The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-12-23
TIE LOTTERY TICKET.



home to-day? Freddie seems i'll, and as
there Is dtphtheria in the neighborhood L
feel alarmed. His throat is quite sore.
"Oh. Katie, you are always frightened TO
death If that child sneeZeS! III wager mat
he up and all right tomorrow. Don't
borrow trouble, little woman"
Toms voice sounded almost as CHEEKY as
OF old, before that hateful money spoiled
their lives. Instead of receiving his kiss.
Kate threw her arms around his neck and
burst into tears.
ION, Tom, what has come to you?" she
cried. "Six months ago you would have
been as anxious about our boy as |. Give
up the disSipated life you now lead and let
us go back to or old simple ways"
But the appeal only angered him. and
when Kate ceased speaking he roughly I'M
claSped her arms from about his neck and
left the house.
Mrs. Seymour seemed turned to stone.
She stood where Tom had left her until the
doctor arrived; then left the room where 1t
seemed to her she had seen her love slain,
and went to tie sick boy. Though Kate
Seymour WAS loving, faithful wife and
woman who would bear msfortunes un-
fiinchingly for the sake of those she loved,
she would suffer no mans cruelty and con-
tempt
Tie mothers fear proved only too true,
and in a very short time she knew she must
lose her boy. All through that long day
and night she watched beside the bed of her
breaking heart she watched the struggle for
life, which grew fainter as the night waned,
and ceased altogether with the light OF day.
The first rays Of sunlight came into The room
and tell on the face OF her dead child.
When kind friends would have led her
from the room she refused to go, and with
her own trembling hands arrayed him for
burial; for it was necessary, as he had died
with contagious disease. to bury him at
once.
Search was made for Tom, but he could
not be found at any of his usual haunts; so
Kate followed their little son to his grave
alone There had been no time to send for
their parents, and though surrounded by
kind neighbors and friends, she seemed
strangely deSolate.
WI en- the stars came out that night they
looked down on the bowed form Of the
mother kneeing by little newly made
grave. She had come to take a parting
look at the place where lay an that had
made her life, for the past six months,
bearable. STOPPING, she kissed the moist
earth, then arose and looked back at the home
she was leaving forever Wlthdry despair
ing eyes she gaZed for the last time on the
place where she had known nothing but
sorrow, then passed swiftly out OF tie gate.
Twenty minutes later Tom Seymour.
flushed with the haste he had made, stood be-
fore his own door. He had just returned
from the races, having missed the last train
the night previous, and Hates face as he
1
he resolved to tell her eyerything-cOn
the loss of the money, and promise to begin
10 begin a new life, She would forgive
him. he knew, and they would be happy
again. Witt this thought in his mind he
ran hastily up the steps. And no warning
came 10 him he stood there of the news
that awaited him.
Presently the door was opened by one of
the servants who stood silently staring at
him.
Why, Mary" he said, lido you take me
for ghost? Where is your mistres?"
The girl did not answer, but ran sobbing
down the hall. Tom concluded something
must be seriously amiss. His boy was very
Hl-or perhaps his wife, and resolving he
would soon show her what kind and low
ing nurse lie could be he went to Hates
room. Its deserted appearance struck a
chill to his heart, and he went on to the
nursery, bit this, too, was empty. With q
vague fear at his heart he re-entered the
other room, and then his eyes fell upon q
note pinned TO the cushion on Hates dress
ing-case. He hurriedly read 1t through,
then covered his face with his hands and
gr0aned aloud. Wifeless and childessl He
repeated the words again and again until
his brain seemed on fire, and his heart ready
to break. He realized that he merited pun
ishment, but not so terrible a one.
After several hours the servants became
uneasy and went to his door. They found
him with his head buried in his arms, and
lying at his feet the letter which Kate had
written in her grief.
will not address you az my "dear husband"
she wrote; f0n have forever forfeited The right
his father became nothing to me.
i am going back 10 my home and the only
Kindness you can show me Is 10 leave me there
Ii peace. KATE SEYMOUR.
Hates parents were surprised and shocked
at her sudden appearance. She came in the
early morning, and going to her mother
threw herself into her arms, crying that her
baby was dead and her husband had left
her. Then she tainted and remained I'M
conscious for hours.
When, after week, letter came from
Tom to his wife she was quite i'll, aud Mr.
and Mrs. Stanley concluded to say nothing
about 1t until she was we'll again. A little
suspense might be beneficial to their son.
iD-law and bring him to his senses.
Poor Toni he was certainly reaping the
whiriwiad of his mlsdeeds but the latent
nobleness of his nature now asserted itself.
be set to work in earnest to repair the
wrong he had done, as nearly as be could.
be sold his home and all the furniture, paid
his debts, and was rejoiced to find goodly
sum left; this he placed in the bank in
Rates name, determining that nothing
should tempt him to touch penny of it.
He then went to his old EMPLOYERS. and.
after telling them the story of his sorrow
and misdeeds, applied for a situation in
their house.
He had always been fayorite with the
hrm, doing his work cheerfully and we'll
After short talk with each of the partners
the senior member told him he could have
his old place again.
But no more wild oats" he said, as Tom
was trying to thank him.
NO, sir. l am through with all that"
Seymour answered.
After making the final ARRANGEMENTS he
hurried home, thinking there would surely
De letter OF some kind from his wife She
would write line, he thought, accepting or
rejecting the money. But lie was disap-
until he grew heartsick with suspense.
Two months alter her baby's death Mrs.
Seymour was lying on a sofa, looking 80 sad
ana pale that her mothers heart ached. She
had not given Toms letter to the sick
woman, fearing it might excite her. Yet
this letter. full of penitence and love, wouli
have been the best of tonics for she grieved
sadly for her husband. She missed and
mourned her baby, it is true; but that was
nothlng compared to her living sorrow.
Sne knew the child was safe; but what
might not Tom do, now he was left alone?
Ihen she began to doubt the wisdom of her
leaving home as she did; she should have
waited and given Tom chance to explain.
es. she had been too hasty, and now PEI
maps 1t was too late. At this thought the
tears gathered in her eyes and rolled down
her wan cheeks
AT the sight of her daughters grief Mrs.
STANLEY arose suddenly and left the room.
returning almost immediately.
Dearest" said she, 81 have letter that
came few days ago, but you were too ill
to read it then. Here it is"
Then she left Kate alone. When she re-
turned an hour later she found her much
eh snS i but flushed e and happy.
Tom says. Why did you keep this letter
from me so longP The poor fellow must be
nearly wild with suspense"
acted for your good, my child The
doctor said you were to have no excitement
until you were entirely recovered. If you
promise to keep quiet / will telegraph for
your husband. and he will be here to-mor-
row morning"
Tom came, of course. He was an shocpad
at Hates appearance that he could hardly
speak. But he took her in his arms and
told her everything, not shielding himself
In any way, and she freely forgave him.
Their reconciliation was complete, and they
resolved that hencefOrth they WonId en- live