The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1892-12-08

Rtyety, ieapcu ihto tnc carrf1Xe<
closed the door. and staring my nor
father straight in tbs eyes through the
carriage window commanded: "cozch-
man, drive quicklyl 1t is cold-very
coldr
"Will the haunting vision Of thnt
look of CONSERVATION and shame ev<x
pass from me? 1t is the open wound
of lifelong punishment / saw the
glitter of that death's-head cane, then
/ buried my face in the folds of NV
gorgeous cloak and groaned. heard
| the familiar step on the carriage box.
and thanking God that he had not de-
serted me even in my infamy, was
whirled away.
"Gonel Like the bursting of pref
". iridescent bubble. the dazzling false
| lights melted in the glooms of shame.
remorse, dishonor of my own father,
who had given up all to mel Obi what
| Just retribution would God see ft to
visit on me to atone this crime? How
shrank from my own naughty self of
the moment before, spurned the 6ne
clothes purchased with the sweat and
blood of him whom had wounded be-
yond remedy. OH when I should cross
again the sacred threshold of our dear
little home, how would | throw nv
arms about my poor fathers nee.
pleading forgiveness, renouncing tn
world, living for him-only for him.
THE carriage crossed the squafs
and soon arrived before our door, . L
made my way unassisted to the side
walk, I turned; but TO my amazement
father was not on the box. had mis-
taken that familiar step in the tumult
of parting from the world Of illusion
and entering the world OF fact,
"Where is he" demanded. in
terror.
Dunno. mum. Lef him standin'
on the sidewalk, mum. BE he your
coachmau?'
~ ieaped back into the carriage.
puiclxr cried, my voice scarce above
whisper with the anguish. Return
at once-to the very spotr
'Oh, those moments of agony. how
long they seemed Twas stupetied; the
whirl of the waltz, the ecstasy of tri-
umph, and then the remorse-that
crushing remorse,
THE carriage stopped abruptly.
peered out full into the faces of crowd
of loungers, who stared as If were an
apparition. The door opened
Der old man wot stood 'erer I
heard one cultural voice exclaim. 'eOh,
he doubled up and dropped on de side
walk, he did. An de cop rung up de
ambulance, and dey hustled de old gent
down two blocks to de herspital. Yonse
fell's seen i'm. didn't yer2'
Shall drive thereg heard the
coachman say; but ! was too weak to
speal-only nodded, ane was whirled
away.
II felt an awful sickness, and lost
consciousness at intervals, only reused
to myself again by the memory of the
swirl OF the waltz, the whispers of the
great prince, and the words of the vul-
gar street ARABIA jungle OF horrors. a
hideoas floating mist of mirrors aud
flowers and snowy shoulders and sem
sual glances, and oh. most agonizinvi
that look-the parting look of my
father, so sad, so sweet
"Scme one touched my arm. ana I
sprang forward. The carriage door
was swung wide. and young surgeon
in uniform was clinching my pulse and
wiping the tears and Precipitation from
my throbbing face. Suddenly regain.
ing strength leaped out chung TO the
surgeons arm for support and asked
my questions with all the Conference at
my command.
oh. that man Just brought I'M? said
the young surgeon. oh, he's in Ward
Fiver
"'Whats the matterp-quiclx.'
~ don't know. Starvation. guess
'''Starvation,"-Nc. no, no, Don't
say that, Don't say that. You'll kill
me. Take me to him. quick.-quick..
Why. what was he to YOU, miss?'
her coachman" said the old man,
ironically.
"''Coachmau." - No. no. no. Nv
father-he is my father,-Say no more.
| cannot bear it. Take me To him
quick" And with that took the Young
surgeons arm and crept up the steps
M, up. up it seemed into the clouds,
entering at last dim. silent room,
and hurryiny down between the mar
row aisles of the manned and the OUT
cast, Starvation The
word rang like a death knell in my
ears What anguish the horrible word
struck to my heart, I bled at every
step felt the scourge Of Heaven at
every heart-throb,
"'Therer said the young surgeon.
pointing to low cot over which a
white-capped nurse was bending, and
upon whose pillows lay the calm. sweet
features of that one so dear to me. Oh.
how CHASTITY he looked against the
white sheets,-and the nurse was WHIP
ing blood from the dear forehead.
-father,-father, Speak to
me. IL is I-I-vour Madeline-vour
child, Sec, See.-lool< up aud saw tssSs
that you forgive-forgivel Don't YOU
hear mes Ii is I-your chlld-your
Madeliner
~ drew the dear head from the nil
low aud clSsg>ed my weak arms about
his neck, pressing my face TO his nv
hot tears mingiing with the blood that
vrickled from the wound on his fore
head. Suddenly the clear eyes parted
wide-ot, so wide, so bright, so snrer-