The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-01-03

matter OF life and death 10 me. / mus.
&c. him 10 ancross this check"
Then you mus. &c. him 10 do il on
Monday morning az IL 0 clock He won't
ne here before that time" the cheeky
looking young gentleman retorsed and
turned his back.
4 bit Of paper worth E2o, and vet for the
moment, worth not penny.
William Ross was az the end of hi. tether
and had been. for the matter OF that, this
year past. Friends, he had none Rela-
tiyes were nearly as poor Z. himself, and
they were hundreds Of miles away. Bi.
by bit, the jewelry first OF all. then the
knick-knscks, then clothing, uuderlinen
and finally even bedding had been taken
10 the sign OF the three golden balls, and
after that even the tickets had been
psvned or sold TO purchase food. What
little credit there had been with the
rradesnen was used up long ago. and
William Ross, without much fault OF
his, had come 70 be looked upon as & man
who promised great deal and fulfilled
none Of his promises. A. last not as
much IS loaf would be sent I'D 10
his room unless he had paid for it before
hand. He was g lazy dreamer. people
pOseless, useless inventions which seemed
10 bring good neither 70 him nor to any,
body else. They pitied the sick wife. bu.
refused 10 trust the anguished husband
with medicine 10 save her from dying.
Ross called al dozen places with that
strip OF paper and vas met with distrust,
derision even. Nobody seemed 10 know
NJ. Wilkins. and even those who had
heard the name knew not the signature
Ross begged with tears in his ewes for the
loan OF sovereign upon thar security,
bur could not obtain =. AcQuaitances
pu-sei their lips ana found ID their aston
ishruent thai they had not more than q
feg shll4;ngs, which they required for
themselves, and the banks close, vo2
know, az , clock on SATURDAYS. and
am so sorry. | would o5ige you If /
could. but how can | - and al the rest OF
Ike hearl.ess. cynically sEave, polite
nOtaings. Ross preferred the brutal re-
iu,a.S OF the tradespeopla 70 the hypocrit-
lCai phrases o. cqQalrtance.-thev we're
less ga.LlnE-Aud the result Of both was
equally bitter
kln3.y-nea-ted woman was living on
the same floor with the Ross. and though
she was nearly as poor as the wretcaed
husband anu " Re. being a widow Who hai
10 support three ravenous children nv the
bitter wage earned - her need ?. she still
found leisure IN the goodness OF her heart
- slt a. times ~ tue suffering xsruaa's
bedside cad - UTing her Slcn comfort
o KINDLY words and a face smiling n
spite or TRIALS could bes:0y M-S
/ axe had shared her drop u e. x:th
tae s.cS woman. but the feeble strength
had dslDd- - beyond suCl aid SIS Size
co@.a give, and The frau form had become
more e,nac.1tel stlt. the dark ewes were
salnInE MIN an unes0nv suS,re and the
t.ln white IpS moved n rnSvaa s5--
"a - on = No.
ing t.tte--y when Ross Ve-ente-ed The
chamber ii the SICK
Il don't know what's got over her fo-
t1e l2st Lol- Or -, she whispered while
IT, Aot tears rolled down her face. she
= - cold. and - quiet"
The husband waited TT 70 hear the las-
OF Ae1 words. nug le~ 10 me bedside. ami
gently inserting h.s arm beneath tae pi.-
I, low. drew the white face towards him.
SPEAK For Gods sake. speakt'' he
cred. chat l may KNOW YOU are alive.
Whisper one word. dc--ie."
tie jumped up with savage glow in his
face
on! God, - he cried. and they saw It's
wrong 10 s.eal. am = LEI NV lar!ina
die and stana helplessly by ,"
tie wrUng his hands and CRASHED his
teesh - h1s despair. whlst Ms Blake
break.
she : dying Of starvation, Mrs. Blake"
/ he exclaimed dying Tor want 81 food ana
Ire, snI there = nothing lei; 10 sell. moth
ing - pASu-noGaIuE.
he stopped snort. IS II remembe-in.
snmething and. taxing Of rs coat. r.
heyed himself OF MS Nalstcoat. lie
/ looked 81 the later garment nervoQslv.
. holding Il Gp 70 the light. then he slowly
/ wrapped I'm an old newspaper. ana but
tonlns his coat Up - the throat. went OUT
WITH tie parce. under his arm
L quarter 81 an hour afterwards he ne
to-ae1 WIKI small basket Of coal. some
nreSood. and Tiny Jar containing
e-owDl>a substance
! managed 70 get rfteen pence. Ms
BAKE, ae sad. "\os We'll have re
aaG MAKE her some strong beef tea Thank
Tod thar thought Of IL II We can only
TIDE over today ana TOMORROW. on Monday
sAA4 have tNenty pounds - twenty
SoVerelgnS, Mrs. Blake ana thea I shall
q sn'e % repay some OF your kindness. "
MIS- h-4ke smiled incredulouslv. She
had often heard from her vonnc friend
Similar stories % golden hope. every one
o. Which aad resulted IN neUsal. Her