The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1900-12-20

had added luster to Daisys fuller fig
ure. Both were trusting and II lcTIu
and saw none but clouds Of gold il the
long vista of their future.
l could only sit and gaze long:n.,y
and eagerly while the phantom faded
away from my gaze. Another Picture
now rose before me.
l saw myself clad in a cheerful morn
ing robe. Charles had rr2aDrreI in
business. gold poured into lis Golfers.
and with gold came Fashion, with Am
Eition and Pride and score of demons
il her train. 1t whisperGii:
You are young and You are DeaEti
full. In the great world you would lee
an acknowledged queen. Put your
husbands wealth to Use. Let not your
beauty fade out in the nursery. iCur
child will get on well enough iii toe
nurses care. Live in the world and
shii:e like a queen"
And this was the beginning of the
shadow which darl.cnCd lie picture. |
saw the glitter of the bail. ID" splendid
furniture, the silver plate. the lay
eGCinage and the stately apartments.
and amid it all through the opened
do0r Of a neglected nursery | saw q
pale drugged 4-yyar-c!d child slowly
dying The end came. Tie tiny rose
wood casket was closed over til" fea-
lures of the child who died OF motherly
neglect. | saw Il strong man bend in
conyulsed grief over his dead boy and
then 90 out silently and. growing
grnver day by day. turn TO his business
again. | heard frantic bursts of grief
from the stricken mothers mouth and
clasped my jeweled hands in anguish.
\ long pause fell between. and then
another, the last. picture fell before me.
l recognized its faithfulncss ut once.
Ten years interviewed between this pic
tlre 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 a cold and beauti-
full womHn of ice.
shrank from the portraiture with
dismay. Bat while sat and gazed in
to the picture Clided Il 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 had b"cl Il grave and silent man
ever since his boy died. but there was
now some fresh trouble eating away
his life.
What has brought this about"
asked.
In Il moment my question was an
swered. Into the magic picture came a
shadowy finger which pointed to the
paper strewn table at which my hus-
band sat. | gazed and beheld a 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.
a long array of which recognized dis
tinctly my own agency. and balancing
this catalogue stood tangled trade.
empty Golfers. with the word Panic:
written as with a pen of fire. While
he sat and unfolded each paper and
laid it aside | stole nearer and gazed
upon the one he had just taken. 1t was
my latest bill. the bill for my ball dress.
l made Il movement to snatch it from
him. and the spell was broken.
what is it. Daisy? You asleep here
and dreaming?" l started and to find
myself seated in the great velvet chair
and my husband standing beside me.
Ibid l fall asleep? l must. But you
Charles, you have not slept" l said
for Just then I noticed that he was IN
his coat and full dress.
Il bave been up late. looking over
some papers l brought from the store
But 1 was just going up stairs. You
should be asleep before this he added
half reprovingly. his eye wandering
with q sort of panied look over my
toilet.
"Why do you not speak to me
Charles? You are in some great trou'
Bile. Oh, Charles, have had dream
this evening that has shown me my
self in my true light. l am nothing
more than nothing. l am a drag IN
stead of a helpmeet. Speak to me-
Charles, and tell me that you do not
hate me-"