The Opelousas courier., 1888-11-17

| business
'.Ah. pardon, madame, but I did not
see you," she said, advancing slowly
toward US. 81 do not know what has
come to my eyes, pressing her hand on
the lids. A mist is before them, and I
see not clearly"
Her mother gazed at her as she spoke
with a startled look.
"Are they worse, then, Rose Marie2
All, my poor child, did you go to a
doctorYH
.You should do so without delay
Mrs. Rose added. "Your eyesight is too
precious to you to be neglected"
"Ah, yes, yes. madame, they are my
bread winners; but | will go, positively,
tomorrow. Have you seen Madame Du.
eros robef Do you like it2"
sit is exquisite. She ought to pay you
a good found STUN for such work as
that"
Rose Marie smiled sadly.
"She offered ue fifteen dollars and |
accepted il"
Fifteen ieiiars!" Mrs. Ross thew
up her hands III surprise. 'Do you
mean to tell me a rich woman like her,
who knows the valne of such work, and
u well afford to pay 10, has offered
you the pitiful sum of fifteen dollars Tor
what is worth tifty2 Don't take it,"
II have promised" Rose Marie said
in her quiet voice. besides We are
strangers here, and our work must be
known before we can command prices.
Fifteen dollars will keep US a long time,
we eat so little"
Mrs. L. had come here to give
you some work, but. of course, under
the circumstances, goa cannot take it."
mo, madame, not now, "-a dis
tressed look came to her face,-i'but /
may get better soon. | may hear of
Kari. II he knew, alb, if he only knewl
But be THINKS of me as SO wicked, never
having written to him.
aAnd here | am, a poor, worthless
log, weighing thee DOWN. cried the
poor old woman p~assionately. "Ah.
good ladies. persuade her 10 let me so
to some charitable asyluml There are so
many in this city. It Is too much on
her, and she owes me no duty. none. |
was bad to her and her husband when I
was strong and well. and | separated
them, sinner that I amp beating her
breast violently.o "She viii 1t desert
me, and she is breaking her heart All,
yes. day by day she is paler and thiK-
ner. aud I say Il myself. You wicked
woman who have doA this. why do ron
not dica' and Icannot diet' She burst
into a storm of sobs.
Rose Marie moved swiftly 70 her
mothers side, and laid a hand on her
Don't. mamma she said tremu-
lousy. You shall not go TO any hospi.
tai OF asylum while | can work, love
Karl and he loves me, and if he is alive
he will find me. Alb, mamma, do you
want to make me a bad daughter that
would desert q helpless motheri Then.
indeed. the good Lord would not listea
to my prayer We must do our duty,
and trust God for the rest. Il it not 50,
madame" to Mrs. Ross.
II was i simple faith, but it sustained
Rose Marie during the weeks that fol
l~owed--weary weeks when slowly. but
surely, the blurred yi,ion grew more and
more indistinet. There was an emf
nent ocllist in the city, q good, humane
man and an old friend az mine. ! IN.
tsrested him ID the case, and he ex
AHMED her eyes. but refused TO give a
final verdict until his return from
Shreveport whers he was going the
next day.
bring her back II three weeks,
when I return, said III. RI Fl
will do all I can. and | hardly think i
Is 4 hopeless case. Meantime, she must
Be built up. Exercise. fresh air, good
food and i quiet mind, if possible, viii
be excellent preliminary treatment
think Mrs.. Ross and ] both fell il
love with our beautiful, stately protege.
she was 10 patient, and even cheerful
III spite 81 her misfortune. AS for the
mother, / feared sometimes II her out
bursts 81 passionate remorse she would
dash out her brains against the wall.
she would ery, IF Kari
would only come. ! would fat before
him and kiss the ground under his
feet.
One fne morning I had taken Rose
Marie and her child 10 one ol the city
squares where i fine band WA playing.
She loved music paasionately. and ii
her darkened life 4 seemed Is speak %
her as 10 human voice could 90 They
were playing tie soldatea Lieder.
and IS ! looked u her, : san that her
hands wsrs cIasped together. and the
tsars we're rolling down her white
cheeks.
lie used to play Il she m~urmursd,
my Karl, %. hi played % beaati-
fully