The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1888-03-03

Save for crimson spot on either cheek,
and the thin, coral line of her lips, her face
was CHASTITY pale.
A great fear seized me.
Even as dropped the teapot and sprung
forward to save her, she reached out her
poor little hands in blind despair and
dropped to the floor.
1t was the fever--I knew it.
Somehow | got her to bed, and all night
passed between her bed and Alan's. Both
raved and mumbled unremittingly.
am sure that night was the longest of
my life. l know that my hair is prema-
turely white, ard my eyes prematurely dim
but think most of this aging happened on
that night when 1 watched over my loved
ones, knowing all the care required to pull
them safely through, ,and the slender means
| had to supply such care.
1t took my last cent to purchase the days
fuel and some quinine from a druggist
near.
The only eatable thing in the house was
half loaf of bread, spared by last nights
abstinence.
knew that my strength must be hoard
ed, so sparingly ate from it at noon, forcing
on my raving patients bit of butered
toast.
In my misery, think some ludicrous
gladness that they did not crave food came
to me.
1t would have been unbearable to hear
them beg for the unattainable.
Night fell again, bleak, drear, bitterly
cold, and my coal was almost gone.
1t required good fire to keep the miser-
able apartments warm.
What would doP What could do?
cried out bitterly, and racked my burn
ing brain in despair.
might write Aunt Pamela; but she had
bitterly quarreled with us long ago. Be
sides, she was in distant city. l had
neither stamp nor the money to purchase
one.
Our neighbors in the tenement were all
coarse, vulgar people, who insulted us on
every possible occasion for what they called
our "stuck-up gentility."
think they gloated oyer my misery.
would sooner die than ask assistance from
| them.
But il was not a case of my life or death.
| Nearer and dearer even than my own were
the lives dependent on me now,
The thought lent me mad recklessness.
They were sleeping quietly now.
An idea had come to me.
The pawn-shop!
But what was there which could pawn3
No:hing-nothing!
In wringing my hands, they had grown
woefully thin-the inspiration came.
looked at it mournfully, tenderly, then
gladly. 1t was tiny gold band, of curious
workmanship,
| On parting, John Leighton had given it
to me, Gin memoriam," he said, with a
grave smile, as we shook hands at the
depot
If he only knew! Yet he was so good, so
noble, he would have been glad to think it
aided me in time of dire distress.
/ stole from the room and down the end
less stairs.
i My head throbbed, my senses reeled.
i All the city bells changed out joyous
peal, but with bent head rushed onward,
bitterly callous of heart.
What mattered Thanksgiving Eve to me?
What had l to be thankful forP Misery,
privation, sadness more bleak than the
sobbing, wintry winds which pierced my
shabby attire.
At last l passed in under the pawn
brokers sign.
Trembling like thief, stated my er.
rand to the eagle faced jew, and displayed
the beautiful ring to which had grown SC
attached.
He bit, scratched, scoffed at it-couldn'i
take it at all; then at my pitiful entreaty
i. gave me few dollars ON treasure worth
many.
But my heart bounded joYfully as l Sc
cretsd my wealth, and Fastening out int
I the street glanced keeniy into every face o
the passing crowd.
A man accidentally jostled me. Hooked
up, Luch hCu WIN q ShPPiSSSSu " u
y must be going mad had thought Sc
much of John Leighton lately, that here, al
J, the very door of the pawn-shop where
e had bartered his friendly token, my brair
e had conceived him looking down upon mt
II in grave, glad surprise
/ Yes, 1t must haYe been some other man
e My brain was turning with misery. Wha
IT would John Leighton, happily content ii
his plentiful farmhouse, be doing in thi
E. crowded, pestilential citY2
E. I stopped at drug store. A doctor &C
ID companied me home with proper med
ID cines.
lie He was good man, with children of hi
ID own; and looking on the misery arount
then into my hollow. haggard eyes. refuse
ly the money / offered, and said he woul
I'd come again. he would help me all !
of could.
Then when he had gone, fell upon n
ne knees. In all New York no heart ofiere
up more fervent thanksgiving and remor
IT. for ingratitude than mine.
he Next morning went out TO purcha
some daiptles for my loved ones, and g
the necessary medicine
10 While / stood in the drug store, gentl
man-tall, handsome, AFistOcratie in =