Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-06-04

Morgan was not present, ne not IRVINE
returned from the afternoon performance.
The fond parent who II surrounded by
his own happy home circle may judge
him harshly for this seeming neglect but
II was not such. Few fathers love a
child better than did this man, the frail
little girl who was his all In all. But the
theatrical business Is an exacting one,
and many a man and woman has faced
a light-hearted audience. and made them
all the merrier when the sharpest pangs
OF pain were Juggling at their own hearts.
How little the world understands these
people. who make lighter the burden of
life 10 those who sit In front and pass
the hours away.
When Morgan did return he learned
something of the true condition OF the
child from Teddy Toone, who had spent
much of his time watching over her
during the absence of the father But
the great-hearted, good-natured landlord,
found that he was not equal TO the task
OF telling all. and he made haste to leave
the anxious man. on some trivial pretext,
for he discovered the tears very near his
eyes when he looked into the questioning
face of Morgan who was more haggard-
looking than usual, on account Of his
long vigil OF the night before.
The child's face lit up when Morgan en-
tereQ the room, ana she mOuOneu MIN 10
her with one outstretched hand. He came
over and took his seat by the bed. and
looked sorrowfully down at the small
form She read in his eyes the anguish OF
his soul, and tride 10 soothe him, for child
though she was, she had a keen percep-
ton. and well knew the thoughts that
were passing in his mind.
Don't be so sorry, father, ana the
faint voice that had now grown SO weaH1
was very pleading. as she raised a sfnaii
white hand from under the coverlet anu
laid IL in one of his own.
Morgan's lin quivered, but by an effort
he controlled his feelings, and stroked the
little hand that lay in his. lie did not
trust himself TO speak. but glanced 70
ward the windows. one OF which, at the
childs request. had not been curtalned
for she had expressed a wish to see the
gently falling snow. The fiakes were YET
visible in the dying light OF the day, ana
Morgan looked at them long and earnest
lv. with inexpressible sadness in his face,
as the child continued: ~
"You mustn't mind, father, and you
won't miss me so much after nttie.
And afterwards and she mace Sisil
pause. II want you to think that l am
happy. and that l see you. and that tnere
is no main for me any more. but tnat L
am resting above and waiting for you.
A sob shook the mans frame, ana tns
child. weakened by the effort she naa
made drew her hand under the cover
again. and lay very quiet with her gaze
6Sed ,nitvingIy on Morgan. And soon she
closed her eyes and fell into gentle
sleep. as peaceful as though no pains hau
racked her body. s .ho+ I,
lacked very few minutes OF q an an
Morgan lit the lamp and turned the VII
down gerry low. for the nre i,olh, ~,
CRATE gave sufficient light TO mummy MAJ =
the room. There~Xas tap on the u e'1a
followed by the entrance of Today ioosIe
who deemed it unnecessary 10 wal 80
an invitation TO come in. lie glanuo,
at the bed and saw that the child Wa
asleep, and then in low voice aduIesse'
Come. Morgan" said he, go dow
and have a bite of supper. You can ~
the child no good by staying mere VIII VIII
she sleeps. and I'll watch over her WIN
Won oct n mouthful TO eat. why, MAJ
alive vou'll kin yourself outright by thi
fasting and staying up all night:
But Morgan refused TO leave the IVo gI
saving the child might wake ana can ~
him. and Toone, after bidding ms gue !,
TO let him know II he could help MN ~
any way, left the room as quietly as !"
had entered. ,, .ho
John Morgan's act was not seen ina
| evening and for the first time IN man.
wears a night passed and found MN ~
before the footlights. once tnaI ia.
he had mt on his wig. hidden his rae
beneath the grease paint, ana gone ~
and faced an audience that expected mn
TO make them laugh, and knew not u
cause Of his failure; But now mo 'r Sstnr
day-night audience. some OF Whom Woul'
probably miss him, for his heart la
wrapped up in that bosom when heave'
so gently now that its rise ana ran Wa
scarcely perceptible' .,, 49,. oh,id
slept. The potion which the physician nad
given her upon his last visit was having
its effect. The man who watched so pa
tiently by the side of the trundle-pS
noting every change that came over the
OCCUPANT. was clinging to wild nope,
which the physician had held OUT; tnat u
the child passed through the mgnt tneIe
might be some chance of saving her ne.
II was only a faint hope, put urowi i .,li4,
man will clutch at a straw, ana this
small elimmer of light that broke through
the gloom that even now hung over MN
as though but a shadow of the lmpenS,,
trable darkness beyond, when ne should
have laid beneath the snOW-CoNeleuu
earth the form he loved so well, was al
,bat he had TO sustain him in this dreary
hour -, ,todire, bie
ewes so that the reflection OF lhc ii6nt
within the room might not PreNSnt III IN
from seeing objects outside, looked AT the
deserted street, which was now ueep III
snow with but few tracks 10 marx, the
course of some belated pedestrian, NJ ~, <
was no sound 10 break the STIFFNESS Ol the ,
,iOh
hoofs aWoke an echo. The city was steep
ing and no sound disturbed its slumDer.
No lights elimmered at other windows 10
Laer company that of his own, anu
he seemed a solitary watcher OF the hlsll.
When that aWe-inspirlns silence pv.
vades and the hush is broken by not the
feintest echo: when the world is wrapped
In darkness and even time seems 10 nay z
ceased i'm its flight, what teeIhss ro III
over one who watches ana waits lOi Wy ~
III
coming of dawn. Johh Moisa,ia ~ so,i
truth. watching and waiting anu no 0O"'
was as dark as the night OUTSIDE, o,,.o5
A slight movement of the cnll9 CduseS
,inrea6 10 turn from the window ah9
hasten to the bedside. Inc sl d ,, nau
awakened. and as her eyes reSleu upo =
tbe man bending over her. the Ups parieo
&C though she would speak, Dut the NViE !,
answered not. But there was Il nghI ~
her ewes that spoke more ei3quemr ,,s
than any words her toh ,to',Id have said
tbe eves told. and as she saw the gre
T., her fathers face something OF tllt
light went out of her own eouhue''"s Sb.
and the brow became cIouue11' sin
pressed his hand, the Ups hnoNe'
and then the eyes closeu; ..,o,,,, ,noss
ar, IT, fair hair clustered In WaVy NUS
-, .ba inflow and gently kissed the loie'
head that was almost as White d w
snotless sheets. while one hand lay Vu. GUY
side the coverlet; just as In0ush ~ omie MET
a and neacefully she lay. like tired chlle
that sleeps. The stiffness was OILY
broken by the clock that tlcked on w w
mantel and the sitting OF the coais i" Inv
crate.
The faint light of the morning pe,e e Pc
in at the window and dimined 'i p,t SIDE
thai burned low on the taple. Ou' Sr
INA. ade white temples were catchins
n Is Sr rs" pavs that streaked the eastern
the mrs, tSe city was waking from It's
SKY; a s1eep -" Noises were heard in the
street seep and the metallic sound S of shOvs for
told that work t had vet are aniyyodSen
some being enu cleared from doorstep and and
Was y;aswa ak" before the traffic Of the day
siu,e,mmenced' The clouds OF leaden sray
COUlihtbN "a NIGHT and OaN was