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About The new Northwest. (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887 | View Entire Issue (July 17, 1874)
I MKS. A. J. DBSIWAT, Eiltor and Proprietor. UrFICI-Cor. front nnU Stark Street. I A Journal far the People. IJevoted tp tbp Interests of Humanity.. , Imlepcriaeritin' roUtloi'atra KcllgieW Mtvcto ' nil 'T.tre' limes, ami Thoroughly nadlon! In'Opposlns anil Krpo'jlSE the Wrong ot the Mats. TKKMS, IN" ADVANCE: One year Six H1(HUM Three raoBttau.. 1 110 FitKK SrnECir, Fbek Press, Fkee People. Corresponilents writtns over assumed signs- teres must make known their names lo tha EUItor.or no attention will be given to.thelr AJ) VBRTIRKJI EJflS Imrted on Reasonable Terms. YOLU3H3 ill. i 3?OXtTX.A.IST, OREGON, FKIDAY, .TXJJLY IT, 1874. INTTIVEBER, -I?-. communications. - r Miinri- v "i IT AMIE AND HENRY LEE; -OR . Tlie Sphere or the Snn. BT MR A. J. DCSHTAT. Bate4.emntliHC to Aet of ConTes, in the yesrlSM.lif MfK.A.J.Dsntmtj-.ta theofficoof I he Librarian or Coogr at Waslilngtop at j-. CHAITEtt VIIL The week3 passed on, and starvation starod the poverty-stricken orphans In the face. Henry was compelled to take from hia scanty earnings to purchase suitable apparel for himself in which to officiate as coachman for the Hastings family. Jirs. Ji. was fastidious in these matters. and Henry was not only anxious for a good exeuse to supply himself with the luxury of a respectable outfit, but he was too proud to admit that the poverty of his dependent ones was bitter enough to justify him in extreme self-denial. "What have we got for supper, Fan?" queried James, one night, as he came home from game of , base ball, expect ing to find some sort of a meal ready aud waiting as usual. "Nothing," was the despairing reply. "Where's Amie?" "She's been out with Dick all day, huntin' a place. " "It's thumleriti' strange she don't find one !" "Nobody will take poor Dick, and Amie vows that she'll starve before she'll part witli him." "You'll have to stay at home and take care of DFck, ami then she can get a place." "I'm older than you, and I'm goingto keep on going to school." "It strikes me you'll get rather lean before spring, if you don't strike a stall Avhero there's better fodder than this btable affords," said Jim. Amie came homo dripping wet, and fearfully cold and tired. As usual, her search for work had been unsuccessful. She had met Henry in the afternoon. while keeping guard over the Hastings team in front of tho O'Toodles mansion, when the ladies and Melvin were in dulging in a fashionable call. "For God's sake, Henry, give me just ten cents. There's not a mouthful of food at home, and I must get some potatoes." Henry divided his meager store of cash, aud Amie repaired to the market, where loug rows of tempting edibles were ranged on either side along the stalls. Driving as good a bargain as possible, she secured her potatoes and started homeward, calling at every house upon the way in search of employment. "You're awful late, Ame, .and I'm about starved," said the considerate Jim. The potatoes were soon boiled, and, as the orphans gathered around the scanty board, Amie surveyed the scene, and said, in desperation, "Thi3 family shall not sutler longer for food and clothes. The only friend I havo in this city Is that pompous scamp who offered me employment iu a saloon. I'll go to him "this night and borrow money to dress myself in style, and then twenty five dollars a week will keep you all handsomely. They'll let me keep Dick in a doggery. It's only 'Christian homes that exclude little children." The hundred dollars were borrowed and the bargain made. The saloon in which Amie was to engage in the work of vending liquors and attracting vic tims was owned by a ruddy-faced Ger man of two hundred and fifty pounds weight, a splendid customer at his own bar, who never got intoxicated, and who despised everybody who "couldn't quit drinking wheu they'd got enough." Over the door was a handsome trans parency, containing the magic words, "Walk in" and "Welcome," in letters of gilt, surrounded by an artistic wreath of exquisite workmanship. Tho door opened into a small, brilliantly-lighted hall, adortied by rare pictures, and a side-board, mounted by a pier glass, at the base of which an elegant aquarium sent up a single jet of water, that fell back in spray upon sporting gold fishes. Folding doors, that shot back aud forth upon rollers, obedient to the touch. opened from the hall into a sumptuous saloon, where everything beautiful and costly was lavishly displayed. A coun ter of purest marble, coutainied a soda fountain, with a glass dome reaching to the lofty ceiling, through which a foam ing liquid was playing ceaselessly. De bind the counter, and along the wall, on stalely rows of ornamental shelves, were ranged the various "samples" of the stock in trade, while a genteel ap pearing young man, very polite and dressy, stood