Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1893-05-11
SELECTED STORIES.
A CHILD'S TEAR.

'In 1894" said the dramstist, "I had juso
given % the theater OF the Port-Saintr
Martin one Of the most successful OF my
pieces. One day about that time two letters
reached me by the same post. Both were
from Marseilles. One was from atheatrtcal
manager, informing me that he intended
bringing out my new piece there, and that
he desired my presence at the final rehears-
ais Of the drama. With regard to rsmuner-
alton for my trouble, might make my own
terms In reason The second letter, very
brief one, ran thus: Monsieur, the wife and
daughter Of your brother arSA yinR OF want
Some hundreds Of francs will save them,
and / doubt not that you will hasten TO
visit connections 90 near to you and make
arrangements for their present and future
comfort This letter bore the signature
Of DIR. Lambert Of MarseilleA
"As have already told you, was miser
in the worst sense OF the word. The physi-
clans letter, far from moving me to pity.
merely renewed certain angry feelings
which had formerly existed In my mind to-
ward my sister-in-law. When some years
back, my brave sailor brother, who had
since been drowned, had written to tell me
Of his approaching marriage with q fisher
mans daughter, I, In my miserable pride
and miserliness, had replied that in pparry-
ing penniless girl considered that he was
doing most foolish and degrading action.
was even wretched enough to advise him
to break of the match IL that were still pos
sible. My brother. like the honorable man
be was, welded the girl he loved. Ny sis
ter-in-law. who was high spirited Breton,
never forgot my letter and despissd its
writer. When she lost her husband and
found herself In need. 1t was long ere she
could bring herself to1appiy to me- But
the sight Of her only child wasting away
from sheer want had at last broken down
her pride, sSs sD0.0.msn, q, ,h. u.,..,,,s.
theater seemed likely to prove highly
profitable one, !, as you might expect, lost
no time In accepting the offer. wrote Off
to the manager at once and followed my
letter In person with as little delay as pos
sible. When / arrived at the principal
hotel Of Marseilles encountered there, In
the act of inquiring for me, the doctor who
had written on my sister in-law's behalf
As had not replied to his letter, the good
man had said in his simplicity, He will
be here in person. and had looked Tor me
every day. You have lost no time, air.
asid he. Doubtless you thought, and
rightly, that did you delay death might
forestall you'll Ahi ! am indeed glad to see
you
object In visiting Marseilles had been the
professional one, but how could ! avow
such a fact to such . mani For very
shame could not do 70. Accordingly In
stead Of going straight to the thsater as ]
had intended doing, walked away with
the doctor to my sister-in-law's poor abode.
1T was a most wretched room. Yet the
first object in 1t that caught my eye was q
very beautiful one. Near the invalid's bed
stood her little girl, with large black eyes,
pretty. curly hair and q face whose express
sion was . pathetic combination Of youth
full brightness and premature sadness
'At the first glance I could have taken
the lovely creature into my arms; then !
sternly repressed this alien emotion. The
doctor, after he had spoken few words to
his patient, beckoned me to approach. Al
did SO the poor woman tried to raise her
self The mixture Of sadness and pride upon
her faded co, Ltenance told me plainly how
great an effort 1t had cost her 10 appeal to
me. Using the strongest plea that she
knew, she pointed to her child with weak,
trembling finger, and said In low tones:
See here. She will soon be alone In the
worldp
Even this touching appeal prOduoed q
blush to say it no effect upon my hard
to such fearss You are young. You have
. good physician. Why lose all hopeP A
less selfish man would have added. You
have brother-in-law. also, who means to
do his best for you But I said nothing Of
the sort. My only thought was how ]
might most easily escape from the threat
ened burden. The little girl. who had been
gazing at me with wondering eyes, now
came to my side and said: Will you please
SIT upon the bedt Because you are too tall
for me to kiss you IL you stand
II sat down, and the child climbed upon
my knee. Her mothers eyes were closed,
and her hands were clasped together as II
in prayer. Unaffrighted by my black
looks, the little one threw her arms around
my neck and pressed her lips to my cheek.
will you be my papaP said she. 4 will
love you so dearly. You are like papa. He
was very good. Are you good toor My
only answer was to unclasp her arms some
what roughly from my neck and set her
down upon the floor. She cast upon me
glance Of mingled surprise, disappointment
and fear, and a tear rolled slowly down her
cheek. Her silent sorrow worked the mir
acle that her pretty. fond prattle had failed
to effect.
"As by an enchanter's wand the ugliness
Of my character, the utter brutality Of my
conduct were revealed to me in that mo-
ment. shuddered In horror and self dis
gust, and yielded at once to my good angel
lifted the disconsolate little maiden into
my arms, and laying my hand upon her
head said: Yes. my child, promise to be
father to you. You shall be my dear lit
tie daughter, and will love and take care
Of you always
How happy this promise made my sis
ter-ip-law words fail me to describe. Her
joyful excitement alarmed both the physi.
clan and myself. Joy, however, seldom
kills. 'Brotherl brotherp she murmured,
how my thoughts have wronged you'll For
give mel Her gratitude stung my newly
awakened conscience more sharply than
any reproach could have done hastened
to change the subject to that of the sick
woman's removal to better dwelling. The
doctor, with ready kindness, undertook the
task of house hunting. for which /, a stran-
ger to the place, was not 30 well qualified.
He found for us q delightful cottage In
the nsighborhood Of Marseilles There we
three-my sister-in-law. my niece and my
self-lived Tor three months At the end
OF that time the mother passed peacefully
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