The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-04-13

A week went by, and each day mad
widened the chasm between Liza and
her husband. When she Iold him,
pOlnt bank, that she would not go 20
work in the shop, that her right pace
was at home, that il was her duty 10
look after their daughter Jeanette, and
that his was TO provide for them, IN
stead Of rObbing them by gambling
away that which properly belonged 20
them, Rubin LamperL became Hluri-
ated and turbulent, and stayed away
from home for twenty-four hours. Then
he returned, crushed and repentant,
and, embracing Liza, chung to her, WepI
and impIOred for her forgiveness.
Liza knew well that her husband was
q weak-willed man; she saw how he
was sinking, engulfed by the tCmpJa-
tons of the mire-sinking in spite Of
himself, powerless to resist. But she
was unable to save him. ali her ef-
forts TO help him rise and come to aim
self again proved futile. Liza was in
despair. His every promise TO reform
had given her new hope; each shattered
hope-and nearly all her hopes Lad
been hattered-intensif1ed her despair
and threw her into hopeless meian-
chOly. Liza was sitting by the VIM
dow, in the poorly lighted front room,
and while repairing an old waist of hers
she was telling 10 jeanette the stosy of
the fisherman and the golden hSh.
It was 10 O'Clock at night. Rubin had
not yet returned from his days WORK
and Liza was restIessly listening Iur
the faintest noise on the staircase
Kneeling at Liza's feet the fair-haired
blue-eyed child waited impatiently lei
the end of the story
Well, mamma, go on she said
eagerly, touching her mothers arm and
gazing into her face appealingly.
"Oh, yes" she said, resuming the
story in a sing-sOng. And he went
back to the blue sea. This time llere
was a storm there-a horrible storm
The waves were angTy-they moaned
and grumbled. Golden fish," he called
golden fish, come hither, pray The
golden fish swan up TO him and asked:
What is it YOU wish this time, old
man. Have pity on me, golden fish,
he begged; what can I do with my old
woman? Now she does not care t. be
a plain queen any longer. She wants to
rule over the sea as well; she wants
the ocean as her palace and you as heI
servant" But the golden fish made 10
reply this time. She Just tapped heI
tail and disappeared in the depths OF
the raging sea. The old man waited
waited; no answer came. He hung MS
head and walked away. When he
reached home the palace was gone; al
the servants were no more, and the %
woman sat, bitterly crying, in theil
broken little hut
Good for herl Good for herl Thai
serves her right" jeanette exclaimed
as her long-lashed. deep-set eyes flashed
with animation. We'll. mamma, go on,
she asked after a while
That's all, my child" replied Liza.
rs that all? And what became Of
the old MANI" Jeanette wondered
somewhat dissatisfied with the ending
Suddenly the little girl moved close Il
/ her mother and whispered:
''Papa's coming-I hear his fOotstep.
on the stairs Liza turned pale ans
/ her eyes widened strangely.
He was drinking" flashed through
/ her mind, and she caught the sounds
/ of his heavy. uneven. slow footballs
1 The child chung still closer to her moth
/ er. Staggering, Rubin entered, ana
/ passing through the kitchen, turned [,
! the right-into the bedroom. There h,
I threw himself upon the bed and brok.
/ into sObs.
Liza" he called, in a choking voice
''Liza!" Liza stood beside him, wiring
ing her hands in despair
Liza" he repeated, beseechingly
/ firmly clasping her hands in his. For
give me, Forgive
/ And amid sobs of anguish he con-
I fessed to her that he had again lost
! his weeks earnings in the gambling
1 house, lost everything-tO the very last
! cent. He went down on his knees and
/ covered her hands with kisses and with
tears.