The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1906-05-11

sunshine and happiness, that awful,
awful news. The Halifax had been
burned at sea, and all on board had
persisted!
Everything had seemed like nigat
after that. There had been no more
brightness or sunshine; no more hope.
no gladness, NO comfort. A mortgage
had swept away their beautiful home;
and her mother, left poor and broken
hearted, had gone, with little JAMIE
and herself, to live in two comfortleSs
rooms; and even then they had found
it impossible to make both ends meet.
Such work as they could do was
scarce, and paid for but poorly; and,
through the dreary stormy nights, the
widow and her children-Aaccustome
in days gone by, to affluence and even
luxury-were insufficiently clad, and
even scantily fed.
Rosalie could not stand this. So.
when the spring opened, she went out
as nursery-governess, leaving her
mother and little jamie alone in their
comfortless lodgings.
"I'll earn enough, mamma dear, to
put us little ahead, and then I'll
come back to you," she had said, at
parting.
But, before her first quarter was
over, she had fallen i'll.
The days and nights were very
tedious, as she lay there in that
darkened room; and her head and
heart both ached with a cruel, cease
less pain. Oh, for a sight of her moth
er's dear, loving face-for just one
touch of her tender hand!
The poor girls very soul went out
in weary longing. But she would not
yield.
mo, no; they shall not write to
her." she said Dear mother mas
trouble enough I shall be better
soon"
She knew, poor child, that her
mothers resources all told were not
sufficient to pay the expenses OF the
Journey yet she was too proud to tell
her employers SO.
II shall be better soon,' she had
said, from day to day.
But this last morning found her
weaker than ever, and the pain liz
| both heart and head so cruel.
What if should die, and never see
mamma and jamie again?" she
thought,
The mere suggestion brought the
tears to her eyes, in hot, binding
rush. But there was a tap at the door,
and she winked them away
The housemaid entered with let-
ter.
please, miss, letter" she said.
ooh, letter from home!" cr1ed
the invalid, recognizing the handwrit-
ing of the address.
She put forth ner weak, trembling
hand, as she spoke, and took the pre-
cious missive. She pressed it to her
lips. If she could not have mother
herself, this was the next best tnlng'
She tore open the envelope with QulV-
ering fingers.
"Oh, Rosie" the letter began how
shall tell you, darling? Coo has neen
good to us, my dear. He has changed
C0G 0lRQL OIL Oul SO11OW AhhO 49,
ing of gladness and rejoicing"
The letter fiuttered from Rosalle's
trembling hand She could read no
more
"Oh, thank Heaven" she cried, my
father lives! My father lives"
With the cry on ner lips, she faint
ed away; and, when Mrs. Dalrympie
came running up, followed by ner
anxious brother, the letter was ON
the carpet, and the nursery-governess
Law white and still, as if dead.
"a letter from home, madam" be-
| gan the houSemaid.
"And it has killed her." cried the
lady.
But she was wrong. 1t was the let
| ter from home, and the blessed news
it brought. that saved Rosalie's life.
In a little while she recovered con-
seriousness, to find that it was not all
a dream. but blessed reality. Her
father had escaped from the burning
steamer, and was safe at home VITA
her mother. More than that. He was
possessed of means sufficient to buy
back their beautiful home.
whats up?" demanded the doctor,
when he entered his patients room
the next morning. "You look like
another person"
'I,m happy, doctor; that's ALL" an
swered Rosalie, simply.
"And happiness is better than medi-
cine, my dear" he replied. you'll De
| on your feet in week..
| And so she was. At the end OF the
next week, Mr.. Ballard came for her,
and she went home. leaving Flossie
and Ted inconSolable.
Major Lennox, in the meantime,
had been called to join his command,
while his governess was yet In the
early stages of convalescence. The
hardest trial of his life. perhaps, was
being obliged to leave ner without
| Io;ddin0 hor pOOdhve There was no