The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1888-03-16
RANTON MISSISSIPPI, FRIDAY, MARCH I6 1888

"""-dn"-I eau l sIuSI you, JOnn.
to go. You'll not come back
"Yes | will, oh yes l WILL" lie re-
piled, eagerly; ''and bring wood
for a fire. III hev to watch my
Lena while you sleep tonight, aud
it's very cold. I'm a changed man,
wiie--a changed man. No more
want, no more drink, no more blows.
| III be man Z"
A look ct hope filled her eyes.
She had caught at the straWs Of his
promises, oh, how many times, how
many times! but his tone this night
was so convincing, the sob in his
throat, he tear in bis eye so IN
wonted, that, despite the past with
its broken promises and failures, II
new hope, sweet and strange, thrill
ed her being.
She gave him The few bits of sill
yer. He stopped over the child, as
he turned to leave the room, and
! pressed his lips to hers.
'Dear father" said the delighted
child, "it's so long since you kis. ed
me. Wake me up that wav ia the
morning, aud if | gTOan through
the night, don't think of the blow,
but kiss me, and I'll smile through
the pain, perhaps"
His eyes were dry now, and so
was his throat, no sob, no tear.
Nv here's.fatherW cried the child,
as the minutes sped on.
"G0ne to get you the oranges you
wished, DEAR" was the answer.
"Oranges,o cried the child. 80,
how nice, bat mother l did't ask
for oranges. We are too poor for
that, little mother, too poor"
The wife's heart sank.
ga lie" she muttered, ga lie built
upon the suftprlngS of his child.
Alas ! he will not come back y
Hours passed. Colder aud cold
or grew the room. Shiveliug, the
mother lay beside the child, the
scanty covering over both.
81 am i'll, | fear,' she murmured,
"and there's such IA pain at my
heart.'
Ever aud anon the child groaned.
The clock from an adjoining slee.
pie struck one.
elias father Gomez" cried the
little one, opening her eyes.
"No he will be here presently,
thon2h,' wearily answered the |
mother.
The clock struck three.
"Has father Gome," more family !
now the question.
"No, my child, no."
The white dawn OF morning crept |
into the room.
The mother slept The little one |
ceased to groan. Tue sun lifts his
head, and rosy-red bluShes the
dawn. Smilinsly the god of day |
arises and peeps into the attic win
dow, creeps over the floor, and shy
ly kisses the face of the sleeping
mother aud child.
Eight O'clock rings out from the
steeple.
"Fatber," suddenly cries the
child, unclOsing her heavy eyes,
''cOmc, kiss me, good-mOrniug"
The mother made no response.
Lena'S eyes closed again.
Nine from the steeple clock.
Hark /! Il heavy football upon the
stairs-a fumbling at the latch.
Father has come home.
"In bed yet" he mutters aglily.
''Here, get up," shaking the sleep.
ing woman's shoulder, "gel up aud
make a fire, Pm cold"
His wife stirred not.
Waveringly he makes his way to
the chair beside the empty stove,
troops his head upon bis breast,
hen sinks into drunken slumber.
Noon passes. No movement
OI leaks the silence.
Twilight again ere the man raises
lis head. Dazedly, at first, he
gaZes about him, then recollection
sits enthroued.
elena" he cries, STOPPING over
lie quiet little figure, ''Lena, faith
II was too late TO kiss you good
morning, but be will tomorrow, !
indeed he will. Your father is go
ng to be man.n
Cold aud rigid were The lips he
with bis.
"Dead y he cred, starting back,
'dead ! Wife, wife, wake up; see,
bur Lena is dead"
The wife made no move ment, and
~ terror be turned her face to his,
that face whose lips we're forever
lumb, whose ears we're forever ,
closed to his trail promises eyes, !
70 which his vain words had i
brought the last CLEAN of hope,
closed in an eternal sleep.
His dead tor years 1lled pau ,
Der's gave, then one day a pros I
lerous man stood beside new
nOund ia beautiful cemetery.
Upon the headsiOne was the simple
inscription, "HOpe Grey"-'Our |
Leua.7 In
a kneeling figure, ehisel in hand. ,
vas addingalew WOrds-''IoO late.7 J
"Yes,D sid the man in anguished
tOnes, falling upon hIs kuees, when
be work vas done, "fOr them 1t I
las come TOO late p
Every citizen aud householder