The Brookhaven leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1883-1891, 1885-08-27
ment, with this bit Of sweet. william

/ stood at the window and looked out
at the great throbbing city-every street
rich with charity and pity, and yet the
pitilesS sun fell on it with binding cru
city, and the wearisO ne wheels of life
ground out their discordant noises, an
hope and faith and love together were
struggl ng and perishing like this little
plant-all around US.
You will have cheap reflections in
spite of yourself sometimes.
Here was this boy. married year.
Vow think of what fate can squeeze into
year. Somewhere there was a cool
garden where the sweet-william had
been growing for twenty years, and
that 5 where he got this girl
They did their cooling there. Don't
you know as well as do that he had
ambition, and she had faith, and moth
make his brave fight. And all she knew
was sle was strong, and she wanted to
be with him.
Put Of course you don't know it as
well as ] do-for you haven't looked
into their faces.
This is what We got to tell you.
Someho ly got hold of that boy very
uickly, slapped him on the back out
there in the hall and blew gust Of
wind through him. 1t wasn't me.
. race up, old fellow. The worst il
over Well have you out Of this in q
iy. New York wants just such stuff
as yours. We re looking for it all tho
time The night is passed, 'pon my
word it is. Here, come along with me. D
"Wait Just moment" said Charley.
Then he went back on tip toe and gos
down and kissed his ghost. and said over
all the brave things he had been saying
so often.
40 you hear me, Lily. We're all
right now. I'm going out for little
while u II be right back. I've got work
promised. Don look that way at me
This tine it's sure. The doctor says
he II pull you through. and we're going
to be happy now. DO you know what /
am saying to your
Then that awful, weary look. She had
heard this so many times, and always
the same hungry boy coming back
The most appalling thing in this
world is for affection 10 see disease kill
ing the interest of love itself
es, | know. harley" she said; II
know. shan worry, and when you
come back this time Ill be better. l
feel it.
Thank God" he said, and kissed her,
and rushed out.
1t was June day. The city smelt of
roses, for the Decoration holiday was
just over.
1t was all fixed. Frknds turned up
over, Work in plc1rt--. He was away
down in esey street and his heart
sang omebody said Here, my boy.
I'll advance you two weeks salary.
You Il need it. You can pa me back
you know, when on get on your feet.
Eut he only thought of one thing it
was lying there in Twentieth street. He
so impatient to get back that he
could hear his heart beat while his
friends were talking to him.
oe one ga HIM big houcuet
Take it up to the sick wife, old fellow,
some one said, and thrust him into a
cab.
He leaned out of the window in
amazement and beckoned at the driver
~ God, man, are you going to walk
all the way"
An the man said, with an oath; Gle
was going as fast as the law allowed
and a id sight faster."
But no cab could go as fast the boys
thought. 'At last. my poor sick darl-
ing" he was saying over and over.
I'm coming-r,u coming Then he
pictured the gladness on her white face
when he told her. He knew exactly
how he would get his arms about her
and hold her tight and tell her what
thty could do now, and he would see
the old light come lack in her eyes and
the old smile play round her mouth.
And then he wanted to ,ump ont and
run ahead or the numbering vehicle.
tp the four tights of stairs, two steps
at time through the noisy children;
his hand on tho knob. The door was
locked.
ma minute it was cautiously opened
and lack and pugles came stealthily
out into the hall and closed it behind
her.
''Cne moment, my boy" she said.
''Is she worse
The woman turned her head and her
hands caught the bugles in her dress
mechanically.
OIL think she is better-calm
yourself"
He dropped the bouquet out of his
limp hand. He was staring at her.
But | must wake hor. I've good
news. 1t will cure her. I'm not ex-
cited. She going to get we'll. What's
the matter
lie made sudden bound. and was in
the room. 1t was darkened. He ran
against chair, and something fell to
the floor. Q threw the blinds open
sl,asmodically, and rushed to the bed.
ne look was enough. he was dead.
With d great groan he sank down by
her side, and love and hope and faith
went out together in that suspiration.
When Elack and tugles came in she
found he had knocked down the pot of
sweet william, and in his last agony
had fallen on the tender buds and
crushed them.