Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-12-22

4 Ill AGptSu1OCA tuCy hAOfS0 ONb VI liSAA
pretty home to a very small and dingy cot
tage which stood alone little way back
from side street, behind timber yard.
1t was not an attractive dwelling, but it
was very cheap, and the rent of their for
mer house was now out of the question.
To defray the various inevitable expenses
connected with the removal, and one or
two necessary OUTLAWS, they sold some of
their furniture and few other things be-
sides.
Marjory's jewelry had all gone long ago.
One day, in walking westward along
Fleet street, Carol met an old fellow
clerk, by name Archie Lyle.
"Hallo, Carrolw Lyle exclaimed, grasp
ing the formers hand heartily, and turn
ing to walk alongside. "How are you?
Haven't seen you for a month of Sundays.
Why. you look down in the mouth, old
mani What's up, Ell %
nothing particularly" replied the
other, coldly enough, Except that | have
been out of situation since | LETT Dornton
& Cox Inspecting public buildings, when
you have wife and child TO keep on
nothing, is not a particularly exhilarating
or lively occupation" he continued Bit
terly.
"By Jove, nor' said the other in serious
tones. He was a good-natured, easy-go
fellow, who had rarely known the want of
fve-pound note, and who, as a rule, had
only to sit still and let things come to'him.
Ppm awfully sorry, old fellow" he went
on awkwardly. "You know I'll never for
get the lift you gave me two years ago.
I'm awfully sorry" he continued, with less
tact than good nature, upon my soul l
don't know when | was so hard up as / am
this month. Until get my next"
"Confound you What are you talking
about ?" interrupted Carol haughtiIy.
''Do you take me for beggar?"
Lyle murmured some confused apology
81 don't want your money" Carol went
on in brusque tones. "Can you tell me of
anything l can get to do? Anything. l
am not proud" with a short laugh
The other cogitated, and then shook his
head.
By the way" he said, suddenly, when
they had crossed several streets in compar-
alive silence, you are good draughts-
man, are you not ? You have good idea
of plans and that?"
a ought to have" returned Carol, dry
! ly, ''seeing that have been clerk in an
architects office for the last three years."
" Yes, yes, to be sure. Well, l know
designs are wanted for new hospital
somewhere near Manchester. The pre-
MUM is a e100 Now"
For Gods sake tell me-" interrupted
the other, eagerly and hoarsely; edo you
| think | have any chance"
Well" said Lyle, =" l was going to have
a try. My father has an idea l ought to
distinguish myself in that line, but Pm an
awful duffer on plans always was. So, if
you care to go in for tits goodish pre-
mium-it might be worth your while.
And, by the way, Carol, don't sign your
own name, for l believe old Linton, your
wifes uncle, is to be one of the judges. He
is still no end down on you, and-it might
make a difference. See? Sign it-oh,
anything you like, and send it under cover
to me. You can trust me not to father
it" he added, laughing. "Tll send you
all the particulars tomorrow, and let you
know whenever the things decided"
Lyle, cannot thank you sufficiently"
said Carol, unsteadily, though 1 fear
there is very little chance for me-"
Pooh" replied the other in airy tones,
you've as good chance as any of the
rest"
"How soon must it go in ?" asked Car
rol, feverishly.
"Ah, let's see. 1 think it fortnight.
but FL let you know"
They were in the Strand by this time,
and Lyle stopped at the nearest restaurant,
for it was past o'clock.
Carol declined his friends invitation
to accompany him, and with a grasp of the
hand the two men parted. Jim turned
down side street, and from thence
through the Embankment Gardens to the
river. He did not feel very hopeful, for
when the body is weak the spirit is apt to
be weak too; and big, stalwart-looking
fellow as he was, Carol had but little
stamina; and the past months of ceaseless
anxiety-and lately, of almost starvation
had told on him terribly. He walked
slowly along the Embankment, and across
Westminster Bridge, and so home.
Mallory met him with her usual cherry
smile; but he fancied her sweet face was
paler and more worn-looking than ever
and the baby's eyes, Ennaturally large and
bright, seemed to follow him reproach-
fully. His wife capped her little hands
joyfully when he told her of Lyle's pro-
posal and she was so merry and hopeful
all the evening that Jim felt his spirits
rise. She prepared nice little supper
for him, too; and Jim did not notice. for
a wonder, that one or two of their cher
ished books had disappeared. Baby was
very good tonight, she did not cry at all
and the evening was the most cheerful
they had passed for some time.
In the evening of the following day
came the promised letter from Lyle; and
as soon as it was light the next morning
Carol began his task. He worked hard
and patiently, but he suffered terribly from
nervous headaches; he took even less food
than usual; and the baby's constant
monotonous wall made him sometimes feel
half-crazy
AT last the drawing was finished. Carol
signed it az sola,' care of A. Lyle, Esq.,"
as his friend had suggested. Mariory
thought it beautiful, and had no doubt of
its being successful; but Carol was not so
| sanguine. However, he sent it off at once
and Marjory already began to calculate
how long a time must elapse before its fate
would be decided.
1t was weary waiting, though; and to
Jim-ay, and to Marjory too-the once
dreaded pawnshop became sadly and pain
fully familiar. Meanwhile their baby was
slowly but surely fading away from them.
One afternoon Carol returned somewhat
earlier than usual from the city, whittier
he had been in answer to some Turing will
o'-the-wisp advertisement 1t was dull,
wet day; and as he turned up the narrow
street which led to his home, his heart
sank with curious, underlined dread They
had been up with the baby all night, but
she had seemed better and brighter when
Jim left in the morning.
Mariory met MIN, as she always did, at
the door. At a glance his fears were
quickened
"What is itg' he said hastily. "The
child-is she worse?'
Jim she answered, looking up at him
with dry, grief-stricken eyes, "Jim-baby
is dead p'
He followed her silently to the room
where the tiny creature, with waxen
features so like his own, lay cold and still
and smiling.
"When ?" he asked in choked voice.
"Just three hours ago." she replied
monotonously.
Carol stood looking down on all that
was left to him of his baby daughter, and
smoothed the short. fluffy hair, with
strange, wistful look in his dark, sunken
eyes.
! "Poor little thingn he said. SADLY and