The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1893-02-11


closed the door, and staring my poor
father straight in the eyes through the
carriage window commanded: coach
man, drive quickly! 1t is cold-vcry
coldr
"Will the haunting vision Of that
look of CONSERVATION and shame ever
pass from me? II is the open wound
of a lifelong punishment | saw the
glitter OF that death's-hsad cane, then
1 buried my face in the folds of nay
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.
"Gone! Like the bursting of pref
~, iridescent bubble, the dazzling false
lights melted in the glooms of shame,
remorsc, dishonor of my own fathcr.
who had given up all to mel Oil what
Just retribution would God see fit to
visit on me to atone this crime? How
shrank from thy own naughty self OF
the moment before, spiirned the fine
clothes purchased with the sweat and
blood of him whom had wounded be-
yond remedy. Oh. when / should cross
again the sacred threshold of our dear
little home, how would / throw my
arms about my poor fathers neck,
pleading forgiveness, renouncing the
world, living for him-only for him!
"The carriage crossed the square
and soon arrived before our door. As
made my way unassisted to the side
walk, 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 hep l demanded, in
terror.
"'Dunno, mum. Lef him standin'
on the sidewalk, mum. BE he your
coachman?'
~ leaped back into the carriage.
Quick cried, my voice scarce above
a whisper with the anguish. Return
at once-to the very spotv
"Oh, those moments of agony. how
long they seemed. Twas stupefied; the
whirl of the walts, the ecstasy of tri-
umph, and then the rernorse-that
crushing remorsel
''TEe 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 'ere?' I
heard one cultural voice exclaim. "Oh,
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 horspital. Youse
fell's seen i'm, didn't yer?
Shall drive there?' / heard the
coachman say; but l was too weak to
speak-only nodded, and was whirled
away.
81 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 and
flowers and snowy shoulders and sem
sual glances, and oh, most agonizingi
that look-the parting look of my
father, so sad, SO sweet.
''Some one touched my arm, and 1
sprang forward. The carriage door
was swung wide, and a young surgeon
in uniform was clinching my pulse and
wiping the tears and perspiration 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.
Obi that man just brought in? said
the young surgeon. oh, he's in Ward
Fivc.
"'What's the matter?-ouick!'
al don't know. Starvation, guess.
"Starvation!'-No 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.
'''Coachman!"- No, no, no. NY
father-he is my father!-Say no more,
1 cannot bear it! Take me to him
auick!' And with that took the young
surgeons arm and crept up the steps
up. up. up, it seemed into the clouds,
entering at last dim, silent room,
and hurrying down between the mar
row aisles of the MANNED and the out
cast. on.'-'Starvationr The
word rang like a death knell in my
ears. What anguish the horrible word
struck to my heart! l 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
uninterrupted 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 wip-
ing blood from the dear forehead!
"'Father!-father!- Speak to
me! 1t is I-I-your Madeline-your
child! See! see.-look up and say that
that you forgive-forgive! Don't you
l.