El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1899-12-30

| sum were only incidents In the story
of the play. but Felicia found herself
| living those scenes over and over She
had never philosophical about the
causes of human misery. She was not
old enough She had not the tempera-
ment that philosophers But she felt
intensely, and this was not the first
time she had felt the contrast thrust
into her feeling between the upper and
the lower conditions of human life. It
had been growing upon her until it had
made her what Rose called queer and
the other people in her circle of wealthy
acquaintance called Every unusual
1t was simply the human problem in
its extremes of riches and poverty, its
| refinement and its vileness. which was,
in spite of her unconscious attempts to
struggle against the facts, burning into
her life the impression that would in
the end transform her into either
woman Of rare love and self sacrifice
for the world or miserable enigma to
herself and all who knew her
"Come Feliciai Aren't you going
homer" said Rose The play was over.
the curtain down. and people were go
ing noisily out laughing and gossiping.
as if 1.-The Shadows of London was
simply good diversion, as it was put on
the stage so effectively
Felicia rose and went out with the
rest quietly and with the absorbed feel
ing that had actually left her in her
seat oblivious of the plays ending. She
was never absentminded. but often
thought herself into condition that
left her alone in the midst of crowd.
well. what did you think of it2'
asked Rose when the sisters had reached
home and were in the drawing room
Rose really had considerable respect for
Felicia judgment Of play
II thought it was pretty picture of
real life. -
II mean the acting said Rose. an
noyed
1.-The bridge scene was well acted.
especially the woman's part. thought
the man overdid the sentiment little,
Ibid your l enjoyed that. And
WASH I the scene between the two cous-
ms funny when they first learned that
they were relatedf But the slum scene
was horrible. l think they ought not to
show such things in play. They are
too painful
''They must be painful in real life.
too. replied Felicia.
Eyes. but we don't have to look at
the real thing It's bad enough at the
theater. where we pay for it. -
Rose went into the drawing room
s.i.I DeSan 10 eat from pIaJe or uulJ
and cakes ON the sideboard.
care you going up TO see mother2'
asked Felicia after awhile. She had re-
manned in front of the drawing room
fire
''No," replied Rose from the other
room; 81 won't trouble her tonight If
you go in. tell her 1 am too tired to be
agreeable"
So Felicia turned into her mothers
room. AS she went up the great stair
case and down the upper hall the light
was burning there, and the servant who
always waited on Mrs. Sterling was
reckoning Felicia to come in
"Te1 Clara to go OUT exclaimed
Mrs Sterling as Felicia came up to the
bed and kneeled by it.
Felicia was surprised, but she did as
her mother babe her and then inquired
how she was feeling.
'Felicia,' said her mother. "can
you pray?''
The question was so unlike any her
mother had ever asked before that Fee
Gcia was startled, but she answered:
"Why, yes, mother. What makes
YOU ask such question:
''Felicia. I am frightened Your IA
ther-I have had such strange fears
about him all day. Something is wrong
with him l want you to pray"
Now? Here. motherf"
Eyes. Pray, Felicia
Felicia reached out her hand and took
L.,
Sterling had never shown much tender
ness for her younger daughter, and her
strange demand now was the first real
sign of any confidence in Felicia
character.
The girl still kneeled. holding her
mothers trembling hand, and prayed
1t was doubtful if she had ever prayed
aloud before. She must have said in
her prayer the words that her mother
needed, for when it was silent in the
room the invalid was weeping softly.
and her nervous tension was over.
Felicia staid some time. When she
was assured that her mother would not
need her any longer, she rose to go.
Good night, mother. You must let
Clara call me if you feel bad in the
night.
81 feel better now" Then as Felicia
was moving away Mrs. Sterling said.
won't you kiss me, Felicia2' p
Felicia went back and bent over her
mother. The kiss was almost as strange
to her as the prayer had been. When
Felicia went out of the room, her cheeks |
were wet with tears. She had not cried |
since she was a little girl
Sunday morning at the Sterling man
sion was generally very quiet. The girls
NJ illu TO church nt n,nloclr |