Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1900-12-25

WHAT - IT. DAfsYf"
had added luster TO Daisy's fuller flg-
ure. Both were trusting and beloved
and saw none but clouds Of gold In the
long vista Of their future.
could only sit and gaze longingly
and eagerly while the phantom faded
away from my gaze. Another picture
now rose before me.
saw myself clad In cheerful morn
Ing robe. Charles had prospered In
business. gold poured into his coCers.
and with gold came Fashion. with Am
bition and Pride and a score Of demons
In her train. II whispered:
You are young and you are beauti-
ful. In the great world you would be
an acknowledged queen. Put your
husbands wealth 10 use. Let not your
beauty fade out In the nursery. Your
child will get on well enough In the
nurses care. Live In the world and
shine like queen"
And this was the beginning of the
shadow which darkened the picture.
saw the glitter Of the ball, the splendid
furniture, the silver plate. the gay
equipage and the stately apartments.
and amid II all through the opened
door Of q neglected nursery | saw Q
pale. drugged 4-year-oid child slowly
dying. The end came. The tiny rose
wood casket was closed over the fea-
lures OF the child who died OF motherly
neglect. saw strong man bend In
couvulsed grief over his dead boy and
then 60 out silently and. growing
graver day by day. turn to his business
again. I heard frantic bursts Of grief
from the stricken mothers mouth and
clasped my jeweled hands In anguish.
A long pause fell between. and then
another. the last, picture fell before me.
I recognized It's faithfulness ut once.
Ten years interviewed between this pic
ture and the preceding one. had not
changed save to fuller and perfected
beauty. Everything was as plain as
day - the magnificent furnishings OF
the home, with Persian carpets, costly
tables, bronze and marble statues and
china and silver wares. and through
these walls moved. q cold and beauti-
full woman Of ice.
I shrank from the portraiture with
dismay. But while sat and gazed In
to the picture giided q pale. careworn
man wearing the same expression l
had often seen upon my husbands
face. How changed he looked from the
hopeful. manly Charles Gordon who
had stood before me In the moonlight!
He bad been Q grave and silent man
ever since his boy died, but there was
now some fresh trouble eating away
bis life.
What has brought this aboutr' I
asked.
In q moment my question was an
swered. Into the magic picture came .
shadowy finger which pointed to the
paper strewn table at which my hus-
band sat. I gazed and beheld revela.
ton. and mechanically my eye ran over
every paper he opened. The catalogue
was fearful-a long array Of bills
plate, furniture. statues, jewels. silks,
q long array Of which recognised dis
tinctly my own agency. aud balancing
this catalogue stood q tangled trade.
empty Golfers. with the word "Panicw
written az with . pen Of 6re. While
he sat and unfolded each paper and
laid II aside I stole nearer and gaxed
upon the one he had just taken. 1t was
my latest bill. the bill for my ball dress
I made q movement to snatch II from
him. and the spell was broken
"what ID II. Daisy? You asleep here
and dreamingr started and to nnd
myself seated In the great velvet chair
and my husband standing beside me.
"Did ! fall asleep? I must But you,
Charles you have not sleptw / said,
for Just then noticed that he was In
his coat and full dress.
II have been up late. looking over
some papers I brought from the store.
But I was just going up stairs. You
should be asleep before this" he added.
half reprovingly. his eye wandering
with . sort Of pained look over my
toilet
why do you not speak to me.
Charlesi You are In some great trou-
BILE. Oh, Charles. I have had dream
this evening that has shown me my
self in my true light. am nothing
more than nothing. am q drag In
stead Of a helpmeet Speak to me,
Charles, and tell me that you do not
hate me-"
Gan you bear the worst Daisyr be
asked hoarsely, Hitting hh eyes to
mine.
Anything. anything. my dear hus-
band. I have been blind, but the
scales have fallen now. Tell me ev-
erything. Are we ruinedr'
1--WE are" he whispered In . thick,
unsteady tone. "The crisis has carried
me down. I have dragged away the
long hours Of this night trying to Do
wise some loophole Of escape, but al In
vain. I do not care for myself, but for
you-you, Daisy" and he grcsned m
bitterness Of spirit.
I could not bear It without burst Of
tears; he 30 thoughtful I 20 selhsh.
pressed my lips to his burning fore
head and said, amid my sobG. mo,