The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1911-05-11

From the long trance of horror
which succeeded this night. Vivian
awoke to sense of her condition.
A widow, poor, friendless for the
butterfly friends deserted her now
she had no resource but in herself.
One there was, indeed, who would
have gladly assisted her, but dared
not. Robert Louis stood aloof in
her hour of tribulation-not because
he would not have rejeiced to come
nearer, but because he wanted to
see how she bore the test of afflic-
/ tion and adversity. Every vestige
Of her splendid home disappeared
under the grasp of creditors, who
would not pardon her for her share
of the extravaganza. Not one of
her summer friends opened door
for her relief. Only one person came
forward to offer her temporary
shelter, and that was woman who
had sewed for her since her mar
riage, and who had but the small
wages she received for her work to
maintain her.
For several weeks after accepting
this temporary shelter, Vivian shut
herself in the small chamber, which
was all her humble friend could as
sign her, and gave way to sullen and
obstinate grief. Miss Brown, her
hostess, was an elderly, unmarried
woman, to whom life had presented
but few delights, and but little pros
perity. Alone in the world. with
no ties, she had passed a lonely and
a weary life. She could not under
stand the istless, inactive way of
taking trouble, that Vivian was ex,
hibiting, and she resolved to expos
ttulate with her. One touch of SYM
pathy would have confirmed Vivian
in her despair; but the matter of
fact way of treating it which Miss
Brown adopted, was that alone that
could reach the disorder. She was
Lying, bathed in tears, upon the bed,
when the straightforward woman,
anxious to do good to her guest, en-
tered the chamber.
It's no use lying there grieving." !"
she said as she bustled about the
room. The Lord never gives affiic-
tions without some purpose; and if
we don't take them well, we are
sure to get more. Now Mrs. Tay-
lor, just get up from your bed like
a sensible lady, and come out with
me for walk. 1t will do you much
good, I'm thinking. Come now!''
/ oh, Miss Brown, / am SO mlser-
able!,'
No doubt, no doubt; but fight
against it and you will have the vic
tory
After long urging, Vivian con
sented to go down stairs, but no
amount of coaxing could induce her
to go out. From her state of list
lessness, she aroused only enough to
offer assistance in the sewing Miss
Brown was obliged to do; but it
was a great effort and her work
often shown with tears that fell
upon it.
After she had been with Mrs.
Brown few weeks, she could not
but perceive the great change in the
quality of the food set before her.
From the simple and sometimes
scanty cookery which the limited
means of her hostess could supply,
there was marked change to the
best and most substantial; while a
number of comforts mysteriously
! found their way to her, which she
was quite sure Miss Browns means
4 could not have offered. Her atten-
i tion was aroused when a beautiful
writing desk, precisely like one that
was once her own. was placed in a
Icorner of Miss Browns little parlor.
4 A mark which she had once made
inside the drawer. proved it to be
y really the same.
i She looked inqufringly at the old
lady, but her stolld contenance told
4 nothing, and Vivian had become to
Indifferent to externals, in her late
affiiction, to pursue the inquiry.
lone morning, soon after. her own