Year: 1879

care OF her.


But / did worry nevertheless. To
have Daisy employed at the extra night
work made me nervous and uncomforta.
bic. In vain they assured me the work
was light and easy and profitable in
vain Daisy pointed out to me the ad.
vantage of being able to stay at home
with aunty, who was growing old and
incapable of domestic duties in vain
Tom counted out OF the mock bank
book, the crisp notes for the rent; in
vain Daisy bought for me the pretty
tinted engraving had so long coveted;
that bright carpet covered the old par
lor floor, and little graceful knicknacks
made their way into the empty old cor
ners and aunty rejoiced in a soft fine
cashmere robe that clung comfortingly to
her poor shrinking form. In vain-in
vain. l was miserable, most miserable.
Rather the humble security and safety
far rather. My days were passed in
tormenting, doubtful reverie my nights
were haunted by melancholy dreams,
so that l started up in bed, and was
never satisfied until had gone to look
at Daisy, and bending over the child,
was only content to find her sleeping
innocently, with her rounded cheek
upon her arm.


never coEld get to sleep till Tom
and Daisy were home, and everything
settled for the night and I used to lie
awake listening for the rumble of the
cab wheels for it seemed their united
efforts could now afford cab. Daisy
always came straight to me, and kissed
me goodnight and cannot tell what
it was that made me more and more
wretched as The brilliant, beautiful
creature bent over me with all and more
of her old tenderness. On one Of these
nights I lay awake for long time after
she had gone, and finally went wan
dering, as usual, to Daisy's bedside.
She slum5ered easily, like little child,
with her hand buried in the fluffy
waves Of her hair, and gazing thus,
fancied 1 saw deep red bar of crimson
upon her cheek, and scarcely knowing
what l was about, l held the lamp still
closer, and taking the fine cambria frill
of her night-gown, / rubbed it lightly
upon the satin, and, yes-ah | the Bit
terness of having doubt confirmed l.
an yes, the color came off. The child g
check had been painted It was a
mercy / did not drop the lamp upon
the floor. dropped there myself
shortly after, and knew no more until
the morning. I remember the cold
gray light of day stealing into my room,
and then dropped off again into an ex-
hausted sleep till noon. I heard Daisy's
soft football at the door, and closed my
eyes, for I couldn't bear to look upon
her. She went softly away again, only
to come shortly after and look at me
again. The next footstep I heard was
Toms. Coming on tiptoe in my room,
which made his boots squeak all the
more, he found my eyes wide open and
staring upon him. He started back in
alarm, for suppose he saw something
wild and strained about them.


why, my dear old Prudy'-he began.


But l drew him closer to me, and
whispered, 6ercely; mo more night
work for Daisy. / won't have it. Do
You underestimate Pray God it may moi
be too late to save the child nov +


hated to hurt the child, / hated to
shock Tom, but something must be
done at once to check these evil ways
and while 1 strove for word to begin
with, Tom said that some old women
had been meddling, he supposed.


'Oh, Tom, 1 was tho witness of my
own miseryP And then, keeping Daisy &
face hidden near my heart, told them
of all my fears for Daisy's increasing
vanity, ny awful doubts about the gilt
ter of her beauty, and at last the dis
covery of the dreadful stain upon hel
cheek.


I expected to see Tom fall back
aghast. / thought that Daisy would
sob the more, and hide her face the
closer. To my surprise, Tom blew 9
long, low whistle, and Daisy raised hel
head and looked at him.


'There'sno use talking, Tom I wont
go on with it if it makes Prue feel sc
badly. I couldn't, Tom, if 1 made {
thousand dollars a night This was
what Daisy said, and began stroking my
hair and fondling me again as if 1 were
the diseased and pitiable one. 1 though
l should go mad with bewilderment
when Tom spoke again.


Now see here, girls he said, nc
more melancholy pumping, please
there's misery enough in the world
without going ont Of ones way to find it
The best way to convince Prue tina,
everything is right is to let her see foI
herself. l propose to take Prue dow
with us tonight.


ITO the-the--' faltered Daisy.


TO the insurance Office, said Tom
She can remain there, and watch us a
our work I; and if, taking into considera
} ton the fact that we must earn an homes
living in some way, she finds this on,
altogether Objectionable, we'll let j
slide. Now dry your tears and call il
bargain. Suspend further agony til
, | 10 p;0bt and in fba n,aa,1xvbiIa TIL m,