The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-01-20

work and live with my pen and Keep my
dreams and ideals to myself. Nurse. i
tried. tried hard. Ihad money at first
Life seemed gay and jolly But ! kept
straight That was one Of my ideals, be-
cause felt sorry sort Of felt all women
were sacred, and unless 1 loved one-so
kept straight.
,"But London lodging Is not inspiring.
began to long for my books and flowers
and my comfortable room. j began to
long to see my brothers and sisters faces.
asked II might come home and work
In my old rooms. received no answer.
got depressed. My ideals got mixed.
Nothing seemed real except vice.
lone night got drunk with tho lights
and the noise Of London. supped at
big restaurant, principally on champagne.
I met her that night. ! never cared for
her, and had cared for others and passed
them by. She loved only gold and jewels.
She was lump Of ice Well, froze my
ideals with that lump of Ice.
"I wandered'about town, tired of every
thing. Twas i'll grew worse. Then they
found me and took me home. How they
worried mel How they piled me with
questions How they stared at mel why
was so different from others?'
81, too, began to ask myself that ques-
ton. The first time I slip break my
neck, but my brothers make 1t their bust
ness to slip-gracefully and carefully.
"For a long time they kept me at home,
always worrying mo, trying to make me
talk, trying to make me sensible rhen
at last made them bring me here. And
at last am happy
"There! What have l been saying,
nurse? You must not think too badly of
me. At the worst / am only fool Hark,
1t is dawn. DO you hear the sparrows chat
teringp 1t reminds me of the country. /
can see the faint light stealing through the
gray curtains, and the wind is shaking the
blind n and fro
"Wo I'd you read to me, nurse? don't
suppos you have 'Swinburnep' He used
to be favorite poet. 1t was he who
made M dream, think. Nurse, won
der wly , have never been able to talk to
any wunLn as / am talking to you be-
foree''
Then he lay for some time silent, listen
ing to tie sparrows and the wind rustling
the curtains together
The nurse had risen. She stood opposite
the mirror and qazed at herself. She
loosened the hair on her forehead a little,
so that the wavy curls fell naturally on
either side. Then she crossed to the bed
and bathed his temples with some slightly
perfumed water, and gave him O clean,
cold pillow for his head. and sat again, by
his side.
II, too. used to read Swinburne'' ''-he
turned surprised but that was long ago,
when used to dream. Dreams are bad
and foolish. We were not meant to dream
In this world
mo- he replied wearily, 81 suppose
not. But dreams are the only beautiful
things In this world. Do you remember,
'Ah, Godi Ah. Godi That day should Be
% soonr That Is what feel now. You
won't leave me, will you, nurseP Wait un-
I'll IL IL quite day. am afraid my mother
might como to SO me, and ] never feel
comfortable when she is near me- fssi
afraid. II Is 20 stupid
can right. Iwon't leave you" She
took his hand In hers. She know his hours
were few.
And she wondered why God had always
Let him meet the wrong women. II she
had met him before, perhaps
His thoughts were similar. "Nurse,
wish had met you before"
She besitated moment. $50 do l."
che touched his forehead with her soft,
scented handkerchief.
"What do you mean?'
Perhaps We might have both been hap
pior.
"Then you are not happy! Poor little
nuYsew His hands grippsd hers harder.
Nurse, wonder-would you-kiss me
directly? 1t is not wrong or strange to ask
you to kiss dying man, Is it?'
"No, dear" She kissed his forehead.
His eyes caught hers. She bent again and
kissed his lips.
'It must be 10 o'clock, nurse. Hark,
there is some one coming! Don't let any
one in, nurse-until am gone-and hold
my hand tightiy-because 1t hurts little,
does death. Let Inc smell those lilies.
They remind me of Ruby. She was a
wicked woman, nurse, but / was fond of
her. pocr little thing, because it wasn't
her fault Hold me tighter, and-kiss me
again. 1t IL good to have some one to love.
Nurse, don't let them in--until / am gone;
they will say 1 am so different. Nurse!'
"Yes, dearf''
"You are there; that is right. Give my
love to-every body. Tell them / wanted
10 help and Nurse, where is that picture
of the snowstorm gomez l can't see 1t M
there now-and I can't see your pretty
face. only see that woman--thc lump Of
ice-so cold His voice slipped away,
his eyes closed God gave him back his
dream.