near the soda fountain, with a huge glass iu his eye, and a stun ning diamond on his bosom. "Is the proprietor in ?" queried Amie, timidly. "Not at present, madam. He Is tak ing a nap." "I am the young lady who was to be installed in this house as clerk." "I think you're niigtakcn," was the critical answer, as the bar-tender eyed her from head to foot. "We don't em ploy female clerks here." "But the proprietor made a bargain in my presence with Mr. Green, the In telligence office keeper, and I was told to come here and get orders." "Oh, I understand now. You were employed as a sort of decoy to outsiders. Yoti-'re a beauty, pon my word. But It strikes me that your first business Ull be to get a different rig from that. Ex. cuse me, but you must be well dressed to fill the position you've been hired for." That's roy own affair, sir, but I don't know but I cmght to thank you for the suggestion. 1 I want particularly to know when my duties begin, what num ber of hours I shall be employed each day, and how I am expected to dress." "Your duties will begin every even ing at dusk, and last till after midnight. You are to play the role of tho rustic maiden until you learn to dance, sing, play cards, chess, checkers, dice, back gammon, aud so forth. ou must dress attractively. The proprietor expects you to bo the belio of the drawing-room.' "The draieing-room !" elevating her brows; "tcltat's that" 'Oh, I forgot that y&u haven't seen our accommodations. Here, Suke, take this green one and show her through the establishment." The girl thus addressed woro a while muslin wrapper, open in the neck, and her blonde hair was a mass of tight and shocky curls, tied on tho top of her head with a bright blue ribbon. Amie shrank from the girl involunta rily, as she followed her up a broad flight of stairs into a suite of- elegant parlors, where, seated at divers tables, were young men, old men, and women, engaged In various games, all with cut glass wine service before them, and all busy and excited over their play. Amie's guide touched a spring, and what seemed a part of the frescoed wall, rolled back and disappeared, revealing a dancing saloon, where girls in ballot dress of gauzy texture, made after the scant pattern one sees upon the respect able stage iu the present higli state of civilization, were being whirled In the mazes of the round dance through the grand apartment, In tho arms of fast young men, and faster married men, with wives and babes at home, who found a solace nightly in tho congenial society of girls, who, like Amie Lee, had been compelled to accept the situa tion, and become the protected attache of gilded dens, where ruin lurked in ambush under the guise of pleasure. "I know it looks suspicious aud un promising now," said the guide; "but the very fact thatyou've been here once will shut the doors of all other respecta ble places against you. The wages are I good, the work light, and we do have lots of splendid beaux. Tho very cream of society visits us, aud somo of the most brilliant women in the city live here and fare sumptuously." Amie staggered, and, but for the help j of her guide, would have fallen to the floor. "Don't feel bnd, my little simpleton. You'll like It splendid after you get used to being looked upon as a ballot girl." "But I never will submit ! I'll starve first !" and the poor girl rushed through the gilded hall and down the stairs to ward tile street. "You don't mean to say that you de cline the situation?" queried the im portant clerk. "I mean to say that havo been cruelly deceived, or I never shonld have entered such a den." "Oh, that's what they always say. It's always a case of misplaced confi dence, when girls come here to live." "Let me go !" screamed Amie, at tho top of her voice. But tho clerk held her as if in a vice, and her screams and struggles brought three or four policcmeu, who, shame vpon a system of protection for women that would permit the outrage, marched her off to the city jail. Amie spent the lone dismal night iu the same cell that Henry had found refuge in during his first few days' experience iu city life. As no one appeared against her, she was released tho next mornlntr. and. when she reached her home, she found the baby crying in Fanny's arms, aud tho whole family lidly frightened at her long absence. The last potato had been devoured, and there was literally nothing in the house to cat. Amie struggled with the pangs of hunger, augmented by the clamor of the baby for his food. Some good angel must have touched the heart of an humble neighbor, who sent over a large basin containing a savory stew, which made a noonday meal. But tho presence of possiblo or even remote starvation was anything but pleasant. "What need I care for the world," she sighed, "or anybody in it, for that mat ter, when nobody cares for me ? I have a hundred dollars, but I got tho money only ou condition that I should enter that great red Dutchman's