Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1896-12-24

pest thing they could do. they joined
their poverty and married. Their
short married life had been series
Of misfortunes. Charles father,
hearing Of his sons mad marriage,
had refused to give him one cent.
and every effort to make money
had failed. aud 30 they had parted
with everything they had to buy
food and fuel.
Charlie told me this story of their
poverty and trials with so much hu-
NOR, aud made such mockery OF
their woes, that we all laughed at
the sad recital.
Viva has stuck to that, pointing
to q handsouae morocco writing-case,
the only object OF value in the room. m ].
'till the last, for her mothers por-
trait is set in the cover, and it was
her last gift; but | fear, poor dear, ,
he said, tenderly, we shall have to
part with it to get us through to-
morrow
1T 10 Just upon midnight-let us
sing Christmas in, and we all struck
up Home, Sweet Home for the
second time that evening. l heard
q perceptible tremor in Viva's voice,
and looked toward her. She was
white as death, and her lips were
blue. And no wonder, for the room
was like a tomb. Suddenly her
voice ceased, and Charlie sprang
toward her. :
ooh, / am so cold ! I can't help
it,
| rushed into my room for the
little wood had, while Charlie
chafed her hands and feet. In q
few minutes / had o fire burning on
the hearth, and then, with the five
cents l had been saving for my roll
and milk in the morning, / went
down to the concierge, got from him
. piece Of chocolate, and sent him
out for milk and fuel, promising
him pair Of dress boots, the only
thing belonging to me that I could
think Of, to pay for them.
/ found Viva on the hearth, where
Charlie had laid her, in the warmth
OF the fire. Her eyes were open,
and she smiled; but so wan, 80 pa
thetic was the smile, that l turned
away to hide the tears that started
to my eyes.
BY the time the chocolate was
made, the concierge came up with
the milk and q basket of wood.
l handed Viva a cup of fragrant
chocolate.
'Oh, how have longed for a cup
of chocolate y she said, as she took
it. 'Oh, how good this is y
/ then went into my room to get
the boots for the concierge. had
scarcely found them when Charlie
in.
For Gods sake, go for a doctor!
Viva is dyingv
/ waited for no second word, but
of l started at full speed, and soon
returned with the first doctor l
could find, and then went to my
room await the result.
In q few minutes Charlie came
in, the morocco case under his arm.
Viva is about to become a moth
er, Jack and the doctor orders
several things we can't get, unless
we can find some one at this hour
who will give few francs for this.
| was going to sell it this morning,
but Viva clung to it. 1 hated to part
with it till the last moment, and
that has come y As he spoke he
tumbled out the packets of letters
and odds and odds-and-ends it con-
tanned. You'll try and sell it, or
get what we need, for it, won't you,
Jack p
OF course l would. took the case,
and opening 1t again, / said:
We may as well take out the portrait.
No one will give sou more for it being
in, and Viva will treasure it, / am surer
And so speaking, carefully cut away
the large ivory type that was set in the
lid. As I lifted it from its bed I saw
that brought my heart into
my mouth.
At this moment the doctor came and
called Charlie into the room, and I was
left alone.
lifted with trembling hands the OBJ
jects that had startled me. Yes, they
were two one-thousand dollar bills
Placed there, no doubt, by the poor mo-
ther for the daughter she was not al
lowed openly to aid. Heaven grant the
had not come too late,
sat long, waiting for some word from
the sick-room, and burning with impa-