Wichita eagle., 1888-11-06

winter. One evening Cab, playing WIN
the inkseand, let II slip from bis poor, thin
fingers, end the ink unhappily tricklsd down
over the satin Of the skirt They did not
scold him-alasi no; the sight Of his face,
overwhelmed with disuay, gave too much
pain The big sister uttered csy Of terror;
silently, nervoxsly, she sponged the stuff and
measured tho extent Of the disaster. The ink
he'd outrageously stained over eight yards Of
the satin. To tku tho accident to the Gus
toner ON the fifth floor and to excite her pity
in favor OF Little Cab was not to Be thought
OF for moment; In the first place, the gov
eminent clerks wife was not rich, and her
wedding dress constituted her only supply
for her days OF frivolity and Of ceremony;
then the dreasmaker was proud and did not
care to acquaint the house with the calani.
ties Of her family. The most advisable and
dignifed way was 10 run to the Bon Marchs
and try to match the stuff Eight yards at
fifteen francs came to 120 francs-a formula
bic breach IN the money box and the savings
for the journeyl Well, it was done now,
and the sea baths must be given up for this
year. The dressnaker kissed Little Cab and
again set herself to work
In the winter that followed they strug-
gled hard in Little Cabs household The
autumn had been rainy and Cabs health
had felt the effect OF it His bones ached, he
had fevertsh disturbances and headaches.
The doctor, sounding the boys lungs, shook
his head and insisted again on their sending
the child to Berck Immediately ON the re-
turn Of the pleasant weather. This time it
was settled that be should 60; cost what It
might, they would set out for the sea baths
about the last Of May; and the sewing ma
chine began again in still greater hurry its
grasshopper rattle, and the evenings Of
work were extended still farther into the
night They bought for Little Cab q book
in which there were pictures only Of the sea
views of hsrbors with their forests Of
raasts set along the piers, steep crags weshed
by foamy waves. fishing boats, scattered
apart, in the offing, hike q flock OF white
winged birds Tho child talked Of nothing
but the sea; be saw It in his dreams, and
sometimes even in full daylight, through
the gray fog which filed the inside yard, be
had unhealthy dslusions Of shores beaten by
the waves, and great watery spaces, crossed
by ships with distended sails.
Sometimes 10 took from the mantelpiece q
large she'll; he placed it against his ear, and
with his neck sunk into his shoulders, and
with thoughtful eyes, he listened for hours
to this roar Of the sea, which seemed to come
from far, far away through the she'll
The winter was exceptionally damp and
cold, and did not again encounter Little
Cab under the porch. The doctor bad ex-
preSsly forbidden them to lot him 60 out
From time to time saw him at the window,
one Of the curtains of which was raised
His eyes. sad and downcast stared into va
cancy, and on the clear window glass bis
thin fingers traced vague form of ships.
Then suddenly his glance would be fixed ON
the easement where was making my obscr-
vations, and, feeling that he was watched,
with tirnid gesture he would draw down
the muslin curtain. Towards the middle Of
March / no longer saw him near the window
pane Bis bonss made him suffer more ana
more, his too feeble Logs could no longer carry
him, and his headaches were redonb,ed he
now passed whole days lying ON his little bed,
turning over for the hundredth time the
leaves Of the pio0ure book where were seen
the sea and toe big ships with their white
sailA He had not gdysp up the idea o1 his
journey. when win We goF b asksd Of
his sistar; and whsn the latter bad explained
" AA<A@A tAz>S VAcy Hlo1e W0Ab LIE xnso WS4kod4,
be replied In his sharp, thin voice, 1T b
because l am In hurry I wape 10 get veil
quickly, very quickly, so as not to sec you
cry any more" And be began 10 rspess to
hiusssn the uamss Of the towps through
which they would paaa He aheady hsw
them BY heart-Chan&1iy, then C1ermnut,
Amtens. Abbevills and Ct - the So
"Once that We are yondes," sid b. II am
sure that my bones viii not pain mo any
more" While waiting be WISHED to have
tho big pink she'd from tbs pnanas1pfece by
him, and, his ear placed against its pearly
valves, he listened atssnttvely to the distant
noiae Of this ~ that should deAvsr hikn hvm
all bis suferfngs.
Towards Easter / heard no longer The dull
Of the sowing r,achina Thsrs
was NO more working IN he Eseis bona, and
yet light from a lamp gliding ono a tbs
windows vol into tho night sh~ved that
essy wers always watching thers mar ths |
bed Of the sick child. "He ID much worse,n
murmured the poTtsr's wife, pressing 10
s&inctively aaains< her skirts chubby Htie !
boy; The has not long to Live The per soul
it viii be Ysiaaaes'
One morning I passed under Tho porch |
little colin oAyrisd By two uDdertahssb ueu I
and followed by the family. h vss Lk1E1s /
Gsb, WHO was a Last setting ont on his jrar. /
Dep tovarEs to- unfathozaanls sea Of ths IN /
Known. -Transhtsd from the Preach f0 Ths /
Boston Transcript