service, and he was to repay the money to the lender as soon as I could earn it. It's of no use, this fighting againstfate. I'll go to-day and buy a month's provisions and order them sent home." The resolve was acted upon, and a liberal supply of life's necessaries, in cluding a cord of wood, and "plenty of vegetables and flour, was stowed away in the littlcshed adjoining tho tenement. The cvenbpg found Amie at her post In the grand saloon, arrayed in a coun try maiden's garb of simple muslin. Her eyes were lighted by a strange, fierce glare of desperation, aud, as the evening wore on, she entered into the spirit of the character of "country girl," and played her part with a fascinating grace that kept a' half-dozen elegantly attired gentlemen clustered around her for hours. "Daisy, come hero a moment," said the proprietor, author! lively. Wonderingly, and with difficulty con cealing her aversion to her employer, Amio obeyed the summons. "Why don't you ask those men to drink?" said he, gruffly. "Because It's wicked!" was tho posl tlve answer. "You never stipulated that I should ask men to drink. I agreed toslngand dance and playgames aud talk nonsense, but I flatly refuse to sell anything, or entice anybody to buy anything to make them drunken." "Very well. You may Ieavo,tbo es tablishment If you can't obey orders." Amie's heart sank within her. How could she leave asituation, and the only attainable one, when the starvation of herself and brothers and sisters would result from her rashness ? "We know, good reader, that it Is very easy for us who are blessed with the rights of choice Iu regard to what we shall do to say that we would die before we would stoop to this or that, but we never know how weak we are until the temptation that caused others to fall has been meted out to us. The poorgirl looked anxiously into the faceof heremployerand burst into tears. "None o' that, Miss Daisy; none o' that, Y'ou'll obey orders or you'll leave my service. Tho least sald's soonest mended. As you're a novice, I'll ex cuse you for this once, on condition that you niako thoso fellows drink. They're rich, every dog of 'cm, and they come here reg'lar to have a good time. Must make 'em pay for it. That's why you're hired at such extraordinary wages. Just use them snappln' eyes to the best advantage and you'll coin cash for the concern." Amie was desperate. Taking a tray from aside-board, on which were a half- dozen bottles of tho most expensive wines the house 'afforded, sho ap proached tho table where the men whom sho had been entertaining were await ing her return. "Gentlemen!" said she, and her voice sounded gratiugaud hard, whereas before It was strikingly musical, "I have lome distilled damnation hero that I am com manded to sell to youv There are suakes In the bottles, wife-beating in the de canters and murder in the goblets. There are orphans iu the wake of the serpents' trails, and famine within tho circles of their orbit. Buy, drink and be merry, for jails aud gibbets aud peni tentiaries and police courts and alms houses and brothels lurk in the cup, and its fascinations are wonderful. Buy aud drluk, I beg of you, for your patron age is my bounty and your money the protection of my rum-bureaved charges from starvation." "Well said and well acted, my pretty charmer," said one. "Wrby don't you become an actress?" "Actress, indeed ! Who could act a more consummate tragedy than I am acting now?" Tito girl looked royally beautiful in her simple muslin robe. Her wealth of curling hair played over her bust and and shoulders, and framed her pearl white, rose-tinted face witli a contrast like unto pearl inlaid iu ebony. "How much a bottlo ?" queried one. "Fight dollars for this, and twelve for this," holding forth somo raro old brands that might, after all, havo been compounded chiefly of bad whisky and poor molasses. A twenty dollar goltl pieco was trans ferred to her palm. "Have a seat with us," said the pur chaser. The eye of Amie's employer was upon her. Ho always looked after the new re cruits until circum3tanccsbroke them In. She drew up a chair and sat down upon its edge. Tho wine was poured and four glasses were raised to four mustached lips, and ail were waiting for her to raise her own sparkling goblet. "Let me tell your fortune," said she, suddenly. "lean see spirits In the wine." "So can I," said a man with silvered hair, as he laughed heartily at the Im agined pun. "Bu"f tell us what ytiu see." Daintily the bright girl raised the goblet and gazed into its ruby depths. "I see a maiden, fair, blue-eyed and beautiful. Her homo is a grand old inausion on a sloping lawn. Ivies climb around great columns of solid masonry. Roses creep upon fine trellis work aud the air is laden with the per fume of violets. The maiden sits in pensive mood and gazes abstractedly over the lawn. A carriage rolls up the broad avenue. See ! They are helping an old man to alight. Oh, God, he Is