Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1893-10-22


hanging on the wall. 1t was u anitu. inc
owner of the doll and playthings on the
shclf-perhnps the fair haired womans
child. At that superstition the cause OF
my repugnant fear was revealed TO me.
ard remembering the word OF Taras said
to myself; This is the honest woman and
the good man who would shrink from me.
This is the child whose lips may not kiss.
What them asked. Let them shun me.
Who wants their kindness or fsiendships,
Not l. The world is good enough without
them while Taras smiles. But how long
will he smilet By this time the firemeu
have found the charred bodies, and every
one Is talking of the tragedy at the Mar.
iner's Joy. Soon enough, in a few hours.
theuews win reach Targs aud he viii know
what have done-know that ami muir
derer. Then he, too, like the Taras in my
prophetic vision, will turn his back on me
without one CLEAN Of pity and go away.
Should / stay and suffer thatf My spirit
rose in wild protest. That dream should
not be realized; that pitiless look should
not forever haunt my life.
With these thoughts running through
my fevered Imagination, / hunted about
the room for the sodden rags had taken
off They were gone. The woman had re-
moved them with the determination that
/ should not wear them again. Well. [
would take those she had given me to
wear 1t mattered little whether they
were gift or not. 1t would not add
greatly to their loathing TO know that the
murderess was thief as well. put on the
shoes she had left and took wooden shawl
as we'll to wrap about my head; then
opening the door cautiously that no noise
might awaken the sleeping household
found my way down stairs by the glim-
mer of light that came from below.
The shoH was before me, but on the right
Of the stairs was half open uoor Ia
light was in that room, and glancinS in
saw Taras stretched on couch asleep
could go no farther. The thought that |
should lool, upon his face no more seemed
to take away all power from my mind and
body, and | stood there dazod with that
sense Of utter bereavement, until impelled
by a wild desire passed into the room and
drew quite close to him.
/ sank upon my knees and put my face
so close to his that felt his breath upon
my check, but could not see him for the
tears that blinded me. My fingers hung
quivering over him for yearned to touch
him, yet dared not My tears ran down
my checks and fell upon the floor Then
could sec him. The same sweet kindness
was on his face that had Weakened my soul
from its lethargy.
That is what will remember all my
life" said to myself as / rose. His witch
lay on the table, and beside it ring had
noticed on his finger when was cutting
the cord that bound his hands took it,
feeling that he would not begrudge me this
for keepsake.
There was fog in the street, but the COP
perry background to the line of housetops
and the quick heavy tread Of men going TO
work showed that it was morning. had
no knowledge Of the neighborhood, but
that did not trouble me. My only object
was to get away from Taras and hide my
self where he could never come to kill my
happy memories with u reproachful look.
After awhile knew by the long lines of
carts and barrows, the voices of porters and
costers and the smell of fish that | must be
near Billingsgate market, and soon after
saw the monument looming in the yellow
fog. crossed the bridge and went down
the steps into Tooley street, not with any
definite object, but becaune the thick dark.
ness down there seemed to offer oblivion.
Finding myself alone Mt the foot of the
steps, tore of piece OF trimming from
my dress, and passing it through Taras'
ring l tied it round my neck, hiding the
ring in my bosom.
have but the faintest recollection OF
what happened during the day, my mind
being too scared by previous events to be
sensitive to slight impressions. ] remem.
Der feeling wretohed and hungry and sick
with the fatigue of walking. wandered
on because | found no place to rest until
hazard lqn int ~
dusk. There | fell asleep on u bench.
1t was raining when awoke, but it was
too dark TO distinguish anything, even the
trees, and could not sleep again for shiy.
ering with cold and the aching OF my body.
50 sat there in dull resignation, watching
the daylight come and marking one by one
the heavy drops as they FLASHED on the
bench beside me, falling from the boughs
above, until goaded by hunger threw OF
my letharsy and went down into the town.
1t was still early, but the coffee shops
were open, their windows clouded by the
warmth within, The first one | entered
was full OF customers, and tho man serving
them was so busy that be scarcely glanced
at me iu replying to my humble appeal for
food.
"Ohi amt got tho time to attend to
beggars--out you gor' said he, bustlinr
along with his hands full OF eglpty cups.
The next one was less crowded, and "A
woman was in the kitchen before the fam
ing fire, She turned round, setting her /
hands on her hips, and looked me down /
from head TO foot as l asked her to give me I
something TO eat and drink.
81 amt got no money, but I'll do a lob of I
work for it, said.
Had worn my old rags she would GER .
tainly have given me something, for these
people are never wanting in charity of that
kind, but the dress wore excited her mis-
trust.
Amt got no money, y said she, 'and Won
dressed like that with gown good enonab
for me. Why, what have you donePii and
as made no reply she continued: You're
run away from service and done something
wrong. Don't tell me. You've got It in
your face, You wouldn't look SO wild IN
you hadn't done mischief. No, my cal.
don't employ young women of yourSort-
high heeled boots and all-and you can
take no for an answer and go.n
The fog which sheltered me from obser.
vation the day before had given plnee to
driving rnfn nFA