Bisbee daily review., 1903-06-07
T w o w AIF $


 nestiing at her side and clothe in dain- 1 Y. childish garments. But Nellie had l 20 mother to caress her-no tender, lov-
 ing hand to smooth her tangled curls | Her hOmG was a garret in a slum, and
 her mother had died years ago, when
 Nellie was a tiny blue eyed baby. And
 now her only friend was a roguish'lit- | :le Irish lad, who. with his merry | dark eyes and laughing face, had won her heart more than year ago, when 1 one bleak November day some rough l street boys had wantonly upset her | basket of flowers, and Mike had stur- l ally come to the rescue, scattering the | offenders left and right with a flourish of his muddy broom.
 Ever since that memorable day Mike
 had been enshrined as a hero in Ne9
 lies heart. They were always together | in their leisure hours.
 Mike never tired of listening to her | stories and her songs and would beg again and again for just one more," l his dark eyes growing wide and ra- | diant as Nellie sang of the streets of | gold and of the joys which awaited the children in the kingdom called home" Dow can we get there, Nellie?" he questioned eagerly one day. Do you
 know the wayT
 Nellie shook her head little sadly. We cant find out the way until we
 die. Then an angel with golden
 crown win come and take cur hand and show us the way"
 Mikes sauCy face grew grave q wish we could go, Nellie-you asd l me-" he whispered. You could sing there, Nellie, without policemen telling
 us to move on, couldn't you?" Then l hnxiously, as a new thought occurred
 ''There won't be no policemen there,
 Nellie, will therer'
 Another shake of the golden head.
 "Of course not, Mike. ThereTl be no l need of them. Everybody's good and
 happy up there. Oh. Mike, think of it".' clapping her thin little hands. Mike watched his little comrades shining eyes and radiant face and felt q strange sinking at his heart as he noticed how fragile the Rttle arm had
 become and heard the short, quick cough which came from the pale lips ever and anon. Was Nellie going to
 die and leave him? he wondered vague ly. Ah. how dreary life would be with
 ont her! A quick sob rose in his throat.
 and he brushed his small, rough hand
 resolutely across his eyes. All that night NeIlie's little wan face haunted him, banishing sleep from his eyes. At length, as he lay tossing on the heap of straw which formed his ] bed, a brilliant idea entered his curly head. Nellie must go to the sea. He had heard of wonderful cures which a change of air had wrought. There was Tim, the lame boy, at the end of the
 court-why, he had not been like the same child since that three weeks visit to Margate. And old Joe, the shoe | maker. was never tired of telling how l tue fresh, pure air had made a new man" of him. Yes, Nellie must certain ! ly go to the sea, and he, Mike, must find the money. This settled, he fell 1 asleep.
 Early and late the little fellow toiled, carefully boarding every haffpenny he could save. running errands, sweeping
 
 labor too much which brought an addi- ton to his treasured hoard. Meanwhile the bright summer days | melted into autumn, the sunshine fad ed, to give place to chilling winds and | damp mists. All this did not tend to improve Nellie's cough. A bright spot
 of vivid color burned on the white face. and the blue eyes shone with unnatural briIiiancy.
 Mike noted the change with great satisfaction.
 You're getting such a rosy face. Nell"' he exclaimed gladly. And your eyes shine like two big stars. There'n
 be no need of street lamps soon," he added. with true Irish gallantry. Nellie smiled the sweet patient smile which Mike loved so dearly. She would not pain him by telling of the sleepIess nights and torturing cough, of the 1 strange, chilly feeling at her heart and the weary aching of her wasted limbs. With that divine unselfishness which l characterizes some natures she bravely strove to hide from him the true state of affairs and would still try to tell, night after night, in faint, weak tones,
 the story they both loved so well. One cold winter night, when the | snow was softly falling. covering the muddy streets with pure white man. tie, Mike crept to the old familiar cor
 ner to hear yet once again ''the old sweet tale"
 Clear and bright were Nellie's blue ! eyes. and softly her low voice rose and ! fell as she told in tender accents of l the fadeless flowers and the golden ! threshold where children were all ways at play" And eagerly Mike lis-
 tered, taking the little chilled hands in | both his own, but soon "her voice be- | gan to faIteT, her face grew wan and
 pale" the golden head dropped wearily. | and over the bright eyes a thick mist
 seemed to fall. Mike grew frightened.
 Nellie, NeIlier' he cried breathless-
 Iy. Are you III? Oh, Nellie, me own
 darlin', speak to mew
 The old sweet smile fickered for an 1 instant around the pale lips. | Kiss me, Mike" she whispered
 faintly, and he knew that she was
 dying.
 |