Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1886-01-30
HAZEL KfRkE.
Based on the Popular Play now
being Performed by the
Madison Square Thea
tire Company.
BY MARIE WALSH.

Hazel had been III for three or four days.
She did not appear 10 suffer. but she lay quiet
ly on the pillow, pale aud exhausted, her
dark tresses trailing and falling loose all about
her fair face, her hands clasped over her head.
her worn features turned To the window, and
her dark eyes wide open, staring blankly at
the gray sky.
Grace Morford came in to see her sister be-
fore she left for the theater. she stole softly
to the bed and look edat Hazel.
"She lies like that" EditII softly said TO her
sister. "all the time. Sally and sat up with
her all night; but shelnever slept-she hal dly
moved. Whenever We went near the bed we
found her eyes open and vacant as they are
now. Ifshe would only talk or cry she would
look at her."
"Does she not talk ~
"She will answer II you speak to her, but
that H. All. she Is quite conscious, bat appears
to be in sort OF torpor. Tue doctor says II
the last medicine he has given, causes her ~
sleep. she will soon recover; If not, he fears
for her reason"
"Weli, must 20 or shall be late. am
sorry could not assist you more Than have
..e4In, Dut nave been kept so busy ut the
Jheater and IL would not do for both Of ms 10
be absent. Try and lie down yourself, Edith,
you will be Ill also"
II Will do so when Sally comes upstairs"
Grace lett the room and joined Sam, ~ they
departed together sally came upstairs, and
Edith Morford went to the door to meet her,
saying "rell how Miss King was taken III,
please. The doctor asked me to-day, and |
c0nld not inform him."
"a found her like that, Miss Edith, the day
after the strange gentleman called on her.
believe he must have brought some bad news,
for saw she bad been weeping when came
in to fix her fire."
poor girl she is all alone and it is hard "
eyes Miss Edith, Ii Is. She told me she wa
from Lancashire, and believe she has seen
ho'-v lows for did not know how Ia order
dinner when she first came here. She had
never iiVe,I Ia IOuglngs before"
II am going To give her the medicine, and
I u, N a
"Oo - Fdih. You are one of the good
sort. Bless you for your Kindness to that poor
girl."
Sally and she raised the sick girl up and held
the glass to her mouth.
Hazel turned her largo melancholy eyes up
on Edith Morford's sweet, tender face rs she
drank the medicine.
lyon are i'll, Miss King, but the doctor says
If yo1 sleep you viii soon recover.
"Oh yes; remember" replied Hazel, and
she turned wcarily on her pillow.
Il am very sdr y for you, my dear; very
sorry 1t seems to me, sometimes there is
nothing In MI this world but suffering anu
sorrow and DEATH"
"Death p echoed Hazel with startling We
helnence. "MisS Edith, are you afraid to dle?"
"Afraid to die? laltered Edith
"Yes," repeated Hazel, abruptly. "You are
good and charitable better than ! ever was
taught to believe an actress could be. on
ought not TO be afraid to die, for you do YOU
Nasto"'s work IN this world. or yrl would not
Hazel laid hold of Edith's wrist and looked
wluly lnuo iler InghLened face. The girl tried
to still her beating heart, and answered, 81
am not good, Miss King. am an errihg, sin =
ful girl hut | trust in the great mercy OF God.
| think ! shall not be afraid To die when II
nlcases Him 10 call ire. We must rely GA His
mercy and infinite compassion. 1--WE Thought
only OF His Justice, we might all despair.
Hazel sighed. II sometimes think would
like to die. If could be sure that was pre-
pared to meet my Judge"
ave all feel so mt some portion or our lives.
] believe, and we long for another world
whore there Is no pain or sorrow"
"SOrrow," repeated Hazel. "YeS, sorrow,
sorrow, sorrow There is nothing LETT now
but that"
"Heaven is left now, my dear friend,' said
Edith in sweet voice. "rhere was n time
when was almost as miserable AS you are,
and prayed for death. My fttherwas killed
in railroad accident. My mother, sister and
| were left pennes my fathers creditor
seized all his property, and Grace and tled
in vain to obtain employment. AT last
through friend, we were engaged NJ the the
alter. We have been there two years now, and
we are very happy, for we can support oul
dear mother. She lives in Kent. We hope IN
another year to be able to earn larger salary
and then we Will have the dear old la ly wltii
us SO don't despair, whatever your trouble,
NOV he: YOU viii live to triumph over them
~ hope So" sighed Hazel.
"Iou are just Ms good AS II preacher MIS-
Edith" said sally, her honest face beamih@
"You always look on the bright side o
things"
if we did, you know. We must not talk amy
more. will go and lie down for an hour
then will come down and send you off tC
bed, tor you know you can't work all day
without some rest"
"That's fact, Miss Edith, and missus growl,
worse than any bulldog II you q NJ &c
tnings right up TO the handle | spoilt hel
when you first came here, for heard that til,
girl she had before didn't do half as much ~
Never mind, Sally, wait until keep house
and III hire you"
ii wish you won d, Miss Edith"
"PerhapS will some day." said the young
chorus singer as she gave Sally smile ant
left the room.
Hazel fell into deep sleep that almOs
re>rmbled DEATH 1t was so deep. She step
until the next day, when she awoke feellhI
better. The crisis had passed and the docio
pronounced her cOnValeScent. He told lie
that she must not contine herself TOO much u
"Ah p thought poor Hazel, sit is easy 70
physians 10 prescribe, but people must wori
Both Edith ana Grace Morford were kind I,
her, and she felt really grateful for all thei
attention, but she was afraid she would haN
to leave Mrs. Barker'S lodging house as sooI
rs she possibly could, for her money wa
almost exhausted.
While she was thinking of her future plan
phe took up the " fines and read the follow
ing notice:
Conformation wanted of Hazel kirkt
When last heard OF was In London. Any on
who can furnish any tidings Of her will re
licve the anxiety of her friends by addressin
box Is, "Iimes Office"
Could it be that Arthur Carringford wa
seeking her, or was IL her good friend SOUR
Rodney Hazel felt convinced that WAS lac
her stern father. Woulh Mr.. Coal betray her
lie Ind promised not TO reveal her identity
What e .uId she do? Perhaps Lady traVeT
wanted to know what had become Of her.
Let them seek" thought hazel, "they sha
not find me-"
CHAPTER XXIII.
THEATRICAL FRIENDS.