The record-union., 1891-05-04
4 MODERN f.fNTALUS.
Written for the RECORD UNION by Maude S.
Peaslee

WdTIll sun Illp already DeSuN 10 HlelG the
snow Dame Nature had stored beneath
the somber old pines, and many little
rivulet ran leaping down the mountain
side.
The sun was just setting, and its last
rays threw rosy tinge upon the white
walls of large, handsome house, in a
mining town on the western slope of the
Sierras.
A lady, still young and handsome, was
pacing restlessly up and down a hand
somely furnished parlor. Her hands
Were tightly clasped, and her face bore a
look of great anxiety.
Finally, she opened the door and went
out into the air. She breathed long and
deeply, as if she had felt a sense of op-
preston in the house.
"Oh! if he would only come and re-
ieVe me Of this suspense she muir
INJURED, moving slowly forward, till she
had reached the gate. She leaned against
it, resting her cheek upon the post. Her
head throbbed and burned, and her throat
ached with the feeling Of pent-up tears.
The nurse came down to the gate and
asked her if she would see the children
before they went to bed. At first she
only shook her head, but before the wo-
man had reached the house. she turned
and followed her.
As she opened the nursery door, the
children sprang toward her crying:
Here she is! why, mamma, nursie
Just said you wasn't coming to kiss us
good night. l knew you would,
mamma," whispered little Lucille, who
had climbed up in her lap.
Pm afraid you are sick, mamma" J"
said Charlie, her oldest child, a boy so
like his father that she sometimes thought
she loved him best of all.
mo, dear, not sick, only greatly wor-
ried. think mothers little ones must
go to bed without story tonight.
don't think l can tell you one now"
She kissed them all passionately, but
with certain solemnity that awed them
into silence.
us it anything I can help you about,
mamma?" said Charlie, .clinging to her
as she turned to leave the room
She kissed him again, with tears in her
eyes, but shook her head and hurried
away.
The nurse followed her with a soft
white shawl in her hand.
Excuse me, Mrs Courteney, but the
night air is very chill in California.
Won't you take this if you are going to
wait for master?''
Mrs. Courteney thanked her, and tax
ing hold of her hand, clung to it as if she
felt sympathy in the touch of something
human.
''Do you long for home, for England,
nurse?" she said eagerly. II do. I
would give ten years of my life if we had
never come here. Good, faithful nurse"
she murmured, little did my mother
know the future when she bade me never
leave the land where 1 was born; and
yet, how good was her advice"
Wrapping her shawl about her she
went down the steps and out to the gate
1.-The mistress must be ILL., said old
nurse Tompkins; 'she never acted like
this before. 1t must be something is
wrong at the mine.r
1t grew dark rapidly, and soon the
moon rose; Still Helen Courteney
watched and listened-listened for foot
steps she half dreaded to hear
II cannot pray" she groaned. ST can
only feel that God has forsaken us in this
strange land"
With her face buried in her hands, she
leaned mOtionless against the gate for
some time. Presently her deep, regular
breathing showed she had fallen asleep.
Worry and anxiety had so worn on her
that she was exhausted, physically as
well as mentally.
1t was only few moments until a dark
form might have been seen approaching:
still she did not move. 1t drew nearer,
and bending over her Howard Courteney
saw she was asleep.
40, Helen, my love! would that You
might never wakenn' he groaned as he
kissed her soft hair. "Why did 1 not
listen to you and stay in the dear 'old
country you never wished to leave.
Wake up, Helen," he whispered in her
ear, and she started up with cry.
Howard! was asleep? What news?
But no! you shall come in and have
cup of tea before you tell me-" she said,
leading him toward the house. She was
at once her own sweet, unselfish self
when he had come.
He sank into Il chair before the warm
dining-roon fire, but only shook his
head when she pressed upon him some
tea and toast.
Just TO please me-" she insisted. and
he, smiling family, drank a swallow of
the fragrant tea, but did not touch the
crisp brown slices of toast.
He stretched out his hands and warmed
them absently at the blaze.
would you be afraid to die?'' he asked,
abruptly turning TO look at his wife, who
was bringing his slippers.
What nonsense, Howard!' she said
nervously. ut would not be fear |
should feel, but pain at leaving you and
the children"
But if we could all go, too?" he per-
sisted.
She came to him and kissed him.
Come TO our own room, dear" she
sad, and lie down and let me battle your
head. Pm sure it aches, it is so hot.1
lie followed her to their room, but
again spoke of death.
Helen, | am in earnest; there is moth
ing left for us but death. The men Quit
work tonight. / begged and pleaded
with them TO work Just one day more.
nearly went down onmy knees to them to
persuade them to set Off Just one more blast
tonight. They positively refused to
work an hour longer without pay, and,
Helen, I've no money for them. They
don't believe in the mine now, and they
must live somehow | can't blame
them. ! think they would have set off
another blast for me, but the foreman
said there was no powder. What can we
do, Helen? We have no money"
She had listened to him with slowly
whitening face. She tried to speak, but
could not utter a word
The money from your silver and lew
els was all spent for powder" he went on.
There IS nothing more we can sell. The
house is mortgaged TO its full value. rve
borrowed money right and left, till no one
would lend me a dollar. We can't get
away from here-we can't buy even food
when what is in the house is gone. We
can't pay the servants, and Cross ,y Co.
can turn US out of doors tomorrow, if
they choose, for the mortgage was due
last month"
His wife was steadying herself against
the mantelpiece. Her hold loosened; she
swayed and fell in a pitiful little heap
right at his feet.
lie caught her up in his arms.
w hat brute | am!' he said: land
yet 1t is time she must know the worst.
O God! To have wealth almost within my
grasp, and have it elude me thus! Are