The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1906-06-30

! A~'AAho dOout ACA (diC lace. f1eT Cd S
life all seemed to come back to her
that her father was on his way home
The happy day when the news cam,
he had aready sailed, and would MOO,
| be with them once more. Her moth
er'S grateful joy; little Janey's dc
light; and her own happiness. The
glad. busy days Of preparation, wher
their beautiful home was made read,
70 receive and welcome their loved
one; the Joyful hope and expectation
and then, il tae very midst of their
sunshine and happiness, that awful
awful news. The Halifax had beer
burned at sea, and all on board haG
persisted.
Everything had seemed like night
after that. There had been no more
brightness or sunshine: no more hope.
no gSdness, no comfort. A mort gage
mad swept away their beautiful home:
and her mother, left poor and broken
hearted. had gone, with Nttle JAMIE
and herself, to live in two comfortless
rooms; and even then they had found
1t 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-accustome
In days gone by, to af1luence 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.
III earn enough. mamma dear, to
put us u little alead. and then I'll
come back to YOU" she had said, at
parting.
But, before her first quarter was
over. she had fallen ILL., .-...a
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 sight Of her moth
er's dear, loving face-for just one
touch or her tender nand.
The poor girls very soul went out
IN weary longing. But she would not
yield.
No, no; they shall not write to
her." she said Dear mother has |
rouble enough. l shall be better !
soon" |
She knew, poor child. that her
resources all told were not
sufficient to pay the expenses Of the
Quincy yet she was too proud to tell
Ter employers SO
Il shall be better soon," she had
aid from day TO day.
But this last morning found her
weaker than ever, and the pain in
9th heart and head SO cruel.
What If should die, and never see
lamma and jamie again. she
bought,
The mere suggestion brought the
ears to her eyes, in hot, binding
ush. But there was a tap at the door,
nd she winked them away.
The housemaid entered with a let
ar.
please, miss, a letter." she said.
ooh, letter from home!" cried
le invalid, recognizing the handwrit-
lg Of the address.
She put forth ner weak, trembling
and, as she spoke, and took the pre-
Gus missive She pressed it to her
ps. II she could not have mother
erseK, this was the next best thing.
ne tore open the envelope with quiv-
ing fingers.
"Oh, Rosie" the letter began chow
all tell you. darling? God has been
,od to us. my dear. He has changed
e night OF our sorrow into the morn
& Of gladness ald rejoicing"
The letter fluttered from Rosalies
embling hand. She could read no
ore.
"Oh, thank Heaven" she cried, my
Their lives! My father lives!" .
With the cry on ner lips, she faint
away; and, when Mrs. Dalrymple
me running up, followed by her
xious brother, the letter was on :
e carpet, and the nursery-governess d
, white and still, as if dead. Il
"A letter from home, madam" be- o
n the housemaid.
And it has killed her." cried the
ly.
But she was wrong. 1t was the let o
from home, and the blessed news d
brought, that saved Rosalie's life. II
In a little while she recovered con- u
ousncss, to find that It was not all n
dream, but a blessed reality. Her Il
her had escaped from the burning
amer. and was safe at home with "
r mother. More than that. He was I!
,sessed Of means sufficient to buy n
* their beautiful home. a.