The evening world., 1889-10-14
MUTE DESPAIR.
PitahIe Suffering Of the Widow Of
Llneman FeekS.
She Was q Sad Picture When Seen In
Her Home To-Day.
She Believes that She Will Not Long
Survive Her Husband.
" Pm Only q Woman, md SO Wealk,''
She Said.

Mrs. Emma Feeks sat In the basemen OF her
deaolate home this morning, On animate figure
Of mute despair. The cold rain beat against
the window panes, the chill winds voiced their
sadness among the branches Of the tall elm that
shelters the little cottage. and the Autumn leaves
of crimson. gold and brown, as eddying they
fell, wove patches Of color along the pavement,
garden path and 7 orch. Watching the pensive
face OF Nature, the Grief-stricken widow sat yet
saw nothing. She was on motionlcHs a. death
itself, the only evidence OF CONSEQUENCES being
the regular droop Of tA9 heavy eyelids.
She was dressed in a thin Calico wrapper, the
soft brown hair was brushed away from the
pale. sad face and coiled in o mass about the
crown Of her head. On one hand was the
wedding ring, which had been put on her finger
three years ago, when the form that lay In the
room above was full Of love and life and hope.
How do you feel, Ms. Feeks7" 1 asked.
II do not seem to feel 1t oil. hardly knowI
live. But 1 am we'll. YouJbse l am up, don't
your The papers said l was IN bed, in q dying
condition. that 1 did not weep. That Is wrong.
1 have a womAn's heart, and 30 1 can
not help a woman's grief. When the
news Of Johns awful death came / could not
believe II. II did not seem possible. He was 80
well and strong and SO full Of life. 1t stunned
my senses. / was dazed for an hour or so. After
that l realized that it was not the doctor but /
who had been trying to deceive myself.
Then my tears came. the most bitter
1 ever shed. I am not q stranger to
grief. Fate has been vSfE cruel, to NE, but this
blow Is the heaviest and Sthe hardestto bear. I
do not think I can bear IL. I have always been
brave, but now my strength has left me. l have
nothing to live for. 1t will not be long before l
Join him. That IL the way / think low. Yes, l
think, IL I do not feel"
''Ruk Won hava vour lttla dauOhtara daaP
Mrs. Feeks. Their love ia precious"
Very precious. Very precions. But 1 am only
o woman and no weak"
At this point q patter Of little feet was heard
on the stairs. The sad. blue eyes of the mother
opened and frightened a~little. and when the hall
door opened and q little girl In 4 nightRowu
came bounding into the room, the mothers
face beGmed. Two warm soft arms were clasped
about her neck. 4 little red mouth pressed her
colorless lips and for 4 moment she pressed the
child to herbreAst and called sweet little one,
poor dear child of NINE"
"But ! amt poor child of mine to-day,
mamma. OH OH and l love You so!' kiss
ing her again and again. land don't
You know I'm five years old. This is my birth
day. Where's the china dolly grandpa
gave mel Hero you are, you cold
little girl, " reaching up to the mAntel shelf for
three inches of doll baby scAntily clad in q
piece Of embroidery. "Shes q poor, dear
child of mine now, isn't she. mamma?
Eyes. Emma"
But I'll never take her to bed with me. I'd
roll all over her. And, you know, l never like
rubber dolls. They Is miserable. I always bite
their noses of first thing, don't II"
"Yes; you are cruel"
But can't help 1t, they makes me 80 mad. "
/ asked for an explanation, thinking to draw
the breaking heart from its sorrow.
"she fortunes the things she loves. Every
doll Is mutilated for loves sake. She's 4 strange
child. Now come, let me dress you. DEAR"
She was . long time getting the little waist
and skirts on, for with every tug and struggle
the sweet tyrant rebelled and had to be kissed
and cuddled into subsection.
Amy way, mamma. " said the blue-eyed girl,
rubbing her shock Of brown hair before the
quiet face In a binding way, ~ don't hurt
Plnkie. You know l don't"
"Pinkie is a sort OF fetch made Of square
Of white flannel that this impulsive little girl
hugs to her breast, that she sleeps and dreams
over and which she has cuddled in her arms and
held to her breast ever since she was old enough
to love anything. Winter and Summer Pinkie
has to be coiled into q hugRble shape, and with
out her the child would not sleep.
why do you like Pinkie. " the mother asked.
SuuFG WV " bOAb- " AiO" NV y ann
You felt her other day, didn't your
Little Emma Louise Coz Is the child OF Mrs.
Feeks's former husband. She was five years old
when her new papa came, and they loved each
other dearly. His first gift to his wArm-heArted
little playfellow was q canary that the child
named John Feeks."
Hes q most interesting singer, A" prattled the
| child, but fore he will sing he has to night. "
The child climbed mp to where the cage hung.
pointed her finger at the tiny feAthersd pongster.
| and after n short encounter u soft gurgle was
heard, and then the delicate throat opened and
a food OF sons rang through the house. But no
smile came from the quiet face In the chair by
the window.
The next time the door opened . young
woman entered with the two-yeRr-old daughter
OF the man who lay under the pail in the room
over head. She IL a fair, sweet little crea-
ture. with dark hlue eyes and that shade
of yellow hair in which the sunshine turks. The
mother took her. too, in her arms, held her
close to her breast and patted the little shoulders
lovingly. Whatever her thoughts may have
been, her eyes were sad and fixed on vacancy.
Since the horrible Thursday she has slept but
little. She has no appetite, eats only when
forced to do 80, aud has no wants. All day
long she sits In q chair pathetic in her ~listless-
ness. Unless spoken to her lips never move.
ia there ANYTHING 1 can do for you 2"
mo. thank you, unless You could write some
words in your paper that would make the pea-
pie feel how much l appreciate their kindness.
Say some sweet words that will be full
Of thankfulnesS. Many strangers have
come 70 the door and asked II they