drttnl; furiously drunk! The maiden advance to meet him, but the father I can see that he is her father fells her to the ground with a cruel blow. Tho coachman rescues herfrom bodily peril, and they disappear within the walls. "The scene changes. It is a wedding festival that greets my senses now. But the fair bridp la nnt i. kindred. Her father's coachman leads' her to the altar, and I can see that she has become party to an elopement. "Again tho scene shifts, and I behold the bride a toiling mother, In a rude and unattractive home iu tho great wilder ness. The husband whom she chose that ho might screen her from tho cruel blows of a drunken father has become himself a victim of the fatal glass. Poverty and toll and privation on compass tho poor drunkard's wife, and the husband becomes a dangerous mon ster, at whose approach -the children tremble and the mother's heart grows faint. "See !" and Amie rose to her feet and held tho gpblet aloft In her strange ex citement, "See! Tho father lies his eldest son by his hands to the ceiling and lacerates his half-clad form with a cruel whip. The mother groans In In describable anguish upon a bcl of ill ness and begs in vaiti for mercy for her boy. A stranger interferes and the vic tim is released. Now, the boy flees for hia life. Ho takes refuge iu the great city, the mother dies, tho father Is ar rested for murder, tho last vestige of the drunkard's home disappears under the hammer of the auctioneer, aud the chil dren take refugo in tho city, whero starvation stares them in the face. I seo a young girl whom men call beauti ful. Sho Is arrayed in snowy robes, and bright red roses cluster in hercoal black hair. Her mission is to pour the tempt ing fluid and entice men to make demons of themselves that they may, hi their turn, despoil other homes and bring ruin upon their inmates. "Why is sho here?' you ask. Ah, why indeed, except that tills occupation will bring her gold witli which to buy the bread of which the demon drunken ness has utterly deprived her dependent charges. 'Shylock would havo money,' salth tho law, and without money the whole orphaned brood must perish. Yes, gentlemen, look upon the wine wheu it Is red, when it giveth its color in the cup. You have seen the picture, and you kuow that at last it bitetli like a serpent aud stingeth like an adder. Drink, now, if you dare." The music and dancing had ceased, and all were statuling in a listening at titude, wholly engrossed iu the im passioned words of the sclf-uuconscious orator. "Why don't you drink, gentlemen ?" said tiio speaker. "The proprietor is richer by just so much gold,", holding tho glittering coin aloft between her dainty fingers. "Let's drink and be UlVilJ) W IU" 14 UIIVII lib UlVi A spell had fallen upon tho dissipat ing and convivial throng. The silence! grew painful. At length one man arose. "I have lasted my last drop," said he, earnestly. "Littio maiden, will you favor me with your name and address ?" "They arc to call me Daisy, the waiter girl, in this establishment. My name iu tho world outside is nothing to you, sir, for you would not recognizo me iu the street or among your lady friends, because I am so wicked as (o serve you, through necessity, within these walls, for bread." "But your story interests me much for a peculiar reason. I feel that you have somehow woven your own history into that vision. Is it not so ?" "What is that to you, sir? Drain your goblet and let me get ready to make other sales." "I have said that I would not drink it, and John Aimslee never goes back on his word." Amie started as though sho had re ceived a blow. "Is your name John Aimslee!" "It is." "Where are you from ?" "Vermont." 'Can it be possible that you are" "Your mother's only brother, aud you own dear uucle," interrupting her and advancing to take her in his arms as ho spoke. Clapping of hands and loud laughter from the assembled crowd followed this strange denouement, as many thought that the girl had been merely "sold" for their amusement, "Don't touch me, sir!" said Amie. "You are here from choice I from necessity. You can go Into" the world and be flattered and respected. I shall go from here a characterless vagabond. God shall judge between us. Man has already decreed that I am a social out law." "But the daughter of Sarah Aimslco must not be permitted to remain in such a place as this." "Why is itany worse for Sarah Alms lee's daughter than for her brother to be here? I contend that it Is not as bad for her as for himself. Sho is here be cause she cantiot help it lie is here from choice." "But, Amie Lee, I swear to you that if you will leave this place I will never enter it or another of its character so long as I live." "Would that resolve feed my ravens in thai little shanty out in a back street, where but for this employment they would be starving to-night?" "Alas, I cannot help you, at least not much, but I will do thebestlcan If you will go with