St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-02-13
REFRAIN.
BY MERE ACCIDENT.

ner days work. The air was WnlJe Win
! frost and everything she touched seemed TO
turn to ice. She had burned her last lump
of coal the night before, and consequently
could not have any fire. She went to the
! cupboard-nOthing there; she searched
everywhere, and finally found a crust of
bread. This she tried to eat in the vain
| hope that il would allay the gnawing
| hunger.
Putting on her threadbare shawl and de-
/ scending the attic stairs, she started, stiff
and breakfastless. te face the cold.
/ She was employed at one OF the large dry
goods stores where. every Saturday night,
she was handed an envelope containing just
! $50 as a remuneration for her life of toll
aud hardship.
Six months before her mother had died.
and, as Ethel had no money, she had been
compelled 10 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 a very wealthy wholesale
merchant. and was petted and spoiled by
her only brother, but she had. against her
fathers wishes married worthless profit
gate fellow, and he had disowned her. She
soon became a 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 10
work for her little girl and herself and keep
the wolf from the door. On her death bed
She had told her daughter the whole sad
story, and implored her never to marry a
drunkard. Ethel had. very unfortunately
for one i'm her station of life. inherited her
mothers great beauty, consisting of large
blue eyes, golden hair and perfect features.
She had meanwhile reached the store.
and after an Unfortunately long day of dull
monOtony and dreary work prepared to re-
turn to her miserable attic.
1t was a cold. bitter night in midwinter;
the streets of New York were one sheet of
snow and ice. and more than one warmly
clad person as they turned the corner and
faced the wind, sleet and snow hurried
along, grasping their wraps more tightly
about them and cast one sympathetic
thought for the poor unfOrtunates who had
no place to go as scene of cheerful wife,
warm supper and pleasant fireside passed
before their gaze.
The people were hurrying or rather slid
inc along and as il was an utter impossi-
billy to walk, for after one thought they
had good foothold and could manage TO
maintain their equilibrium there would be
an ignOminious 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 unusually
slippery. where at least a dozen that night
had fallen. A little dark-robed figure, In
which we recognize our friend Ethel. made
her appearance. and in her haste stepped
right on the slippery spot. which was fol-
lowed by a painful fall. With low moan
of pain she dragged herself to the step,
thinking she was only Jared and swould
recover herself and then resume her jour-
ney. A sudden twinge of pain from her
ankle caused her very lips TO turn white.
"Oh, my ankler' Everything was grow
ing dark before her. She tried TO raise her
self, causing another twinge from her an
kle, which made her fall baek-senseleSs.
She had tainted.
A large. portly man, enveloped in huge
overcoat, fur mittens, arctic rubbers-in
fact. everything equivalent to comfort
stopped suddenly as he started to ascend
the steps. ''Myl what is this?'
He hastily gathered her up in his strong
arms. gave loud. ringing peal to the door
bell. which brought several servants run
ming to the door, strobe through the hall,
up the wide staircase and into his wife's
sittlng-room, and laid his burden on the
lounge.
His wife. like the good, dear, sensible,
motherly woman she was, never stopped TO
asked questions and give way to curiosity
"a woman's failing), but proceeded to adj
minister the needed restOratives.
Her efforts were soon rewarded by a
long 81 Oh Issuing from the lips of the
patient After quivering of the Pyelids
the large blue eyes opened. looking won
deriugly around at the grandeur such as
she had often dreamed of but never seen.
The man at her side had been looking in
tently at her from the first. evidently in a
brown study. from the knit brow and
thoughtful eye; but when she opened her
eyes he started up. exclaiming: How
like my sister Ethell' Ethel attempted to
raise herself, but she fell back on the
lounge with cry of anguish.
my poor child. what is ftp"
''My ankle, think, is sprained."
After the pain had somewhat subsidized
she said:
xviii you be kind enough to tell me how
came here? l remember fainting while
coming home from work"
Never mind now. my child" The doc
tor who had been sent for now arrived He
was the typical rosy-faced, gOod-natured
doctor. and soon had her ankle more COM
Portable. taking his leave with the injunc-
ton THAT the utmost care must be taken of
her, " and that he would bring her around
all right in a couple of weeks"
After the doctors exit ''mine host" ex-
planned to Ethel's satisfaction how he had
found her lying on the steps. He could
not look at her without betraying the deep
est emotion.
My child, have you any friends or rela-
tives who will be anxious about you, TO
whom might send word?"
Alas, / have no friends. l am only a
poor orphan. with no one in the wide. wide
world to care for me. Mamma died six
months ago." and the sweet blue eyes filed
with tears.
A deep shade of pity overspread the
mans face TEL me-" anxiously and
breathlessly, ''who was your mother? what
was her maiden nam ?"
Il do not think l ought to tell. for grand
papa disowned her because she married
against his will, and he is living some place
in New York. and he probably would not
care to TO have it spoken of, for mamma
said he was very proud"
As she ceased speaking a silver-haired
old man entered the room and bent over the
couch. He was as visibly affected as his
son had been.
''Oh. my son, who is thisl It looks SO
like my poor lost Ethel"
XVIII you tell me now. my child2 / as
sure you that have only the best motives.
and not merely curiosity. for inquring. The
deepest Of interests are at stake. l have
long been searching for my lost sister, and
you bear so great resemblance to her that
have strong convictions that you are her
daughter"
A warm blush of pride swept over Eth
as foaa ch rap,au,ha-o1 -