The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1888-08-25
THE TIDE-LANDS.

THE TIDE-LANDS.
Describing How Miss vanderpool
Game to Her Own.
Miss Vanderpool came down the steps of
her clearinghouse and stood looking about
her with an expression of discomfort on her
high-bred face. 1t was not a very genteel
lodging-house, and it was not in very
genteel quarter. The paint was off in
patches, and one of the faded green blinds
hung on single hinge. The steps were
worn and the little front area was used as o
depository for wood and coal. There were
pair of dirty faces at the basement win
dows, and outside of the door Sairy Ann,
the Gorgon's eldest, watched her depart
with undisguised curiosity Possibly she
knew that Miss Vanderpoors rent for her
single room, third story in the rear, was a
week overdue. She might have been sta
toned there as spy by the Gorgon, her
mother, to see that no recereant lodger
contrived to slip of, bag and baggage with
out formal parting. She need not give
herself any concern on Miss Vanderpool's
account, that lady reflected. Her piano, the
one article Of value among her possessions
was much too cumbrous to carry, and it was
mor' gagged up to its full value. Why was it
that people never exhibited any conscience
or honor about their music-teacher's bills,
as they did about their butchers and wash
erwomen'sl Why it that she, respected
and admired as the rich Miss Vanderpoel,
could find no market for her accomplish
ments now that she must earn her daily
breadl Why did every one take advantage
of her and cheat her, down to the pawn
broker who had lately taken the last piece
OF jewelry saved from her financial wreck!
She was faint and hungry, and gnawing
pain that was new to her, reminded her that
she had lived on bread and water for six
weeks, and that she had been on short ra-
tions for the last few days. II she had been
soldier, now, she could have withstood it
right valorously, for there was martial blood
i'll her veins. But to suffer it for no heroic
reason, in nothing but the common way
The thought humiliated her, and she put it
aside.
She was walking down the street, lined
with low cottages, when she stopped before
one OF the poorest and meanest, where
stunted lilac, just budding in the front-yard,
gave evidence of some little refinement on
the part of the occupants But it was not
:his that attracted Miss Vanderpoors atten-
held little piece of thin white crepe, tied
with narrow ribbon, the wan banner of sor-
row. This was the cottage where the two
little girls had looked out upon her, with
laughing faces, every day as she passed by
Only yesterday they had flung her kisses
from the window. Now one was gone. The
shock bore down upon her with all the sense
of u personal loss.
She pushed the gate open and went up the
steps. A woman opened the door and led
her to q darkened room. 1t was the custom
of the neighborhood to give free admission
to visitors ut such time. In the little white
coffin lay the younger of the two children
Beside it sat the father and mother, the
woman sobbing quietly, the father with his
arm about her, and in his lap the remaining
child, who had cried herself to sleep in his
arms.
~ am so sorry;p said Miss vanderpool,
gently; ''is there any thing can doH'
The moment she spoke she regretted it.
The mother uncovered her face and looked
up piteously, then shrank from the strange
visitor
"Nothing, nothing" she moaned, ''unless
you could bring back my child"
'vrhere, there, Emily" said the man, pat
ting her kindly; Don't take on so. It's
hard on all Of US. We've got to bear it
together"
Miss Vanderpoofs eyes were wet as she
went silently out of the room aud closed the
door behind her. 1t had been mistake,
her coming. They had plainly resented the
intrusion. II only she could have done
something for them, could have given them
some testimony of her sympathy. To lose
little life that was part of your very own
must be hard, but doubly hard when poverty
and want are attendant upon sorrow The
room had been 80 bare. There was not q
flower about the coffin. Miss Vanderpool
had been accustomed to see grief smothered
in costliest offerings, and this little creature
was going to her last rest without so much
as a flower in her little hands-the tiny
hands that had thrown kisses to her but
yesterday.
She wished that she could get some
flowers for that dead baby. 1t was April
and there was none in the city gardens Just
recovering from the shock of severe
Eastern winter. She had no money to buy
them from florist. Up in the great house
ON the bluff that had been her home there
was conservatory and in it there was a
magnificent climbing rose that she had
planted herself, years gone by, and nurtured
into vigorous growth. Out of all the
riches that she had lost, at this moment she
wished only for one OF the large pointed
buds, with its petals half unfolded, shut in
a little bower Of green leaves But that
was out of the question. Not even for this
sacred purpose could she ask any favors
from the people in the house on the hill.
A little later and there would be plenty of
wild flowers outside the town. The volets
always came first Nay; 1t was already the
last Of April,and with the soft wind blowing
and the clear sun shine of the past two weeks
the violets must be already out. She quick
ened her steps at the thought. A little
brook ran through the town and cut mar
row channel down the bluffs, on its way to
The sea. Near the foot Of the bluffs there
was narrow bench OF land stretching be-
tween the hills and the tide-lands, and there
beside the brook she had gathered early
spring violets since childhood. II she
walked quickly she could easily get there
and aav., again before the night had closed
down.
10 reach the place she had to pass through
the bus,..ess portion Of the town. Walking
swtf,lJ along, looking TO neither right nor
left, she was surprised TO have some one &C.
cost her: a k,tf
.Miss Vanderpoolr'
u was John Ashton, whom sue had not
'sssn since the day that she had found her
asther's name dishoporea and herself beg.