me." "My word is given to the proprietor for one month. At the end of that time we shall see what can bo done, but I warn you that I shall do what I can for my employer while In his service." "You've given me back-handed as sistance enough to-night," said that worthy. "I shan't need you any more." "But you are obligated to pay one hundred dollars, borrowed money, for me, and I must stay one month to repay you for the loan. I can pay it in no other way." ... "I'll give you a receipt In full to get rid of you," was the grufl" reply, and Amie left tho palace of amusement iu humiliation and disgrace. "This Infernal puritan stock can never bo trusted !" Bald the host, Indiguautly, as tho orchestra, obedient to orders, struok up a llvoly waltz. John Almslce accompanied Amie to tho door of her hnmblo home and bade her good-night, promising to call upon her in the morning. "Saved, as by fire!" said she to her self, as, clasping her sleeping baby brother in her arms, she crept shivering into her bed and listened to the deep tones of the town clock as It solemnly tolled the hour of two. To be continued. Laid upon the Shelf. by sins. ii. o. r.ow-E. "I don't suppose you have any idea of going, mamma?" ' "Why, really, Eva, I did think I should like to go to this party." Mrs. Kay's tone was deprecatory, and she gave a quick, shy glance at her daughter's surprised face. "1 don't generally care much for these large gatherings; but Mrs. Brent was a schoolmate of mine, aud I should like to go to her silver wedding if I can." "It's to be a grand affair, and, of course, you can't wear your old black silk you've worn It everywhere for the last six years'." "No, of course not. I was thinking of getting me one of those handsome silver-gray silks that wo saw the other day at Mace & Packard's. Don't you think,"-witli a timid look at herdaugh ter's unsympathetic face, "it would be suitable for me?" "Oh, yes, eertainiy," was the cold re- sKnse ; and Eva drew up the last scal lop of lier tatting.witli a jerk and frown, wliile she added, iu that nuletlv-ao grleved tone so painful to a sensitive ear: "I can help you ou your dress, for I shall stay at home myself." Mrs. Bay colored paiufully. "Why, what do you mean, child ? You have been talking of going ever since the in vitation came. What has made vou change your mind so suddenly ?" 'Ouly." uflectiiiir utter obliviousness of tho pained surprise iu her mother's look and toue, "if you have lo buy now silk for yourself, nana won't think he can afford mc the dress that I in tended to have for this party, and I had rather stay at home than wear the same dress that I've worn to every partv, large and small, that I've attended this winter." "I thought," the mother's voice fal tered as she spoke, "that, as your dress was new aud handsome, It would do to wear through the season." "I don't care to be known by my , garment could be liuisht.d in time, of dress," was tho "short" reply, and with which service Eva's characteristic ac a sigli for tho lost entertainment tliat ! kuowledgment was something in this she had anticipated with real pleasure, fashion : the unselfish mother replied with an of- 1 "It was too bad, mamma, that you fort at cheerfulness: ! should have had lo sit up s,o iatf to tiu- "Oh, well, if that's tho way of it, I'll , ish,it. .1 .would huve kept you com fctay at home. 1 bhouldn't take any ' pany, but T kticw that if I sat up after comfort iu going if I thought I was ile- eleven o'clock I should be as stupid as privlng you of a pleasure." an owl the night of the party. It was Eva's falrface was all sunshine in an so provoking in Miss Mcstitchct to dis Instant. appoint us, and we've always been such "Thank you, mamma! But, honest- ' good customers, too. I've a great mind ly now, I don't believe you'd have en-' to say that ilu shall never make nn joyed it a bit, if you iiad decided to go. , other dress for'me as long as I live." The confusion and crowding, and the That was all. Not a word of thanks, late supper all together, would have of loving acknowledgment for the wea woni you out entirely." rying, toilsome service, not even a Mrs. Bay smiled sadly, as she thought ! smile, a kiss, a gentle reminder that she of the dally round of wearying, wearing . should take a few hours for rest from the domestic cares, witli the suppers both , hum of busy preparation, that made her "late" and early, whose preparation had I aching head beat and throb yet more helped to make up the burden that had wildly, while that strange, sharp pain bowed her shoulder into the stoon of' in her side, that had troubled her so of- tiremalure old age, and roughened tho ten of late, seemed at times like a dag hands that her dainty daughters looked ger thrust to her very heart, upon with a kind of pitying contempt, j She made no complaint, and the "Mamma never was intended for a'j'oung ladies were so completely en lady," E-a remarked, confidentially, to grossed in their