The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-05-23

Has the mail come, Louise ?? the
gentle voice from the lady (for one
could well see she was such) on the
bed caused the child at the window
to start up and come toward the bed.
"No, mother" she said. Not yet.
She was about nine years old. TINS
little girl, and had such sweet face
II .old the casual visitor that. Though
she was amid but poor surroundings,
she had been protected from the usual
evils which befeli child in the poor
est district OF q large and crowded
city. She had a tiny rosebud mouth
and large, pathetic, dark-grey eyes
Her hair, which was of beautiful
chestnut blue, fell in lovely curls far
below her shoulders. in every way
she promised to become a handsome,
If not lovely. woman.
The lady on the bed seemed to be
suffering greatly, and had been very
! i'll. Her face was expressive of much
Christian fortitude, and was very like
her daughters, only more mature in
/ its loneliness Her hair. which was
/ thrown back from a high forehead,
was white as the pillow on which she
! lay. In e-cry way the air of refine
ment was very noticeable. | suppose
/ II was more so because of Its very
of two attic chambers and was very
drauehty as well as damp.
The room had a bed in one corner
con which the lady lay) and a fire
place at the other side. There were
two broken chairs and rickety table
which with a large steamer trunk,
completed the furnishings.
When the little Louise had said the
mail had not come, the lady sighed
and then said: Louise, darling, come
here to mo.bers bedside. That is
right now" The lady took the child's
face between her hands and studied
1t for a moment and continued: You
are young yet, my child, but you arc
old enough to understand what mother
Is going 10 say to you. You'll try TO
understand. won't you, DEAR" The
wistsul eyes looked down into the
chiids Yes, mother, dear III try.
Tell me what you wish and / will re-
member II"
your mother will soon leave you,
dear, and someone will give you q
beautiful home / have provided for
this emergency. In little while, to-
day or tomorrow. someone will come
for you. will not be here. darling. l
will have goae to my heavenly home.
So don't grieve too much for me.
dear but think of me ss happy over
yonder with papa and little brother.
Now, dear, remember that when your
mother has gone she wants you to love
the folks VINO are going to take care
of you. They are your aunt and uncle,
remember. And just one other thing;
read your Bible and go to church, and
/ labor to keep alive in your heart
tina. little spark of celestial fire called
conscience
"Sow go TO bed. love. Good night"
The drowsy eyes closed. but opened
again at the sound of a knock at
the door.
Louise opened ii and took the letter
which had been so patiently waited
for.
Here is the letter. mother" she
said.
The lady received it with trembling
| hands.
Thank the Lord, 1t is all right"
she exclaimed. The letter dropped
from her fingers and she fell back
among the pillows.
| Louise lay at her side fast asleep
and had not heard her make the re-
marx. Next morning when Louise
1 awoke she was taken down stairs by
kind hands and never knew her
mother was in heaven until that even
ing when her aunt and uncle arrived
and took her to see her mother for
| the last time.
The next week passed as dream
to the little girl. The home to which
she had been taken was beautiful and
she hab many things TO play with,
but she dtd not like II. She remem-
berod what her mother had told her
and tried 10 do what she thought
would please her. but gradually. as
the days, weeks and months passed
by. she grew to take pattern after ner
aunt and even forgot to say her
! prayers. .sss.s.. ss... ,,.--...sl - .
About seven years after the first
scene in my story the little girl had
I grown into = big girl and was at col
iege. Every girl had learned to follow
/! her and seem to like her but she had
! few fr4onAs. s.y. She, was noted for the
/ handsomest. richest and proudest girl
! in the whole college. Everyone grew to
disstke her for these qualities, and 1t
was only in her last term there that
1 she had good friend.
4 At the first of the term there came
Ito the college a airl who had no
money or beauty, or anything to be
proud OF in worldly way. but whose
heart was as true ~ steel and as
fstamncf. There was no one in Beech
\ cote College who could compete with
lher In honesty. integrity and truth.
4 BY and bye every one In the college
loved her. and among her best friends.
epppose ! should have said her best
Il friend, was Louise Bronston
0ne Day Ruby rs coming dawn
4 M I'M heAr4 nQsoe oaA ~
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