Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-11-03
THE TIDE LANDS.

her with an expression Of discomfort on her
high bred face. 1t was not very genteel
lodging house, and it was not in very gen
teel quarter. The paint was off in patches,
and one of the faded green blinds hung on a
single hinge The steps were worn, and the
httie 'front.' area was used as a depository for
wood and coal There were pair of dirty
faces at the basement windows and outside |
OF the door Sairy Ann, the Gorgpns eldest, |
watched her depart with undisguised curl |
osity. Possibly she knew that Miss Wander |
pools rent for her single room, third story,
In the rear, was a week overdue She might !
have been stationed there as a spy by the
Gorgon, her mother, to see that no recreant
iodger contrived to slip off bag and bag
gage, without formal parting She need
not give herself any concern on Miss Van
derpoors account, that lady reflected. Her
piano. the only article of value among her
possessions, was much too cumbrous TO carry
and it was mortgaged up to its full value
Why was it that people never exhibited any
conscience or honor about their music teach
er's bills, as they did about their butchers
and washerwomens Why was it that she,
= reSb6cted and admired as the rich Miss Van
Z derpool could find no market for her accom-
plishments, now that she must earn her daily
breadi 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 wrecka
She was faint and hungry, and a gnawing
pain that was new to her reminded her that
sue had lived on bread and water for six
weeks, and that she had been on short ra-
IONS Tor the last few days. If she had been
soldier now, she could have withstood it
~ valorouslY, for there was martial blood
veins But to suffer it for no heroic
IN nothing but the common wayi The
ShH huIniliated her, and she put it aside
With lTAs walking down the street, lined
ue Of cottages, when she stopped before
rsaented liz poorest and meanest, where
save evids, Just bufGil, IN the front yard
t t5r Of sitti1 Rn rsReme men on
y, - E,.ssS keted Miss VanderpooTs atten-
Waiting from the door knob she be-
he'd little piece of thin, white Grape tied
with narrow ribbon, the wan banner of sor-
row. T'is 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 n rersonal loss
She pushed the pate oren and went nv, tho
uan, A woman nnenea fine door and ,od
her to darkened roorn. IT was the c,,stom
of the ueighSorbood to give free admission IN
visitors at such time. In little white
coffin lay the younger Of the two children.
- Beside it SAT the father and r,o+ber the ,vo.
man sobbing quietly, the father with his arm
about her and in his lap the remaining child,
who had cried herself to sleen in his arms
uI nm, On SORRY, s,id M;ss y,,da,.,,1o,
gently; sis there ANYTHING can dor
The moment she spoke She regretted it
The mother uncovered ber foca and ,oo,,ed
mn niteouslv tbsn sbr,,nk fro,,, tbs s+-or,e-e
visitor
s.Nothinr nothing - she r,oaned sspn,ass
Won oould bring bacl nv child y
ssTbara tbara Emily y sold tho r,,,, mt
ting her Kindly. ..don,t -al,a On ca ~ bord
IN all of ns Xa,va ont IN b.,o,- II tce-s+ba. ,
Misc y,ndarnool,s e,.ss ,-sr. rsof DC sbe
went silently ont of the roo,, and closed m.
door behind her II had hear n ,nistats he,
earning Tbav had rIsirl,, rase,+ed tho in
trnsion If only she coulj have dome some
thing for thorn cnuid have erive, Thorn som.
testimony of her svmpathy To lose IittI,
life that was mart Of yo,,r very own ,,rst h.
hard Int aouhIv hard when novertv ana
want are attendant upon sorrow, The room
had been SO bare. There was not flower
about the coffin. Miss Vapderpool had beer
accustomed IN SEQ Grief snorbared in costIiest
offerings. and this little creature was goipe
10 her last rest without so rnpcb as fowe,
in her little hapds-the tiny hands that haf
thrown kisses to, her bn+ Yesterday
She wished that she couId get some flower
for that dead baby. 1t was April. and Their
,,ara Mona ~, tho IT. ,-orIa,s i,s+ MCGOWAN