Los Angeles herald., 1908-05-10

Wfsse% to spare in his purse could make
VIZ his way past blind Miriam when
she chose to put her soul into her And tonight
she was singing her widest, her sweetest The
waif she had yesterday picked up in the alley
lay in her attic chamber, dying of hunger and
neglect, and she had not much crust to
interpose between its little life and the Grim
Monster Half a dozen coins fell at her feet yet
she was not satisfied. Full we'll she knew that
in the splendid apartment just above her head
Vincent Strange was pacing the floor, vainly striv
ing to shut out her song from his tortured ears,
and burning to number her among the dark reap
ers victims. Louder and with more of passionate
pain the song began anew
Death is the friend of the pure fragrant flowers
Garlands We for the heavenly bowers.
Dread not the blade that the earth-stalk would
sever:
Yonder we blossom forever and ever"
Throwing open the window of his chamber, the
man flung a full purse to the pavement below.
Miriam fell on her knees and CROPPED about in
the darkness that had been her dover from
birth. There was word of gratitude her
lips as she gathered together the scattered coins.
she gloried in the consciousness that she had
wrung the gold from hands that gave it grudging-
ly, and that none might resist the potent spell
OF her voice. What mattered it her that the words
sne had interviewer with that nights melody had
pierced the soul of her victim as with poisoned
Dart! Her sightless orbs had looked upon men
and women, yea, and helpless babes whose whole
llfe-course, from cradle to potters field,
long wall of despair And this man had never
All, we'll for him that he spent three years
In heaven, and well for him that the light of his
Joy went out in darkness more awful than mine"
she muttered she trudged homeward. "He
snail be made to minister to those who taste daily
hell worse than any he has dreamt of. This
was his bridal night three years ago. l knew l
could goad him on to reckless generosity His
suffering shall bring comfort to many a wretch
on the morrow. will not trouble him soon
again"
The song and the singer were gone but the
anguish they had awakened would not be assuaged
Three years ago tonight, oh, God!" the man
groaned. "And they tell me there is Coda
is just and righteous. Oh, Mildred Mildred!" and
the man sank upon his couch and sobbed aloud
Even while he lay PROSTATE his face buried in
his hands, the clock the mantel chimed forth
the hour of eight. Commingled with its culver
ing, silver tones, he heard again the enhancing
melody of the Bridal Chorus. He felt on his arm
the light touch of small gloved hand. He
looked down into a pair of wondrous loveit eyes
Never bridegroom so proud, so happy as he
What need of heaven, when earth could bring
such bliss? A brilliant panorama of love and
triumph passed noiselessy before his inner vision
Nothing was wanting to the perfect symmetry
and loneliness of the picture. Yes, something was
wanting but he knew it not until the fateful
moment when he, with soul upifted, crowned him
self with the diadem of the Creator, murmuring
over and over to his throbbing heart the one word,
Gather Now indeed nothing was wanting to
the completeness of that picture whose highllghts
were all touched with crimson and gold.
The wee pink blossom opened little by little
its dainty petals Was ever mortal baby so won
derfnI? was ever mortal mother so radiant and
heavenly? Vincent Strange walked the streets
of his native city, a sef-crOwned king. HIS feet
touched the earth beneath them only to spurn It,
tTulI of the bliss of living, he whispered to his