of toll and
hardship.
Six months before her mother had
died, and, as Ethel had no money,
she had been compelled to apply to
the authorities for a burial by the
city, where she and the woman from
whom she rented were the only
mOurners.
Mrs. Dare in her girlhood had been
the only daughter of very wealthy
wholesale merchant, and was petted
and spoiled by her only brother, but
she had, against her iather's wishes,
married worthless, protiigate fel.
low, and he had disOWned her. She
soon became widow, and appealed
to her father for assistance, which
was ignObly refused in the harsh and
cruel terms that ''she had made her
bed, now let her lie in it," She never
wrote again. but strOve to work for
her little girl and herself and keep
the wolf from the door. On her death
bed she told her daughter her whole
sad story, and implored of her never
to marry a drunkard. Ethel had,
very unfortunately for one in her
station in life, inherited her mothers
great beauty, consisting of large blue
eyes, golden curls, and perfect fea-
lures.
She had meanwhile reached the
store, and after an interminably long
day Of dull monotony and dreary
work prepared to return to her mis-
cfabie attic.
1t was cold, bitter night in mid
Wintei the streets of New York were
one sheet of snow and ice, and more
than one warmIy-clad person, as they
turned the corner and faced the wind
sleet, and snow, hurried along, grasp
ing their wraps more tightly about
them. and cast one sympathetic
thought for the poor unfortunates
who had no place to 60 as a scene of
a cheerful wife, warm supper, and
pleasant fireside passed before their
gaze.
The people were hurrying, or rath-
er sliding along, as it was an utter
impossibility to walk, for after one
thought they had a good foothold
and could manage to maintain their
equilibrium there would be an ig-
nominious fall of dignity, as, with
an ejaculation of "Oh, my !" they
would go slipping down.
In front of one of the elegant houses
on Fifth avenue there was place un-
usually slippery, where at least a
dozen that night had fallen. A little
black-robed figure, in which we rec
ogniZe our friend Ethel, now made
her appearance, and in her haste STEP
ped right on the slippery spot, which
was followed, as many of her prede-
cessors had been, by painful fall,
With a low moan of pain she drag
ged herself to the step, thinking she
was only Jared and would recover
herself and then resume her journey
A sudden twinge of pain from hei
ankle caused her very lips to turn
white.
"Oh, my ankle !" Everything was
growing dark before her. She tried
to raise herself, causing another
tWinge from her ankle, which made
her fall back-senseless, She had
tainted.
A large, portly man, enveloped in
a huge overcoat, fur mittens, Arctic
rubbers-in fact, everything equiva'
lent to comfort-stopped suddenly as
he started to ascend the steps. my
what is this ?"
He hastily gathered her up in his
strong arms, gave loud, ringing
peal to the door bell, which brought
several servants running to the door
strobe through the hall, up the wide
staircase, and into his wife's sitting
room, and laid his burden on the
lounge.
His wife, like the good, dear, sen
sible motherIy woman she was, never
! stODped to ask questions and give