Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1900-10-23

posite to the island of Walcheren, there
was to be seen in advance of a few other
even more humble tenements a small but
neat cottage, built according to the pre-.
yaillng taste Of the times The inside OF
the cottage, both on the basement and the
floor above, was divided into two larger
rooms in front, and two smaller behind;
the rooms in front could only be called
large in comparison with the other two,
as they were little more than IL feet
square, with but one window to each.
The kitchen was occupied by two per.
sons. One was woman, apparently about
10 years Of age, but worn down by pain
and suffering. She had evidently once
possessed much beauty; there were still
the regular outlines, the noble forehead.
and the large, dark eye, but there was q
tenuity In her features. wasted appear
spce, such as to render tho flesh transpar-
CT; her brow, when she unused, would
sink Into deep wrinkles, premature
though they were; and the occasional
flashing Of her eyes strongly impressed
you with the idea Of insanity. There ap.
peared to be some deep seated, irremov.
able, hopeless cause Of anguish, never for
one moment permitted to be absent from
her memory. chronic oppression, fixed
and craven there, only to be removed by
death. She was dressed in the widow
COLT Of the time; but although clean and
neat, her garments were faded from long
wear. She was seated upon small couch,
evidently brought down as relief to her,
in her declining state.
On the deal table in the center Of the
room sat the other person, a stout, fair
haired, forid youth Of 10 or 20 years Of
age. His features were handsome and
bold, and his frame powerful to excess; his
eye denoted courage and determination,
and as be carelessly swung his legs, and
whistled an air in an emphatic manner, IL
was impossible not to form the idea that
he was daring, adventurous, and reck-
less character.
do not go to sea, Philip oh, promise
me that my dear, dear ohild," said the
female, clasping her hands.
Look ye, mother. You ash me to stay
on shore with you and starve-rather hard
conditions: now hear what have to say.
That room opposite has been shpt up ever
since I oan Amemher- you will nev.
er tell me; but once I heard you say, when
We were without bfead, and with no pros
peqt Of my uncle's return-you were then
half frantic, mother, as you know you
something's are ~
''Well, Philip, what did you hear me
sayf' inquired his mother, with tremulous
anxiety
"You said, mother, that there was mon,
ey in that room which would save us;
and then yol screamed and raYed. aid
said that you preferred death. Now,
mother, what is there ID that chamber,
and why hai II been - long shut upi Ell
theY I know that, Or 60 70 sea-"
At the commen6lpent Of this address OF
Philip, bis mother appeared to be trans
fixed and mohonless as statue; grad
ually her lips separated and her eyes
glared; she seemed to have lost the power
Of reply; she put her hand to her right
side, as II to compress It, then both her
hands, as II to relieve herself from excru.
dating torture: At last she sank, with her
head forward, and the blood poured out
Of her mouth.
Philip sprang from the table to her as
sistance, and prevented her from falling
on the floor. He laid her on the couch,
watching with alarm the continued effu.
sion.
"Oh, mother, motherl what is thiss"
cried he, OF last in great distress.
For some time his mother could make
him no reply; she turned farther on her
side, that she might not be sutfocated by
the discharge from the ruptured vessel,
and the snow white planks of the floor
were soon crimsoned with her blood.
"Speak, dearest mother, If you CAM
repeated Philip, in agony. "what shall ]
do9-what shall give youS-God AL.
mighty what is this9'
Death, my child, DEATH" at length re.
piled the poor woman, sinking into a state
Of Inconsistencies.
Philip, now much alarmed, flew out Of
the cottage and called the neighbors to his
mothers assistance. Two or three hast
ened to the call; and as soon as Philip
saw them occupied in restoring his moth
er, he ran as fast as he could to the house
of medical man who lived about mile
off-one Mynheer Poots. little, misera
bic, avaricious wretch, but known to be
very skillful in his profession. Philir
found Poots at home, and insisted upon
ME ~ n, tot affop1orca
81 Will come-yes, most certainly" re-
Piled Poots, who spoke the language but
imperfectly; "but, Mynheer Vanderdeck
en-, who will pay meP'
"Pay your my uncle will, directly that
he comes home. I"
"Your uncle, dc Skipper vanbrennenl
no, he owe me guilders, and he ha.
owed me for long time. Besides, hi:
ship may sink"
HE shall pay you the A guilders
and for this attendance Also" replied
Philip In rage; "come directly-whils
you are disputing, my mother may bt
dead"
But, Mr.. Philip, cannot come, now
I recollect; have to see the child of the
burgomaster at Terneuse," replied Myn
heer Poots.
"Look you, Mynheer Poots, exclaimed
Philip, red with passion, you have but
to .ohoose-will you go quietly, or must
take you thereS You'll not trifle witt
me-"
Here Mynheer Poots was under conaid
cradle alarm, for the character of Philir
Vanderdecken was we'll known.
u will come by and by, Mynheer Philip
II can"
you'll come now, you wretched old
miserl' exclaimed Philip, selling hold Of
the little man by the collar, and pulling