The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1886-11-19
HIS PRIZE STORY.

1t was a winters evening, bleak
All cold. Snow had been falling
all day in London, aud the streets
were consequently covered with
mud and slush.
A pedestrian tramped along the
wet, slippery pavement without
feeling any inclination to grumble
at the weather. His blue eyes
were shining with delight, and his
hard, round hat was pushed back
OIL his curly brow II hair, as though,
in the excitement of some pleasant
thought, he bad found its weight
oppressive.
He walked along the Strand un.
til he came to Wellington street,
when he crossed Waterloo bridge,
and eventually, turning down
poor little street beyond Waterloo
station, he stopped at the third
house in row Of dilapidated
buildings, and, letting himself in
with a latchEey, dashed up the
stairs and burst lmpetuously into u
room on the third floor, crying out
"Good news, Murlel-the best of
good newsH My story has been
accepted"
ooh, Jack, is it trues How
thankful l am"
"We shall get along swimmlngly
now, darling! You shall go to
Brigton or Hastings for a week
with Lnlu, and get some color into
these poor pale cheeks;' and John
Taylor stopped ITO kiss his wifc's
delicate face and caress The golden
hair of which he was SO proud.
They were lovers stll-those two,
although they had been husband |
and wife for nearly three years.
"Tiss me too, daddy-tiss Lulu"
Interrupted a sweet, childish voice,
and small maiden toddled across
.ho room.
Jack caught her mp IN his arms,
seated her on his shoulder, and gal.
oped and praneed round the room,
u imitation of some war like steed,
lntil lie was out of breath.
"Jack, darling, when will you
get the prize Is it really so
'oundss How wonderful that you
honld have won when there were
o many competitors" Muricl said,
PRESENTLY.
"Don't decry my literary powers,
luriel. am afraid my repeated
ailures have mado YOU distrnst-
nl, /" laughed Jack. "Let us hope
his is the beginning OF better
ines. l may vet become 'Shin.
lg' light to the literary world. AS
D the prize, of course, it Is ESQ. | 6
ill read you the advertisement I
gain.' |
1t was a well IwOrn scrap Of paper
'hich Jack took iron his pocket t
ook, aud from which he read Il
loud: q
"The directors of tho North Lon q
on Literary Society offer u prize 1
ESQ for the best temperance sto. o
?, showing the value of personal a
aud the misery and +
rime caused by Intoxicating o
rinks. The competition is open
, all. For further particulars APP D
" at the sOciety's Office, Strand, Z
7. o." ain the ordinary course of h
rents, l should ;have to walt until 6
'.morrow TO know my fate,' went o
J Jack, "but Harry BaItOur, my Il
d college chum. is secretary to b
e society; and knowing how
lxious l was, he managed to ascer- I
in yesterday the name OF the d
ize-winuer. You can imagine |
y delight, darling when he told b
9 l was the lucky man." a.
"By- the-by, Jack, you have not p
Id me yet what these parcels cou. CT
in," said Muriel presently, "aud r.
Y curiosity will not be controlled Il
" longer. have not seen so I'll
any up here for a long time." Ji
swell, Muriel, p and Jack laughed "
.yly. 81 thought as | bad earned "
g ESQ we could afford to be 'gay e5
d festive tor once. Here you b'
e" proudly indicating the parcels, d'
II the materials for a night of u'
sausages, foury po- M
toes; tWo bottles of Bass-I won
T what the directors will say to th
at-a Vienna loaf, and lastly, in
me grapes for that troublesome ID
ngh OF yours.7 hs
Mnriel was preparing supper, and b.
8 shabby room looked quite cosy
the light OF the lamp. The be
led red curtains were drawn sil
ross the window, white cloth dT
s laid on the table, and the com. &c
IN plates aud glasses were ar bT
lged With a dainty precision pl
ich did Muriel credit. az
What a happy meal ii wasl hi