New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-07-29
THE TIDE-LANDS.
Describing HOW MISS vANDERPooL CAME TO
TIER OWN

HER OWN.
Miss Vandcrpool came down the steps OF her
lodcinr-house and stood looking about her with
an expression of discomfort on her hlgh-Dred lace.
1t was not very gcntcel lodglng-housei ana ~
WAS o oS' in pache and one Of the faded green
blinds hung on single hinge. The steps were
worn and the little front area was used as dc
pository for wood and coal. There were a PAIR
Of dirty faces at the basement windows. and out
side of the door Sairy Ann, the GOrgons eldest,
watched her depart with undsguised curiosity.
Possibly she knew that Miss Nanderpoors rent ior
her single room, third story in the rear, was
week overdue. She might have been stationed
there as a spy by the GorgOn, her mother, to see
that no recreant odger contrived to slip of, bag
and baggage. without formal parting. She
need not give herself any concern on Miss VAN
derpools account, that lady rejected. Her
piano, the one article Of value among her posses
sions, was much too cumbrous to carry, and it was
m ortgaged up TO its fun value Why was II that
people never exhibited any conscience or honor
about their music-teachers dis, as they qd ABOUT
their butchers and waSherwomcns? Why was
It that she, respected and admired rs the rich Miss
Vandcrpool, could find no market for her accom-
plishments now that she must earn her On! Dread
Why did every one take advantage OF her ana
cheat her, down to the pawnbrokcr who had lalely
taken the last piece OF jewelry saved from her
financial wreck She was faint and hungTy ana ina
Cnawing pain that new TO her reminded her
that she had lived on bread and water for SIX
weeks, and that she had been on short ratons Tor
the last few days. If she had been soldier, now,
she could nave withstOod it right valOrOusly, for
there was martial blood III her veins. bnt to suffer
il for no heroic reason, in nothing but the common
way The thought Inundated her, and she put IL
il aside. go
She was walking down the street, lined with
low cottages, when she stopped before one OF the
poorest and nearest, where stunted mac, Just
budding in the front yard, gave evidence OF some
little refinement on the part of the occupants Bt
it was not this that attracted Miss Vanderpoo,s
attention. FloatinS from the door-Enob shc nchelu
little piece of thin white crepe, tied WIN narrow
ribbon, the wan banner of sorrow. ms was the
cottage where the two little girls had looked OUT
upon her, with laughing faces; every day as sile
passed by Only yesterday they had hung ,I ner
Kisses from the window Now one was gone. The
shock bore down upon her with all the sehsc vi d"
personal loss; .ho s.o,s
A woman opcned the door and led her to DARK
cned room. 1t the custom OF the nelehpor-
hood to give free admission 20 visitors az srcn :
time In little white coffin lay the younger OF
the two children. Beside IL sat the 1ather ana
mother, the woman sobbing quietly thc ialncr
with his arm about her. and IN ms zap inc rcn"iIi-
ing child, who had cried herself 10 sicep III Ills
arms.
Il am so sorry," said Miss Vanderpool, gently;
is there anything | can do Z? III,
me moment SiIe spohe nde Looked mn pitcouslr
then shrank from the strange visitor ..,... $500,
Nothing, nothing. she. moaned, " unless you
could bring back my child a.. NM, Do,tiro
her kindly: don't take on It's hard on all
of rs. We've get to bear it togethero .ho ,.on,
Miss Vandcrpool'S eyes were wet as she went
silently ont of the room and closed the door behind
her It had been mistake. her coming They
had plainly resented the intrusion. ii Only she
could have dOrc something for them. could nave
given them some testimony of her sympathy. 10
lose little life that was part OF your very own
must bo hard. but doubly hard when poverty ana
want are attendant upon sorrow. The room had
been so bare There was not flower about inc
coffin Miss Vandcrpool had been accustomed TO
see grief sriothcrcd in costicst offerings ana inns
little creature was going TO her last rest without
so much as flower in her little hands-the tlhy
hands that had thrown kiss to her but Yesterday.
She wished that she could 81 some lowers LOT
that lead baby. II was April. and there were
none in the city gardens just recovering from ie
shock Of severe Eastern winter; she had no
money to buy them from florist Up IN the great
house on the bluff that had been her home there
was n conservatory. and in il there was mag
nifcent climbing rose that she had planted htr-
self years gone by; and nurtured INTO vigorous
at This moment she wished only for one OF the large
pointed buds. with It's petals hall unioided' smut
in LITTLE bower OF green leav fo t s sa s n ms
pose could sh ask any favors from the people IN
the house on the bill
little later and there would be plenty of wild
flowers outside the town. The vi9lets alwaXs
came first Nay; it was already the last OF April
and with the soft wind blowing and the clear sun
shine of the past two weeks the vlolets must pe
already ont She quclIened her steps at the
thought A little brook ran through the town and
cut narrow channel down the bluffs, on It's way
TO the sea Near the foot Of the bluffs there was a
narrow bench of land stretching between the hills
and the tide-ands and there beside the brook she
had Gathered early spring violcts since childhood
If she walked quickly she could easily get there
and back again before the night had closed dOWh
To reach the place she had to pass through the
business portion Of the town. Walking swiftly
along, looking to neither right nor lei' snc Was
surprised 70 have some one accoSt her.
Miss NanderpoOl"
1t was John Ashton, whom she had not seen
since the day that She found her fathers name
dishOnorcd and herself Oeggarcd ard homeless
He bad asked her to be his wife and she had re-
fused. Was il because she had known hun as
poor boy born in the lowest walks OF society
while the Vanderpo Is had inherited the wealth
and high standing of many generations? UT was
il because she elected to bear her p verify ana dS
grace alone? She flushed now as she recognized
him.
One minute" he said.
Not now. / cannot wait" she insisted, ard he
stepped back without word
What c0ulG ht wlsl to see her for? She re-
mcmbcrcd what he had said that time. If you
were fch and hOnorcd should have been TOO
proud TO address you She had resented the
speech then Recalling it now she could not help
admitting that it did honor to John Ashton. She
was thinking of John Ashton the boy the httle
ragged fellow who used TO do chores about her
fathers house picking up an education ~ the pub
lie schools devOting himself 10 her service on hoi-
days. John Ashton the man was separate en-
tity, and she had never trusted herself to analyze
her impressions of him. lie N.aS liked and trusted
by all men, and very probably admired by women.
She knew his GRAND to this place. He was cclc-
bratcd engineer row, and had come down 10 take
charge OF great project LOT TttdIuillE iH' liu'-
lands People called the enterprise the march Of
Improvement but Miss VanderpOo hated the
march of improvement and did not care for bone
fits 10 commerce, but liked best the wide stretch
of salt marshes with their rusty vegetation,
their black pools and fitting fogs. Sine was com
ing to them now, for her path lay along their Dor
der, and soon she beside them. and drew
long breath, inhaling the fresh ocean air with It's
briny smell. She looked out to sea. where lu-
rnin0us glow along the horizon commcmortcd the
going down Of the sun. and sullen clouds above
prcsaged the gathering OF the storm. She hoped
with feeling Of pity new TO her. that ii might
be clear for an hour or two on the morrow, that
the burial Of the little child might not be made
drearier by coudcd skies and driving rain Not
far away, on the marsh. surrounded by broad
pools which reflected the distant glow in the sky,
She saw the tall chimney Of n steam derrick aud a
low barge-like shape that seemed TO be anchored
in the mud. She ded not give herself much time
to speculate now. Night fast falling, and
little ahead she saw the tidy brook she sought
But think moment Was it the right place?
She hcsitated for an instant in doubt and pcrplcX