Griggs courier., 1888-08-31
THE TIDE-LANDS.
Describing How Miss Vanderpool
Came to Her Own.

Describing How Miss Vanderpool
Came to Her Own.
Miss Nandcrpool came down the steps of
her lodging-hous and stood looking about
her with an expression of discomfort on her
hlgh-brcd face. II was not a very genteel
lodging house, and it was not in Il very
genleel 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 a
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 undisgused curiosity. Possibly she
knew that Miss Nanderpool's rent for her
single room, third story in the rear was
week overdue She might have been sta
toned there as a spy by the Gorgon, her
mother to see that no recereant lodger
contrived to slip off, bag and baggage, with
out formal parting. She need not give
herself any concern on Miss Vanderpoors
account, that lady reflected. Her piano, the
one article OF value among her possessions
was much too cumbrous to carry. and it was
mor1gaged up to its full value. Why was it
that people never exhibited any conscience
or honor about their music teachers bills.
as they did about their butchers and wash
erwomen'st Why was it that she, respected
and admired as the rich Miss Vanderpool,
could find no market for her accomplish
ments now that she must earn her daily
bread! 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 bupucv anl n or.,,,;,,.r
pain that was new to her, reminded her that
she had lived on bread and water FOL six
weeks, and that she mad been on short ra-
tons for the last few days. If she had been
soldier, now, She could have withstood it
right valorously, for there was martial blood
IN her veins. But to suffer it for no heroic
reason, in nothing but the common way !!
The thought Inundated her and she nut it
aside.
She was walking down the street, lined
with low cottages, when she stopped before
ono 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
this that attracted Miss Nanderpool's attcn-
tion. Floating from the door-knob she be-
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 a personal loss.
She pushed the gate open and went up the
steps. A woman opened the door and led
her to Il darkened room. 1t was the custom
OF the ncighborhood to give free admission
;cst 81 a.
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.
IL am so sorry;' said Miss Vanderpool
gently; lis there any thing can do!''
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
There. there, Emily" said the man. pat
Sting her kindly: Don't take on so. It's
hard on all of u.s. We've got to bear it
together.''
Miss NandcrpoolS eyes were wet as she
went silently out of the room and closed the
door behind her. 1t had been mistake.
her coming They had plainly resented the
intrusion. If only she could have done
something for them, could have given them
some testimony of her sympathy. To lose a
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 SO bare. There was not
flower about the coffin. Miss Vanderpool
mad been accustomed to sec grief smothered
III costlest offerings. and this little creature
was gong 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, lust
recovering from the shock of a severe
Eastern winter. She had no mono4 to buy
them from IA florist. Up in the great house
on the bluff that had been her home there
was a 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 unfodcd shut in
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 violets
always came first. Nay; it was already the
last Of April, and with the soft wind blowing
andthe clear sunshine of the past two weeks
the violcts must be already out. She quick
ened her steps at the thought A little
brook ran through the town and cut a mar.