The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1888-03-03
Through the Gloom.
BY NJ. E. H0L AHAN.

Night was falling bleakly oyer the crowd
ed city. =.
The wind ratified window-panes loose, and
sobbed around the eayes with dreary cad
ence of November quality.
A few struggling snow-aakes mottled the
cold air, but were hardly seen on the frozen
ground and hard pavement below.
l turned from the window, bitterly de-
pressed. Surely nothing could be much
worse than to starve and freeze in the mis-
cradle sixth story of New York tenement.
cast one gloomy look over our poor lit
tie suit of rooms. How miserably cold and
destitute of comfort they seemed.
Yet in one lay Alan, asleep now, but sick
unto death. tip-toed to his side, and laid
my hand gently on his broad, handsome
brow. 1t was burning up with fever, and
he muttered in his sleep.
turned away, great bitter tears splash
ing down my own wan face.
He was SO precious to us, Gwyn and L.
So young, barely fourteen; yet for the bare
necessities of life he must perish.
Our last few precious Goals were somber-
ly burning in the crate.
For fear they would burn out, had coy
cred them with ashes and made them
smolder dismally-a fitting accompaniment
TO the outer werld.
If only Gwyn would comel What was
keeping her so long? Had she succeeded,
Or
shvered, then took out my purse and
counted its contents.
Seven shillings!
A miserly sum to stand between three
people and starvation.
And one of those three people needing
medical care which we, who loved him Il
distraction, could not give.
groaned and wrung my hands at tn,
very thought.
Before my mental gaze passed all thu
early dreams that had so quickly fallen int,
scar and yellow lines.
We had never been wealthy, but ther
had been time when plenty and comfor
surrounded us.
So might it yet, if
John Leighton's face came then, and
turned from that line of bitter, regre fu
thought with dry sob.
had not loved him then, and perhaps
had done right.
But if poor, Gwyn and were ambitious
At least we had been, and to this fac
was due our present misery.
had talent for literature, aud befor
our fathers death had made some sligh
success, which caused myself and friend
to hope for great things in the future.
Gw!n was passionately fond of painting
and displayed great talent, needing onl
cultivation, many said.
So when our father died, two years age
we took the proceeds of his life insuranC
all he had to leave us--and, leaving til
old friends and life behind, took up OF
abode here, that Alan might have the a.
vantages of good education, and that "
two ambitions young fools might carve (,
q ourselves tame and fortune.
Things had gone from bad to wors
Alan was i'll more than half the tim
Doctor bills, gas, fuel, rent mount up, Al
at the end of two years our two thousai
dollars had dwindled down to the miserat
pittance in my purse, while both fame Al
fortune seemed further away than ever.
In the school of experience our eai
y dreams had been trimmed on and edg
down TO dull reality; but too late to be
any avail.
:. A slow, weary step at the door made !
start and try to WOO smiie.
The unwilling muscles proved It a CHA
ly failure. They refused TO move nay pl
C. lips.
Gwyn came wearily In.
Il did not need the roll she carried
stamp her errand's fruitlessness.