Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1891-03-21
Juliet
Juliet clicked her tongue softly

Juliet clicked her tongue softly
against the roof Of her mouth.
"Mrs. Popover will trust US for
few of yesterdays rolls or q loaf Of
stale BREAD" she suggested, cheer
fully.
No, Juliet" said Miss Milman,
resolutely. 1--WE are already too
much in Mrs. Popovers debt. ]
will ask no more favors from her."
"Must we starve p essentially de
manded Juliet.
81 would rather starve than sink
into the quicksands of debt" Marian
firmly answered.
Juliet's cheeks flushed; she bit her
lips.
..There is pawnbroker on Sixth
avenue" said she. "And ] have got
my mothers old garnet ring and a
mosaic scarf pin which my father
brought from Florence when he was
sea captain. I'll 60 and see what
l can do"
"But-a pawnbroker :" sobbsd
Marian. sOh Juliet, what are we
coming toi"
'sNo worse than many another
has come to-" said Juliet. "Cheer
up, Mariani Remember that it's
always darkest just before daylight"
And she kissed the pale girl and
went cheerfally out.
The garnet ring and the mosaic
scarf-sin kept them for . week.
Still they were seeking for work
still the same old answer was return
ed. For every vacant place there
was at least a score Of applicants.
They sought from place to place;
they traversed street after street,
but in vain. And on dreary Feb
ruary 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. It's of no use. l
think heaven has forgotten u.s."
Juliet, stronger and more courage
Gus, 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. 81 have
heard of woman who wants book.
keeper in her business, and | must
go there at once, this very evening,
before any one else has q chance to
crowd me out.
You won't get the place, Juliet. +"
"How do you know 7" cheerily.
Il don't know it. / feel it,"
"Well, you'll see. Eat and drink,
I say dear. Don't sit 80 mournfully
| there"
But when Juliet was gone, Marian
rose and put the sodo crackers back
into the cupboard.
"She thought l didn't know they
were the two last" said she. "Ju-
liet was always a hearty eater. She
is not SO good at starving as / am.
But the ends come at last"
She took from the mantle little
vial of dark liquid, labeled "Lauda-
mum" Outlet had had agus in the
face few days ago, and had used g
little of it, and looked at it question
ingly.
81 hope it isn't very wrong" she
murmured; "but-it must be 30 hard
to die by inches Harder still to
go to the poorhouss on Blackwell's
Island ! Oh, no, / could not endure
that -
And removing the cork she drank
the bitter draught.
Surely this would be dose strong
enough to silence all the pangs and
woes of dozen poor souls
"Will it be painful 7" she asked
herself, 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 peoples, overspread her
being, and with half.murmured
prayer on her lips, Marion drifted
into slumber.
\
Didn't l tell you it was always
darkest before daylight Wake up,
Marian-wake up and rejoice with
me
Through sort OF q cloud, Marian
saw Juliet's radient face. She
struggled into sitting posture, and
tried to remember what had passed
Was it true, or was it only q
dream
"Who do you think the woman
was who wanted a book-keepar /?
Why, my mothers dearest school
friend! She knew my name at
once, and she says she should have
known me anywhere from my re-
semblenee OF mother. She is in the
perfumery business-oh, such nice
big store land she manages 1t
all herself. And / am to be book
l. L