preparations for the her sister Bessie. "Ouly see how red , evening, that the tell-tale heaviness of and rough her hands are; aud she wears her eyes, and the unnatural pallor of a number five boot. I don't see, really, her worn and wearied face, entirely es how you and I camo to have such small . caped their notice, until Bessie, tapping feet and hands." ; witli dainty finger lips the half-opened "Oh, we got those from papa's side of, petals of a rose iu a glass of hot-house the House, loti kuow what beautiful , soft, white hands Aunt Jenny has." "Yes, and well they may be. She never soiled them with waiting upon herself, even." Eva snokc rather scornfullv. for she was really.energetlc, in her own way, and hail little sympathy with idleness, i even In tho much-admired paternal rel ative of whom her sister had reminded her. "I think Aunt Jenny is perfectly splendid ! The last time she was here we used to take some comfort sitting to gether up iu her room, reading Mrs. Browning and Tennyson. Her voice is so sweet and flexible, and she has such a quick and delicate appreciation of what sho reads. It is a perfect delight to listen to her." Eva laughed. "Did you hear Mr. Washburn asking mamma the other evening how she liked Bret llarte? I wanted to laugh, al though I was frightened almost to death at the thought of her making him some ridiculous answer, for I didn't suppose she had over oven heard of him; but" "How did she get out of the scrape?" interrupted the youuger sister, with more force than elegance. "Why, luckily, she had the good sense to acknowledge that she knew loo little of his poems to be a competent judge of his merits. I believe I never was so grateful to her in my lite as I was then." "Very likely," laughed Bessie, with a shrug of her "plump shoulders. "But, honestly now, Eva" Sho hesitated and coloreda little, pausing, as the souul of their mother's voice, giving direc tions to the laundress in an adjoining room, fell upon thoir ears. "You must be more particular as I've told j-ou ovcranil overagatn especially with Mr. Rav's shirts and the girls' mus lins aud cambric skirts. I can't have ti niir nil wiiii a ruu nnu :i nroimso. 11 everything else is." The tones were sharp, and considera bly higher than tho lady-Ilkc pitch that her well-bred daughters were always careful to confine themselves to; and Bessie, unmindful of tho loving thought fulness that had prompted the rebuke that so jarred upon her delicately trained senses, took up the thread of her remarks with an angry petulance that was as unbecoming as it was un called for. "I wus about to say that beeu a mystery to :ne, ever and feelings arc so different. Now papa old cuougli to reason aooui sucn tilings, worus, in wiucu miv iuu nuiuier lot nor j tne thin, pale hands, folded idlv at last that father made the choice that he did j part, any more than the tea-urn itself ; j over the now peaceful heart wasasiu of a wife. I don't mean anything, that simply added its mite to (ho com-. gle spray only of sweet-briar against mamma, of course," as she , fort.while it was powerless to contribute "Papa would have it so whl-iered caught tho startled look of disapproval . to the amusement or entertainment of Eva, iu tearful confidence! to a friend, unon her sister's face; "but their tastes the lively group gathered about it. "Knu.- r i.i.,L- i .,.i.i i,'.. i..n in is really intellectual, aimuugu no uas so j expressing au opinion, or as King a ques llttlo time to cultivate his tastes In that tlou even, so afraid of tho half-concealed direction ; and he loves musie and poe try; aud I am sure everybody says no is one of the most agreeable men in soci ety. Now you know that when he Is at home an evening, nothing pleases him heller than to hear us play and sing, or read to him. But mamma why, only last evening, when I was reading that lovely poem of Poe's, 'The.Bells,' aloud, when 1 came to those lines about the fire-bells 'In a !ainious app -:ihr. to the mercy of the lire. In n in a I e.vlul.it:on with the deaf and fran tic rlrr,' I was reading my very best, and I could see that papa was holding his very breath to hear me, when up jumps mamma, as if shojiad been siiot, and' rushes away to the kitchen as fast as her feet would carry her. It seems that she had left the range open, and my readkig of the fire reminded her of it. That was all the profit or enjoyment mac snc iounu in sucn a spienuiu poem." "Mamma is naturally domestic, and her family cares have prevented her giving much attention to other tilings, it sho had wished it ever so much." Eva spoke reprovingly, and there was a tiny underthread of tenderness In her tone, the effect, perhaps, of some-lingering filial affection that ail her inborn and cherished selfishness had been una ble to quite ciioke out. Mr. Bay expressed neithersurprise nor regret when informed of his wife's de termination to stay at homo from the wedding party. For himself, it Mas simply his