Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1892-02-05
MisffIlaue1ns.
III WAS ONLY A DREAM
From the Spanish

am Bolug 10 tell you STORY from
real life, as it is the habit Of writer's
nowadays to say whose hero is now liv-
ing and working prosperously in an in
dustrial establishment on this coast
Listen to me, dear readers.
When Ernest returned to his wretched
home after tiresome journeys back aud
forth in the streets and public squares Of
Madrid in search of work, his discon-
ISOLATE wife Mauricia had no necessity to
ask him many questions.
All she said to him was Nothing p
and with eyes heavy with tears she
turned away from him and looked at the
two handsome little children of tender
years who we're calmly sleeping on a
little wooden bedstead.
Nothing" he replied with sigh,
dropping into chair and supporting his
head with both hands
A deep silence then reigned in the
room. AT length Ernest said to his
wife:
~ am hungry
Mauricia looked at him with pity, and
embracing him lovingly, answered
"My poor Ernest, how unfortuna.c
we are In that cupboard there | keep
the food Of our little ones, who are sleep
ing so tranquility. Will you take the
halfw
"And you p he asked.
~" she replied. evasively, MAY
God protect and guard me am not
hungry-not now"
"No, will not take it, was Ernost's
emphatic response, perceiving what a
sacrifice his wife was ready to make for
the love of him and their children. II
am going to bed; sleep perhaps will give
me rest and strength"
He paused and then remarked to his
wife how hard it was to want for the most
necessary things Of life, while tho more
fortunate people were piling up money
in great heaps. Fearing that he had
some particular person 10 mind, Mauri-
cia so asked him.
at is our rich neigbbor that had 10
mind" quickly replied the unfortunate
man. To-day she went to collect her
rent for the past quarter, 2, 800 pesetas.
When shall VIC have only the half Of
such sum as that? ?"
Maurioia was alarmed at this turn of
his thoughts and began to weep bitterly
by the side of her little children's bed,
while Ernest was retiring in an adjoin.
ing room.
How long the unfortunate father and
husband slept he himself could not tell
Suddenly be awoke ia q deadly chill
He looked out of tho room and saw bis
wife seated at the head Of the children's
bedstead weeping.
"She cries." he murmursd. "Shs is
thinking of our children !"
lie went 10 the window, and 10 the
dull light Of a wintry mornisg saw the
roofs Of houses all covered with snow.
"How cold il u.s." he went on mur-
muring, "and bow much misery there
is in this house Tie took his ragged
overcoat and teDderly spread it over bis
wife. Then he looked at bis children,
and taking of the double-breasted sack
which he had just put on he wrapped il
over the feet Of his little ones TO keep
them warm. In spite Of the intense
cold he stood there, without sufficient
covering, in deep meditation, immova-
bic and, a. it we're, in a trance.
ut 10 not fortune that want
thus bis thoughts ran--"only work, that
| may earn money 10 buy bread and
clothing for my wife and children. Yet.
there are many who do not work that
have riches, that are able 10 treasure up
gold. Our neigbbor, for instance, she
is rich, alone, an old maid with an an
nual rental Of 100000. II | only had
as much money az that old lady. Some
thing seems 70 tell me could by rob
bling. But | do not want il for myself,
but for my wife and children, who have
not food 10 eat"
Then be stretched himself on the
couch and a sense Of horror crept over
him. He looked out Of the window and
thought that the snow on the roofs Of
the houses was stained with blood-red
spots. Sleepily he reached out his hand
and on table near bis bed found large
kitchen knife that bis wife left there 10
a moment Of forgetfulness. He besi-
tated an instant and then hid il in the
rigbt-hand sleeve Of his shirt.
"If she cry, let her cry-worss for
her." he said between bis teeth, bis
mind now made up 10 assault and rob
the rich old maid.
The old lady was sleeping souudly
and her kindly face lit up by the flicker
ing light Of little lamp that hung from