The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1888-09-02
THE IIDE-UMDS::

uysrrsrf.c H0w MISS YAspEkpzs0L
cksE 10 ZEE ews.
Fse-s Hxlnes Lssgssaa IN TIE ArEoSzzt
Mss vandcrpcos came down the
step. Of her Isiging -boase and stood
looking about her with IN expression
81 discomfort On her high4Srsd Fare
II was NOS 8 very Fsutesi fodg5ng
house. and Il was not very E@nteel
auzrter. The paint was OF IN patches.
and oae Of the faded green hiinds hung
on a single hinge The steps were
worn. and the little front area was used
- depository for wood and eoai.
There sere pair u dirty facss II the
basement wiFd0ws. ami octsiie Of TIE
door sairy Ann. the Gorgoa's eldest.
watched her depart with nnsisgsised
gagiasisy. POssIiiy she knew that
Miss vanderpooi's rent for her single
room. third story in the rear, was :
sesk oserdme. she might have been
stationed there A. spy b the Tor
gen. her mother, 10 zee thai no rrere-
ana Iosgger esntTfvesi 10 sip of. bag
and laggage. without formal part
ing.
sI,e reed not give herself any con-
cefn on Miss Nanderpool's account,
thar lady reflected. Her piano. the
one article Of value among her posses
stons, was much too essnbsoas To
carry. and II was En0rtgaEed up 20 its
full yaiae Why Eas II people never
exhibited any conscience OF honor
about music teachers bills, a they did
about their butchers ard washer
wofnen's7 Why was 4 that she. re-
specfed and admired n the rich Miss
Vanstsrpooi, could end no market for
her accomplishments nov that she
must earn her daily bread Why did
every one take advantage 81 her and
cheat her. doan 70 the Fsnwnbrokes
who had fateiy taken the last piece 81
IewesfY saved fr0m her financial
wreck She was faint and hungry
and gnawing pain that was new 10
her reminded her that size had lived
on bread aud water for six weeks, and
that she had been on short ratiops for
the last few days. II she had been
soldier. now she could have withst0od
II right vigorously, for there was
martial blood In her veins. But 10
suffer IL for no heroic reason, in moth
ing but the common way The
thought Inundated her. aud she put it
aside.
She was walking down the street,
lined witb low cottages. when she
stopped before one OF the poorest and
nieanest. where a stnnted lilac. just
budding in the front yard. gave EVIL
denre 81 some little reiinemen; on the
part Of the oeeupantz. But II was not
this that attracted Mjss Vanderpool's
attention. Floating from the door
knob she beheid little piece OF thin
white crepe, tied with narrow ribbon.
the wan banner Of sorrow. This was
the cottage here the two little girls
had looked out upon her, with laugh
ing faces. every day as she passed by.
Only Yesterday they had flung her
kisses from the window. Now one
was gone. The shock bore down upon
her with all the sense OF a personal
loss
She pushed the gate open and vent
IN the steps A woman opened the
door aud led her 20 dnrkened room.
II was the custom OF the neighbour
hood to give free admission 10 visitors
at such q time. In little white coffin
Law the Younger OF the two children.
Beside il sat the father aud mother,
the woman sobbing quietly, the
father with his arm about her, and In
his lap the remaining child, who had
cried herself 10 sleep In his arms.
II am so sorry, said Miss Wander
pool gently; Is there anything can
dor"
The moment she spoke she regretted
IL. The mother unesvered her face
and looked up piteously, then shrank
from the strange visitor.
Nothing, nothing" she moaned,
"unless you could bring back my
child.
There. there, Emily said the
man. patting her kindly; don't take
on sol It's hard ON all OF rs. We've
got 10 bear 1t together.
Miss vanderpool'S eyes we're wet as
she went silently ont OF the room and
closed the door behind her. IL had
been mistake. her coming. They
had plainly resented the intrusion.
III only she could have done something
for them, could have given them some
testimony Of her sympathy. To lose
a little He that was part OF your very
own must I've hard, but donbly hard
when poverty and want are attendant
upon sorrow. The room has been so
bare. There was not a flower about
the coffin. Miss Nanderpool had
been accustomed to see grief smoth-
cred Ia costly offerings, and this little
creature was going to her last rest
without so much as a flower in her
little hands the tiny hands that had
thrown kisses TO her bat yesterday.
She wished that she could get some
flowers for that dead badv. Ii was
April. and there were none in the city
gardens, just recovering from the
shock oi severe Eastern winter. She
had no money 90 buy them from 4
florist Up IN the great house on the
biufr that had been her home there
was a conservatory, and in il there
was a magnificent climbing rose that
she had planted herself. years gone by
and uuFtarel into vigorous growth,
out of all the riches that she had lost
a, this moment she wished only for
one OF the large pointed buds. with il.
petals half uufoided. shut Ia little
bower Of green leaves. But that was
out Of the question. Not even Tor
this sacred purpose could she ask any
fayors from the people in the house on
the hill
A little later and there would be
PLENTY Of Wild flowers outside the
town The violets always came first
NAY; II was already the last OF April
and with the soft wind blowing and
the clear sunshine Of the past tive
weeks the vioiets must he already out
She quickened her steps at tn,
shought 4 little brook ran through
the town and cut a narrow channel
down the blutls on its way To the sea
Near the foot 81 the bluffs there was I
narrow beach OF land stretching he
tween the hilis and the tide lands
and there beside the brook she had
gathered early spring violet. sine,
childhood u she walked quickly 81,
could easily get there and back agaif
before night closed down
TO reach the place she bad to X,
through the business portion os th'
town Walking swiftly along looking
neither 60 The right nor lett she va
surprised 60 hear some one accost her
Miss NAndcEPool e.
IL was John Ashton. whom she ha,
no, seen since the day that she ieuu,
her lasher's name dishouorcd and her
sell hesgared and homeless lie hsi
hal askea her "a he hts vile and sh
had Refused Was i because She Ia,
known him a. . pssoy boy, born in n
lowest walks ~ s,scssty while the Van
dctpools hal Inherited the wealth an,
high standing "a many generations
or was IL because she elected ~ t-,s
her poverty snd disgrace slsne, SA
hushesl uoW a. she recognized hiil5.
''une minute, please
Net Eow / cannot wait. >hc IN