duty to act the part of , cava lier to his gay young daughter?; but his wife why It was "just like hei" to pre fer to stay at home. For years, she had seemed to take little or no interest in anything outside of Ik r own house and family. She had toiled, and saved, and planned, in their earlier and less pros perous days, to dress and educate her children thoso same children who now, in the proud arrogance of a cultured womanhood, forgot those long years of childish dependence, that h mother's loving care had made so free and. joyous; the days and weeks of sickness and pain that only her tender ministrations had made endurable, anil were now, titieon- a'sclously, it may be, but none the less I surely, slrcwintr her downward path with those sharpest of all thorns, the cruel outgrowth of filial ingratitude. The time had been short for the prep aration of Eva's new dress, mid although every available needle in the house had been pressed into her service by that energetic young lady, it was only "by tnc moiuers silting at tier sewing until near morning, the night before the ! party, that the claboratoly-trimmed llowers, turned to lier mother with: "I wish you would arrange our bounuets for us, mamma. You have the art of making a few flowers show to tho best advantage. But what's the matter?" "I I don't know. I think smelling that heliotrope must have made faint. I feel strangely," and she me put her hands to her head in a helpless, be wildered way, mat awaKcnett some reel ing of sympathy in her daughter's heart. "Oh, well, well! Let tho llowers alone; we'll arrange them ourselves ; and you'd best go and Ho down awhile till your head feels better. How thought ful it was in papa," turning to her sis ter, "to get these flowers for us; and they aro so well selected, too. It isn't every man of his age that would have had the taste, even if he had thought of it, to make such a tasteful selection." Eva uodded a cordial acquiescence, while the mother, dizzy and half-blinded by the pain in her throbbing temples, crept nuietly away to the solitude and silence of her own chamber, where, with i to stifle the cries that this new audi "Biddy asked leave to go home to strangeagony wrungfrom herwhitelips. night, and I suppose mamma was 'too "This terrible pain at my heart," she much excited with seeing us off' to re- murmureu to ncrseii uctwecu tne spasms of suffering, every time. 'grows worse and worse i A t mnflmi- oinl (frnml. mother died of heart-disease, and: haps shall go the same way." -per- Afteratimo the spasms decreased in violence and frequency, until when the clock below rang out the hour of seven, and her husband's step he was always punctual to a minute sounded in the hall, sho rose from her bed, weak and trembling, but free from pain, and lean ing heavily upon the oaken balusters as she crept wearily down the stairs, made uer way unouserveu to tiieilining-room, to see that everything was in that per- nervous," she began, when, with a sud fect order that the delicate tastes of her den cry that checked the words upon husband and daughters required littio careful rearrangement of i dishes, a spot on the table-cloth, over- j looked by the careless servant, covered wlth a mat, a clean napkin lo replace tho soiled one in Ev$s ring, and the) supper-bell was rung, while Mrs. Ray sank into her chair, so exhausted that i she scarcely noticed her husband's care- less salutation, as, smiling proudly upon his handsome daughters, he escorted I them into thedining-room with a merry ) affectation of gallantry, while iu the gay She had grown so timid and shy of uuiujiiucui uiiu me uucouceaieu sur prise, that she had learned to look upon silenco as her ouly shield against the unconsciously given heart-thrusts that were making life itself a weariness, " i,1. "" ti 7i .wreaulsj crosseanil uel ik uuu iwwujs ii ii.-ii.-ii w uii-jinific .v.. uiiu iuoji, au i iixiii; iruiiinjr vines, made minnnt nm since I was heard only a bewildering jumble of beautiful her last restW-n1n.v.- hut in It was nine o'clock, and the last echo of their gay voices had died upon her ear as she stood alone in the silent hall. She had fastened the sheltering wraps more securely about Et'a's white shoul ders, had arranged the dainty opera hood over Bessie's bright curls, had hunted up her husband's scarf for him at the last moment, aud then, seized by an irresistible impulse, as her young est daughter was about to cross the order threshold, she caught her little gloved baud in both her own,anddraw iiiglhe girlish face toward her, kissed it fondly, once, twice, thrice, witli sucii a quick, passionate vehemence that the gin looKeu peneciiy amnzeti, as ir nair fearing that he mother had lost her senses. 