The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1888-04-20
"She offered me $15 and accepted it,"

She oHeTeu me SO anu accepted II.
Fifteen dollars' Mrs. Ross threw up her
hands in surprise. DO you mean TO tell me
II rich woman like her, who knows the value
of such work, and can well afford to pay it,
has offered you the pitiiul sum of $lJ for
what is worth $50? Don't take it,"
Il have promised" Rosa Marie said, in her
quiet voice. besides, we are strangers here,
and our work mnst be known before we can
command prices. Fifteen dollars will keep
us Il long timc we eat so little"
Mrs. L. had come here to give you
some work. but ofcourse, under the circum-
stances, you cannot take it,"
mo Madame, not nova distressed
look came TO her face" hut may get bet
ter soon. l may hear of Karl. If he knew,
all, if lie only knew But he thinks of me
as so wicked, never having written to him."
And here | am n poor, worthless log,
weighing thee down." cried the poor old
woman passionately. "Ab, good ladies, per
suadc her to let mt go to some charitable asy-
lum. There are SO many in this city 1t is too
much on her, and she owes me no duty, none.
| was bad to her and her husband when |
was strong and well, and | separated them,
sinner that ami" beating her breast violent
ly. "She will not desert me- and she is
breaking her heart. All, yes, day by day she
is pale and thinner aud | say 10 myself,
You wicked woman who have done this,
why do you not dier" She burst into Il
storm of sobs.
Rose Marie moved swiftly to her mothers
side and laid hand on her shoulder.
Don't, mamma" she said trCmulOusly.
You shall not 90 to any hospital or asylum
while can work. | love Karl and he loves
me, and If he is alive he will find me. All,
mamma do you want to make me IL bad
daughter that would desert II helpless
mother? Then, indeed, the good Lord
would not listen to my prayer. We must do
our duty and trust to God for the rest. Is
it not so, madame?" TO Mrs. Ross.
1t was simple faith, but it sustained Rose
Marie during the weeks that followed-weary
weeks went slowly, but surely, the blurred
vision grew more and more indistinct. There
was an eminent oculist in the city, good,
humane man, an old friend mine. inter
ested him in the CASE and he examined her
eyes, but refused to give final verdict until
his return from Shreveport, where he was
going the next day.
Bring her back in three weeks, when |
return" said DIR. R. 81 will do all l
can, and hardly think it a HOPELESS case. Ex-
ercise, fresh air, good food and quiet mind, if
possible, will be excellent preliminary treat
ment
think Mrs. Ross and l both fell in love
with our beautiful, stately protege, she was
so patient, and even cheerful in spite of her
misfortune. AS for the mother, l feared
sometimes in her outbursts of passionate re-
morse she would dash out her brains against
the wall.
"Ah," she would cry, "If Karl would only
come, would fall before him and kiss the
ground under his feet"
One fine morning | had taken Rose Marie
and her child to one of the city squares
where fine band was playing She loved
music passonately, and in her darkened life
it seemed to speak to her as no human voice
could do. They were playing the "Soldaten
Lieder," and as looked at her, l saw that
her hands were casped together, and the
tears were rolling down her white cheeks.
HE used to play it" she murmured, my
Karl, all, he played so beautifully"
did not notice that little Henri, in playing
about had slipped through the gate of the
square into the street Suddenly | heard con
fused cries. "Ah, the little boy. He will be
killed J! and looking up my heart stood still
as saw the little fellow almost under the
wheel of Il press of wagons going and COM
ing
But that moment saw one of the cornet
players dashdown his instrument, leap over
the barrier, and snatch Henri from his peril
Gus situation, and bear him aloft in his arms.
| had been too much terrified to utter
sound during this drama, and Rose Marie,
sitting by my side, was utterly unconscious
OF the chlld's danger.
"What is the noise about? Why has the
music stopped SO suddenly" she asked but
did not answer, tor saw Hcnri's rescuer,
with the child in his arms, looking around
the square, the little boy pointing to us and
talking. AS he approached saw tall,
handsome, soldicry young fellow with yellow
hair and smiling blue eyes. | rose from my
seat as he came up.