The Dickinson press., 1892-01-23

kill
Did you really witness all this9" asked
l did indeed" replied Mr.. Deyine.
II did not know" said Lady Yorke with
a slight shudder, that people ever died of
hunger. do not suppose that 1 quite un-
derstand the meaning of the word lam
ine'"
;sa Your J ai life has % been happy one. LOU
the rose-colored side of existence"
That must be true" she allowed more
eraNely than had expected.
The next morning | had to drive with
Lady Yorke to Woodheaton; she wanted
to make some purchases. The morning
was lovely, but her mind was evidently still
disturbed by the conversation of the pre-
vious day.
Miss Chester, she said suddenly, 'shaye
from want of food?"
at home With I'm: my mother. moth She She
out of her limited means made point of
day."
so far as ] remember, relieved a poor per-
son in my life. We send money to various
charities; but have never personally given
any any " away. 1 have seen so few poor peo-
| saw that her mind was awakened. We
talked on the same subject during the
whole OF our drive. told her what had
seen amongst the poor at Gracedieu-their
patience, their industry, the pathos and
beauty of their lives.
The true heroes and heroines of this
poor"
.,,,;t Heroes and heroines!" she repeated.
'.Why, Miss Chester what can there be
heroic in .poyerty?"
Poverty, bravely born is true heroism,"
ed when everything goes Well, when one
mas plenty of money, plenty Of food, and
everything one can desire. What can be
more heroic than the endurance ofhunger
and cold without complaint l have
read of what the world calls heroines-
Joan Of Arc, who won a throne for her
king; Charlotte Corday, who slew the en-
emy of France, but to my way OF thinking,
the real heroine is the wife and mother
whose lie is one continual struggle, who
WORKS without ceasing. never complains,
dren we'll. and practices heroic virtues un-
seen by any one unknown even to herself
Ihat woman is one of Heavens own
heroines."
Lady Yorke was silent and thoughtful
during the rest of the day, but in the eve
ming she relapsed into the old lackadaisical
mood
A few days afterward asked her if she
would go to Woodheaton again, and, hav-
ing no other engagement, she consented.
Just what longed for happened. When
W., we REACHED the shop of the stationer. the
Lady Yorke in distant fashion.
Mrs Durant was an active energetic
woman whose life was filled with good
deeds, the very reverse otbeautiful, luxury
loving Lady Yorke., To my great delight.
about the badness of the At times, the the
want of work, the poverty of tho peo-
pie. / shall never forget Mrs. Durrant's
face when Lady Yorke languidly took out
her we'll filled purse.
Ms"nsa "Moula money Sasy be Of any n gse2" she said
wife, startled out of all propriety. "Why,
Lady Yorke, it is only money that we
want Money will purchase food, coal,
clothes, shoes and everything else."
heard the rustic of bank-notes and
Lady Yorke said gently
poor?"
The eyes of the rector's wife filled with
tears. She saw in the gift relief for many
from utter misery.
lation, Lady YorkesS she said M earnestly,
you should go to place that is called
Sandy Fields"
After the rector's wife had departed,
turned to Lady Yorke.
| Will you SOl aSKoQ lef.
| II do not know Miss Chester" she said,
drawing her rich silks and laces tightly
around her. II have never seen anything OF
the kind"
"When you die" remarked, "you will
like to have some good deed to remember.
You will like to think then that you
have lessened the burden of one human
heart"
you frighten me-" she said. ''Yes l
will CO."
Half an hour afterward fashionable self
indulgent Lady Yorke stood in the poorest
in horror and dismay. Only starN
woman and a starving child were there;
there was no fire, no food, no table, no chair,
no bed. 1t was most hopeless, helpless
case.
"a contrast to Westwood," whispered
to her.
At first the woman was sullen and would
not speak-.-her misery was too great.
Then she cried out-.-
mo, you can do nothing for me. My
husband died six weeks ago; and this is all
Heaven itself cannot help me.'' She look
ed at Lady Yorke. ''You mean WELL" she
said. "but the money that bought that silk
gown would have kept my husband alive.
ne died tisdo1 hungry 1Ils Do you think X shall
before he died from hunger
not pain, but hunger. l loved him
with all my heart, and had to sit and
listen until could have rushed out of the
house to slay and rob the first person l met.
He died hungry, While in your house good
food is wasted, An, my lady, YOU, dogs
L saw Lady York's face grow very pale,
and her eyes sought mine with a fright
sned look.
"He moaned all night" continued the
woman. ''and had nothing to give him
t>,.%, T. .l,s.>
but, when death came on him in the morn
ing, he said to me, 'Ah, lassie, therich have
it in this world; we shall have it in the
next! l went out and sold the last thing
that belonged to me.--my wedding-ring---
that morning, and bought tea and bread.
I have gone past it, he said. 1T is all over,
lassie., 1t has come too late: Seven years
straight and handsome. He took ME to .
pretty home, and he worked hard for me:
but trouble came and he died hungry. My
poor lad! My poor. poor lad!'
knew that in her heart Lady Yorke
was thinking of the dainties that, sent
away in capricious discomfort, would have
saved this poor mans life.
annie is dying" the woman went on,
IN the same hopeless, helpless voice, with
wild gleam in her eyes. "a few weeks
it, is too late. Last night l went every
orange with. She had been craving all day
for an orange and every time she fell
asleep she dreamed that she held the
orange in her hands, and that it fell to the
ground. 1 would have done anything for
one penny, but could not get it,"
81 am very sorry" said Lady Yorke. "1f
l had known"
mo one knows!" cried the poor woman.
..We work and toll, we suffer and die and
no one knows-only Heaven. Heaven
counts our miseries and palms, and will
change them into blessings. Annie will be
in heaven soon, and there will be no more
hunger or cold for her."
For the first time saw tears in Lady
Yorke's eyes.
"Would you like very much to keep
Annie with your" she asked; and hardly
knew her voice. 1t had lost its languor,
and was clear and sweet.
"Would l? Ah my lady. Annie is the
very heart that beats in my breust!" she