'Be careful, mamma! You'll crush my roses if you kiss me m hard," she laughed, a littio constrainedly. "I'm coming," iu answer to lier father's cull. "Now, mamma, you'd better go to bed as soon as yon can ; you'll be yourself again after a good night's sleep," and she hurried down the steps, and in a moment more was lost in the darkness without to tho tearful eyes that watched herfrom the half-open tioor. The gas was lighted in the family sittinc-room, revealing the little disor ders that are always attendant upon a departure a rumpled handkerchief and a pair of worn gloves' dropped carelessly upon the floor, the evening paper un folded upon the sofa, and the shawl that Eva had worn over her wrapper at sup per lyiug across a chair-back. Mechanically, Mrs. Ray placed each article in its proper place, lingering with a half-sad, half-tender thoughtfulness over the gloves, as she examined tha seams and lining. "I will meud.thom before I go to bed," she said to herself. "He shall find them all ready for him in the morning." And drawing her work-basket to her side, she was about to begin her task, when from the torn lining tlieredroppeil a tiny spray of sweet-brier, crushed and faded, yet emitting a faint, soft per fume.whose well-remembered sweetness brought back, as in a dream, a troop of thick, thronging, memories, that lent to that grave, wiinkltd face, for a mo ment, something of the flush and hope fulness of its long-past springtime. The gloves fell unheeded upon her lap, and a strange mist floated before lier eyes, shutting out the quiet, too quiet, room, with its familiar furniture, while from out the dimness famitinr races, half forgotten, but now strangely fresh and life-lijip, looked out at her with. a weird, half-pitying significance, that 'scut a strange, wild thrill to her aching heart. That bright-faced, clear-eyed girl, shyly proud of the love that promised henceforth to make her life one long dream of trustful happiness blushing, through happy tears, at the happy pro testations of her gallant young lover, as, Clayfully claiming tho spray of sweet rier that she wore in her bo3om, he placed it next his own heart, the pledge and sign of their betrothal. Gould -It bo that? And involuntarily her trembling fingers waudered slowly over the worn, sharp face, from which toil and care had chased all the hopefulness aud bloom of other days. "What long, long years of patient, ceaseless toil had been Iters since then; aud yet a smile of tender significance, one of those smiles that mothers alone can interpret, stole over her faded lips, as she thought oh, how tenderly ! of the tiny nestliugs that had been so joy ously welcomed and so lovingly cher ished in the intiermost temple, the holy of holies, of her fond motherly heart; the bright, studious school girls for whom sho had toiled, early and late, feeling herself more than repaid by a merit mark or note of commendation from their teachers; of the handsome, high-bred "young ladies," who, in their conscious superiority of mind and mau- j ners, now treated lier with much the I same air of good-natured tolerance that they would have felt it necessary to be I stow upon a faithful old family servant mat nan worn uerscit out in tneirservice. And it had come to this! Her love for her children had been stronger thati her love of mental culture, and for thai those children themselves despised her. "That sweet-brier bush grew close to the wormwood," she whispered, with a smile at once bitter and pitiful. "But, God grant," and herfacedrooped wearily upod her folded hands, "that death may give n)e back the sweet-briar of my youth once more." It was Iafc that night when Mr. Ray and his daughters found themselves staudiug upon the threshold of their own home, and the lively badinage that passed betwejm them as they removed ttieirouier wrappings in tne Hall beinw, sounded strangely in the otherwise i member to turn down tho rras " re marked Eva, as, in passing the door of Ilia c!M!.tiw.nn. II of light through the keyhole, and she opened the door with a half shudder as the cool air of the hall struck upon her thinly-clad neck and arms. "Why, mamma has been sitting up for us till this late hour! Are you asleep?" and she glanced wonderingly at the silent figure with its bowed face, that neither moved uor spoke at their approach. "Mamma!" called Bessie, in her olear, girlish voice. "Come, do wake up aud sav something I It always tnaken mo his UaugUter's nps, ir. my sprans to his wife's side, and as he lifted th white, rigid faco into the full glare of tho light, -a moan of bitter, bitter an- guish escaped from his quivering-lips while with too late teudernes3 he smoothed back thescanly hair; prpssing remorseful kisses upon tho cold, calm forehead of the dead. "Too late ! too late ! "Would to God I could re-l"iyc the past !" They buried herwith all tho show and ceremony that modern etiquette de- bettor taste to havo arranged a few of those beautiful white IilUes with gera nium leaves in her hands. They would have partially f overed herhauds, you kuow, and unless Btiy ono has re markably pretty hands, I thmk It's best to make them as little conspicuous as possible."