Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1891-04-03

They sought from place TO place;
they traversed street after street but
in vain. And on a drcary February
night, when the snow was turning to
discolored slush on the pavements and
dismal fog hung over the streets,
Marian looked sadly up into her
friends face.
THE soles of my shoes are worn in
holes, Juliet, said she. MY feet are
soaking wet, and my head aches, and
i don't think can GO out any more.
Its OF no use. think heaven has for
gotten u.s."
Juliet, stronger and more courageous,
brewed her friend cup Of weak tea.
and produced two soda crackers from
the cupboard.
Eat and drink, Marian, and you
will feel better, said she. II have
heard of woman who wants book
there at once, this very evening, be-
fore any one else has n chance TO
crowd me out"
You won't get the place, Juliet"
How do you know" cheerily.
Il don't know it. | feel it"
well, you'll see. Eat and drink
say, dear. Don't sit so mournfuhy
there.
When you are gone, Juliet"
But when Juliet was gone, Marian
rose and put the soda crackers back
into the cupboard.
''She thought ! didn't know they
were the two last" said she. Juliet
was always hearty eater. She is not
so good at starving rs | am. But the
ends come at last!''
She took from the mantel little vial
of dark liquid, labeled "Laudanum"
Outlet had had ague-in-the-face a few
days ago, and had used a little of iD,
and looked at it questioningly.
II hope itisn't very wrong" she muir
INJURED; 'but-but it must be so hard to
die by inches! Harder still to 60 to
the poorhouse on Blackwell's Island!
oh, no, | could not endure that!'
And removing the cork, she drank
the bitter draught.
Surely this would be n dose strong
enough to silence all the pangs and
woes of n dozen poor souls!
"Will il be painful?' she asked her.
self, nesting down among the pillows
of her bed. Because have not much
strength TO endure"
No. it was not painful. Heaven be
thanked for that!
A sweet drowsiness, like the breath
of poppies, overspead her being and
with haif-murmured prayer on her
lips. Marian drifted into slumber.
Didn't tell you it was always dark
est before daylight? Wake up, Marian
wake and rejoice with me.'
Through sort of cloud. Marian saw
Juliets radiant face. She struggled
into a sitting posture and tried y re-
member what had passed.
Was it true? or was it only dreamP
Who do you think the woman was
who wanted book-keeper? Why, my
mothers dearest school friend! She
knew my name at once. and she says
she should have known me anywhere
from my resemblance to mother. She
is in the perfumery business-oh, such
nice big storc.-and she manages il
all herself. And / am to be book-keep-
er with "a nice salary, and you are to
have n good place there, too-right
away. Marian. dear. And we can pay
good Mrs. Popover now, and live like
Christians again; and I've brought
home such nice little supper Of cold
roast chicken, and hot potatoes, and a
pitcher of smoking coffee. \ real
treat, Marian. Rouse up, dear, and
enjoy it,
a faint. sad smile fickered into Ma
rian's face.
Had all the sunshine come, now that
it was too late? And yet how good the
little feast looked-how deliciously
fragrant was the coffee!
With a feeble gesture, she pointed tc
the little vial on the mantel juliet
would know what she meant.
why" cried the girl where is al
my cough medicine ! got the bottle
filled only yesterday, for knew that
kept you awake coughing at night
Mrs. Popover gave me some out of the
children's bottle. She's such a kinC
/ old woman Laudanum? Oh, yes,
know that's what the label says, bu
/ the vial tipped over long ago. and al
the laudanum leaked out, Never mind
dear-we can easily get more now
We arc not beggars any longer. Here
sit UP. Drink this hot coffee before i
has time to chill. And eat the chicken
and taste this dear little teeny glas,
of current jelly. You see I'm getting
eXtravagant, but we have been starved
SO long,
What a coward have been'n sait
Marian, TO herself. ''Oh. thank Goo
That He saved me from my own rasl
will-saved me to begin lie anew
saved me for new strength and hope
Oh, | never, never will abandon my
self TO despair again, no matter how
dark the future seems
And Juliet never knew how neal
Marian had come TO the solution OF al
life's problems. 1t was secret be
tween herself and heaven Heller
/ Forrest Graves in Saturday Night.