Year: 1872

away from here, and then / may never
see you again.


His fears were unfounded. He had
grown so useful in running errands,
securing the knives and washing dishes,
that he was allowed to remain.


Six months passed, but saw very lit
tie of him. One morning was in the
parlor waiting the return of my father.
My mother had gone to party, and l
was alone. 4 sense of sadness stole over
me. I sat down to the piano to try and
dispel the gloom. As ran my fingers
over the keys heard suppressed sob,
and on looking round beheld Willie
lying on the sofa with his face buried
i'm his hands. ran to him and asked: /:


what is the trouble, and why are you
here%


He said he had come to bid me good
bye, and that he was going to the Far
West TO try and find some of his fathers
relations, and begged me to play and
sing one song for him before he went. l
sang till he said he could stay no longer.
Then taking 4 loeket from my neck that
contained my likeness placed it in his
hand, telling him to always think of me
as his true friend.


But, Kittie, said he, 4 would rather
have one of your curls. 1t would be
better than your picture, for it would be
part of YOURSELF


you shall have them both | replied;
and selecting one of the glossiest he sew
cred it from my head with his pocket
knife. Then, after an affectiOnate fare
well, he went forth alone to seek his for
tune among strangers.


Ii was late before my father came
home, and when he entered the room
where l was he seemed not to notice me,
although moved chair to the fire for
him. He looked pale and haggard. /
inquired if he were sick. \ shake of the
head was all the answer. L thought
perhaps he was tired and did not wish to
talk. knew that when lie was weary
or perplexed he liked me to sing for
him. went to the piano. and playing
an accompaniment, commenced his ia
vOrite, Home, Sweet Home While ]
was singing the second verse / was
startled by hearing him groan. l went
to him and laying my hand on his
shoulder / found that he was trembling
violently. / asked:


Are you sick? Shall 1 send for a
physician:'


NO. said he, Il am not sick, but /
want to talk with you.' Then putting
an arm around my waist, he drew me
close to him and told me that all his
vast wealth had been hazarded i'm an
unfortunate speculation, and that now
he was penniless and would have to 20
out into this unfriendly world to battle
with adversely.


With all the hopefulness of youth
tried to comfort him, telling him how
pleasant it would be to live in cottage
where, when he came home in the even
ing, | could spread the table and make
the tea with my own hands for him.
While 1 was speaking the door opened,
and my mother and a strange gentleman
entered. She walked up TO my father
and asked:


is ali this hear about you true?
Have you really failed%


He replied, 'All is gone


You know, James Carter she went
on, that married you for your wealth
Now that it is gone, too will go.
never loved you-that you know-but
while thought my old lover false 1 en-
dured you. Now that he has returned
and proved true may yet be happy


Then, taking the strangers arm, she
was about to leave the room. ran to
her, crying.


20, mother, what do you mean? You
are not going to leave me?'


But she pushed me away, saying:


You are the picture of your father.
do not want to be troubled with any
thing that will remind me of him."


knew had my fathers dark hair
and eyes, but could my mother forsake
me? Could a mother be so heartless
turned to my father for comfort, but
he sat motionless, gazing into the fire.
For some moments he remained thus
then, rising hastily, sought his cham
ber.


scarcely know how I passed the
night. The next morning l remember
a servant coming to my room to say
| that breakfast had been waiting two
hours and she had rung the bell several
times, but that my father had not vet
left his room. / ran to his room and
knocked, but received no answer.
then tried the door. 1t was fastened.
called repeatedly, but could get no re-
ply. l became frightened, and, caIlino
for John, had him burst open the door
On first entering 1 thought the room
empty, but, going up to great arm
chair, that stood with its back to tn,
door, was astOnished on beholding nv
father. There he sat, with his beaf
thrown back. The moment / bebaI6
his face knew that stood in the pres.
ence of death. / remember of scream.
ing. Then there is blank in my life o.
nearly two months. When my mint
returned 1 was surprised to find that
was in strange place. Every object
that met my gaze was new to me.
tried to sit up, but found that was too
weak even to turn myself ATTEMPTED
to call some one, but my voice diee