The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1899-12-30

stay Go to the poorhouse-go
He opened the door as he spoke, and
the girl walked proudly out, casting a look
as she passed upon him who thus pitilessly
dismissed her that well matched his own;
but noticing it only with frown, Morton
allowed her to pass, closed and locked the
door, and, placing the key in his pocket,
turned upon his wife, who, absorbed in her
own bitter musings, had hardly noticed
what he was doing until now.
There, now. 90 to your own bed, and
lie there listening to the wind and the
bowling of the sea, as do night after
night. and tonight, of all nights in the
year, fancying where he may be whom you
turned out to perish-you, the woman
whose fine feelings and tender pity must
call in all the beggars and their brats from
FAR and wide to warm them at my fire, and
feed them with my food, and cosset and
pamper them, while my only child is a va
grant and wanderer upon the face of the
earth.
He strobe from the room, and she whom
thus bitterly he accused covered down to
the floor. and crouched there, weeping
bitterly, her pride, her beauty. her very
womanhood abased to the dust.
The hours went on, and still she sat
moaning there, while the FIRE died slown,
and the stillest, darkest, coolest. bitteTest
time of that bitter night came creeping in
its deaihly chill over the earth. 50, crouch
ius her tears and sobs all exhausted, and
torpid apathy came to replace them,
Mary Morton heard the feeble wall of a
childs voice, the last deSpairing cry of
one ready 10 perish, as it seemed, close be-
side her, aud presently traced it to the
closed door through which her husband
had ejec,ed mother and child hours before
She tined to undo the door; then, reeol-
leciing herself aew up the stairs and con
fronted the stern. unsieeping eyes Of her
husband. sill dressed aud only thrown
reckln>sl, upon his bed.
Give me that key demanded the
wife, her eyes blazing with a mood as re-
sistless a. a tornado mood once not
50 uncommon in this proud womaus life,
and manifested now for the first time in
four long terrible years, ''Give me that
key, say That woman aud her child
lie dying at your door, murdered by your
cruelty You, to dare to blame me, and
now have done wha; | would never do.
The key, the key, | say !
He silently drew ii from his pocket,
aud. scixing it, she flew down the stairs;
and he, after moments hesitation. fol
lowed more slowly, for his conscience had
already accu-ed him sorely, and his wife :
bitter words had seconded it, muniti0ns
He found her leaning over prostrate
figure. huadled together upon the door.
step, and As he stopped TO help her raise
1t up, she wildly cried
YES. lift the corpse Of her you have
ssin. and otter it sacrifice to the memory
ii your sou, as all these years you have
sacrificed my living heart with one torture
after another
Wife. you talk wilily---you are beside
yourself. But this i not the time fol u
10 speak Of ourselves, with this poor crea-
turc living here
lie raised her in his arms and carried
her through the kitchen TO the dining
room. and laid her upon a low, broad
lounge. then removing the shawl envelop-
Ing head and neck, exposed the lovely
classic face. all its rieh eelor faded "a ashen
pallor, the lips drawn apart sufficiently to
show the line Of glitiering teeth, the eyes
closed. and the last tears they had shed
frozen in the long eyelashes lying 80 dark
upon the pallid cheek
she Is very beautiful. said the man.
She Is dead, said the woman, and
xiEhoat more words removed the wailing
baby from IT, mothers stiFened clasp,
wrapping il warmly, and laid It beside the
register from the furnace, where it fell im-
mediately asleep. Then, although quite
hopeless Of results, she began her efforts to
revive the inanimate form Of the mother,
silently rejecting all offers Of help from her
husband, who stood watching her with an
anxiety upon his face that might have sur
prised enc who knew that stern face well,
for seldom, indeed, had it been 80 moved.
At length, and just y the dawn came
stealing grayly in At the eastern window,
a faint fulter Of the heart. slight warmth
beneath the arms, showed that life still
fingered in the beautiful body, and Mrs
Morton, reduubling her efforts, had the
happiness, after Spme longer time, TO see
the eyes open slowly and very languidly,
aud rest upon her face with an expression
Of gratitude
Thank God-thank God thought
that her death was to be added to my
punishment p exclaimed she. sinking
upon her knees and covering her face.
''It would no; have been your sin,
/ Mary, but mine, if she had died. God
be thanked that this burden has been
spared to US, said John Morton, in deep
aud earnest voice; and then he went TO
summon a servant to take his wife place,
and with tender authority, not exercised
in four years, he led her upstairs and sent
her to bed for the repose she so sorely
needed.
Ii was afternoon when Mrs. Morton
came downstairs, and she found the Italian
girl seated in an easy chair beside the
dining room heater, her baby asleep upon
her knees, and looking pale and languid,
but otherwise recovered from her close con-
fict with death. She rose, in some con
fusion, as the lady entered the room, and
fastening to kiss her hand, said
Pardon if | am here, dear lady; but
the signor himself told me here to stay until
the lady should me see again, and to sleep
in the house this night Another morn
ing will go early, -
''We shall see, replied Mrs, Morton,
cheerily Perhaps we shall keep you
with us until the weather is warmer, and
you can travel more comfortably,
The signora is very good, and 50 is the
signor, said the girl, fervently. But |
must 90 soon as the strength comes to me,
for | am in haste; have message to give
quickly. have come all the way from
my own dear Naples to this cold and dying
country, in three little months.
''And where are you trying to reach p
asked Mrs. Morton, as a look of WEAKNESS
and perplexity came over the girl face.
HI Il -sxll