The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-12-27
edged slope to the waterside and sat dow

edged slope to the waterside and sat down
on the sands alone with the sea and her
misery.
And there she sat and thought and
thought, all unconscious of the lapse of
time. The mists rose again out of The sea
like troops of phantom figures and blotted
out the kindly sun. The gulls screamed
loudly as they whirled over the leaden sea.
The sea itself retreated and left the sands
bare and shiverlng. and the girl sat on and
thought. Her life had seemed so JOY
Gus ever since her father and mother
had returned to her from India two
years ago, she had had all that heart OF
woman could desire, and suddenly she had
lost all. Ralph she dared not think OF.
And now she had lost, and forever. that idol
at whose feet she had blindly worshiped !;
had lost love and trust in the one whose
very name inspires love and confidence in
the smallest child-the father. And then,
with a great gush of pity, her thoughts
strayed to that fraii woman who must have
suffered all her life what she herself had
only suffered since yestere'en. All her life!
II was terrible; and so hopeless! thought
Trix, so hopelessl For her there might pe
some hope. Ralph might forgive; but for
her mother misery, nOught but daily, hourly
misery.
1t was the thought of her mother that at
last reused the girl. She must not add an
willingly added to the load already. for Trix
knew that however sinned against her
mother might be, she still loved her father.
II could not do it," thought the girl; Il
should hate him. should nave hated him
long ago; why, L hate him now! II he
wronged me l should hate him, were he my
husband" And then she thought of what
she had thrust away-the love of the truest,
kindest man who ever wooed girl. The
tears rushed into Trix's eyes, nor were they
seemed so hopelessly, irretrievaby wrong
her mothers life, her own life-both sacri-
hced-and to what.
She walked back swiftly, heedlessIy,
stumbling often in the gathering darkness,
going along almost unconsciously in sort
the streets of the town when she returned.
But when she reached their own house it
was strangely dark, only one light burning,
and that in her fathers bedroom. Yet
though dark, the house was not quiet, some
Subdued agitation made itself felt There
was figure waiting at the haif-open door
Trix's first thought was that her staying out
so late was the cause OF this unusual stats
If things, her second that something allied
her mother.
standing her fatigue. A figure in the hall
strangely familiar. yet indistinct in the dark
ness, accosted her. When he spoke she
knew hun, dazed though she was with all
she had gone through, the rapid walk, the
bewildering half-darkneSs. and this strange
inexplicable home coming. 1t was the
doctor.
My poor child then you know?''
II know nothing" gasped Trix. "Oh,
doctor, my mOtherp"
Is wonderfully well. feared for her
when they brought him home"
When they brought him home! Trix tried
to speak, but nothing save hoarsp, mar
ticulate moan came from her parched
throat She swayed for moment. The
doctor caught her. She seemed to 90
through years of suffering before she could
whisper. Tell mel know nothing"
"Y our father" said the kindly doctor.
''has been thrown from his horse. He is
alive but seriously hurt. Don't faint my
dear-there, there don't"
II am not going to-" said Trix. She freed
herself from the doctors friendly grasp and
stood erect, facing him, so white that he
could see her pallor even through the gloom.
with terrible. staring, stony eyes.
Faint! How could she, with those horri-
bic conflting emotions tearing at her, chok-
ing her? How could she faiHtP She
CRASHED at her throat, trying to still, its
throbbing--but faint! She had been hating
her father so fercely. thinking that nothing
in the world could b. bad enough to punish
him, and 81 the while he had been lying
here. periNAs dying When God takes