Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-12-14
A CUP OF BEEF TEA.
WHO GAVE ir AND TOOK 1.-THE
STORY or a LONDON SQUARE.
NJ arR GILBERT r. CAMPBELL, BART.

rcal-iooking trees raise their heads from
The dark looking turf in which their
roots are embedded. Many years back
tho locality used to DO a fashionable
one. bat now fashion has migrated
further west, and the lodging house
fcnd has claimed that portion of the
Town for its own. while the brass plates
OF men exercising professional business
Of the s,cond-class order decorate the
s,reet-doors Of some of tho better class
houses.
One % tho most melancholy portions
OF the locality is known "a Monarch's
S0nsre. which was in the form OF long
parhllclogram rather thsn square, and
was surrounded by tall houses, which
had every appearance OF having seen
better DAYS. In the centre Of the en-
closure wes stone figure OF woman
bending over an urn, streaked in various
places with patches Of green damp.
The few gas lamps along the pavement
gave ont duh light, casting "a dim re-
Election into the paddles IN the roadway,
andtbo rain splashod with amouotonous,
melancholy sound against the window
PIANO.
In the parlor Of No. % an old man
was seated before tho fire, gazing list
lcssly az the red caverns made by the
glowing cmbers His face was very pale
and haggard, be was propped up with
pillows. and seemed in the last stage OF
weakness. On a small table at his right
hand stood an empty basin with n greasy
looking spoon in 1t and hali-flled glass
of port wine.
"Hesba," saii he, fretfully; "Hes-
bs"
"Yfs, uncle" answered a tall girl,
who had been standing behind his chair,
coming forward to the front OF 1t as she
spoke.
Glow slow Won nre in answering"
said tho invalid sharply. Look here,
GIRL, are Won sure that DIR. Naming
ION said I was 10 take beef tea"
eyes. replied the girl lyon know
that he said you were 10 take IT as often
as Won could manage. and that it would
do Won a great deal of good.
Good, repeated the old man, angrily.
cit seems 20 XII me | have burn
inc pain inside me 90 If had swallowed
ret lot Goals. Sometimes, Hesba, /
think that Won are poisoning me-"
How cau YOU say such cruel things.
uncle 2" replied liesba. signing heavily,
ns she removed the basin and placed il
upon another table near the door, "You
cannot think how unhappy you make
me
Hcsba Carlyon had beautiful, fair
face profusIon Of fair hair was twist
Ga in shining coils round her shapoly
head her ewes were full OF expression,
bat lust now there was IA penslve look
about them.
Look here, GIRL" continued the old
man, cit is oil very well counting upon
my money, because you are my only re-
lation, but | would have you remember
that / can make will which will leave
YOU pauper, and then We shall see what
that scOundrel, Mark Scariord, will say
10 you. But remember, if ever ! hear
of your seeing him | will cut You off as
sure rs my name is Silas Ranford.
The girl made no reply, but heaved
another sigh and began 10 busy herself
with the old mans oOmforts-shaking mp
his pillow and spreading a rug over his
knees. The old man grumbled little
longer but by degrees his head sank
upon his shoulder and he fell off into an
uneasy sleep. As soon IA the girl was
certain that he was really sleeping sho
crossed the room on tlptOe, and opening
the door closed it softly behind her. She
found herself in a tOlerably spacious en-
trance-hall, and, opening door In the
opposite wall. entered a room IN which
man with his back to her was bending
over table. He started violently at
her entrance and faced about, while his
face changed from brilliant scarlet to
an ashcn palor.
Chow you startled me- Hesba, cried
he sharply. Il WAS engaged IN cutting
tobacco and nearly chopped of my
finger
ooh, Marx, " said the girl, raising her
fearful ewes towards those of the young
man, " am very unhappy; uncle IS 80
cross tonight. lie keeps on saying he IS
being poisoned-I am sure no suspects
something, and IL he knew that you
were lodging in the same house ! am
sure that he would turn me out Of
doors"
q" Does he suspect that l am here,
then ?" asked the young man, with
look Of alarm passing over his face.
'No, no. " replied Hesba; "but no
keeps on harping about being poisoned,
and that frightens me so that L hardly
know what to dc"
elias no made q will yet }" asked
Mark Scariord.
He always says that he has not, re-
turned Hesba, "but he constantly
threatens that he Will DO SO. oh, Mark,
dear Mark, do you not think that it
would DO better for you to leave tins
house, and not sec me again until hap
pier days come :"
80 Won want to get rid OF me, do
you. my girl" replied tho man called
Mark. "but YOU will find that no easy
task. Besides" he continued, careleSsly
caressing her cheek, "you love me,
Hesba, and Hould DO miserable without
me-"
"Yes, do love You. Mark, answered
ehe, nesting up closely TO him but
YOU are so hard to me at times, and then.
you know, uncle is always saying such
dreadful things about you.
"Ahl never mind what the old man
says." broke in Mark. al know he
hates me, but, my girl, when he is dead
aud gone we will have merry time with
his money, which he cannot take away
with him, much as be may desire it.
"Hush /" returned Hesba; lyon
mako me shudder. DO you not remem-
Der the proyerb about waiting for dead
mems shoes? But must be going now
OF shall DO missed. Is the beef-tea
ready?
Yes. " answered Mark there 1t is,
Hmmering away on the hob, -
The girl took the little saucepan in
Der hand. and was about to leave the
room. when by sudden impulse she
paused, and putting mp her face, said
simply:
"kiss me, Mark, l am 80 wretched;
feel that l am very guilty.
"NOnsense, Hesbs, nonsense, an
swered her lover. roughly. "Only be