{ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.) LIFE'S SAD DAY.

North Otago Times, Volume XXXV, Issue 9779, 12 January 1901, Page 1 (Supplement)

{ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.) LIFE'S SAD DAY.

London is tho bourne whenco all travellers wend, and where, if wo only slay long cnougli-i •we are eure to knock up against somebody we know.

. Gustavo Brekine had >bcen living—or. Nt least, not quito starving—in London 'for three years, when ono day ho passed a familiar faco in tho'Slrand.

Was" it really Hester Marqnand? .Gustavo pnti'Bcd and looked after her, She, too, had turned hor head. In a minuto ho hud overtakon hor and this holding her hand,

"Hosier! Is it truly you? What are you doing in London?"

"Yes, it is really I; and I havo eomo up here to lira.. Hestor's face had flushed and palod. Sho could scarcely believe, in her great happiness,, that sho was otwo mora looking into Gustavo's face,

" Auntie diod six - months ago," wont on Hester; " and I was tired of living at Faircroft, bo I packod up my fow bclongidga and entne to London, I aui earning my living by type-writing. But I want to hoar about you. What have you been doing all this timo?" . •' '

Gustavo was nothing to loth to talk about himself to such an appreciative listener, • He told hor that ho had not found London the Oity of Gold ho had expected, "I ain not a coward,Hestor," h«said, squaring his slight shoulders; "to be discouraged at tho difficulties in mv way. I know that at Bret geniiiß is generally unappreciated, Of course, I don't lay claim to being a genius. But I belioTo I have my sharo of talent."

Hester lookod up at him proudly. " You are a gonitis; and so tho world will find somo day," sho said, softly. "I have never heard anybody play tho violin as you do,

CtUßtavo went on to'tell hor how ho had a a few violin pupils. Then in his loisurealasl plentiful enough—he.-was busy composing. Ho had had two or tlireo pieces aocepted, published, aud paid for. Now ho was hard at work on tho great effort of his lifo—a sonata in A Minor—to be'entitied "Faudeila."

" What a pretty name," said Hestor. What made you think of it?" Thereby hangs a tale," said Gustavo,

laughing rather consciously. " I will'tell you jomo day."

Then, it being about ona d'olook, Ihey irned into a restaurant, and Gustavo ordored inner,

Ho was quito extravagant. Meat with two vegetables, then pastry, followed by coffee und biscuits, Hostor demurred at such expoasiro fare. But Gustavo said they must celebrate thoir meeting, And what a happy meal it was I That was tho beginning of ut dream which Hester dreamt through all the chill spring days. Then camo tho awakening.

One day Gustavo told her about Faudeila -not tho Bonata, but Faudelio, thelivin" beautiful little dancer whom lie loved, °' You must eomo to tho Frivolity and bco hor, he said, "1 have told her about you—how we aro liko brother and suiter," O Hester! Billy little Hester! Did you not know that Guslavo, who could nevorholp boing kind- to overybody, liad only moant to bo ordinarily kind to you? . " Do you know," went on Gustavo, thinking that Hester was strangely unsympathetic, 'you vory muoh rcsombloeach other onlv you are dork and Faiidella is fair, But your voices—when you speak I always fancy it 13 I' oudolla. I am glad to think the two people whom I love best in Ul9 world are so

Hester smiled, Yea,, sho smiled-.though nor heart was breaking; for sniilts ofteuol' than tears cover sad heartß.: . 'frequently-feted' tb ; "GtistiSwf love rhapsodies, and when sho met Fnudcllu sho did not wonder; ahe was so beautiful! bo wilful, bo fasciuating, It was ceitainly only m her voice that Hester, pale, dark-haired, grey-eyed, rosombled Gustavo's Bwcotlicart. I'audclla was just tho kind of girl for whom men son their souls aud in return got-noth-v t J° r / Bud(,lla ' born and bred in an tost End alum, unable to write half-a-dozen aul. 1 1 !'' l( | ut DS nian y spelling mistakes, delighted in luxury and oxtiavagance. Shel did 'not lovo Gustavo. She had promised to many him chiefly because it flattered hor vanity to think-tlwt lie, so quiet and studious, should lovb hor so passionately, bornetimes she almost regrelted hor promise. " , ?, niJ Av they got married, and for a httlo while loudella givo up tho Frivolity and mod to bo domesticated, But sho ml sticity and to her

ott 60l^ m rii otheiittio^ at r Olapham S':o pleaded "work "as an oxJ E "' wf G "fr e eald 81,0 lmd deaortcd y w '5 o if n . u ' — °''i sho could not—go d, and see Fandel.la reigning in his home i. OM morning alio found a letter on her 5 " h'S w? directed i n an illiterate SJ*"""""""""it... " t "ty» r ?«tcr (itran), iMritingthflso ; ow linos toi aak you -to toll Gnstavo i am (1 tirod of gmbbing.and slaving so i am goiog c vßio .1 can ave plenty of money an bo happy o H a no iisishim trying to find mo i shall bo p miles away wen yon jjet this.—Paudella " i c Hester sobbed as she road this heartless 0 loiter. To bo the bearer of such tidings to ! " °" s , ta?o , ! B "t »l's '"list ro, and sho went ( l o door was opened by the grubby little ? "lald-of-all-work Sho had aeon Heater onco - or twieo beiore. " i' ra , 80 / ,ad t0 seo Mastor's i) that ill and funny, and missis went away a yesterday and hasn t come back." 1. Hestor's heart tin ebbed painfully, '' What Is the matter with your master?" i< is r. 0n ??'' '" t '° maid sobbed. ' iW> kinK , ®° t0 briD e » lamp, - though I telle im it's broad daylight" • with trembling footstep Hester hastened 1 upstairs, Sho found Gustavo lyine hiilf- ■ dressed upon the bed, as ho had thrown h 1&- • self the night before when waiting for ! Faudella to rot.urn from the music-hall. Ho turned his eyes towards lier as blis eni torcd tbo roora f ' "Gustavo!" Hesterfaltored. " Turn the gas up will you, datling?" he •MS*?****him tho truth about FaUdello. SliotriistS to tho similarity of thpir voices to defelfb him as it had done already. , " Gustnyo, dearat," sho cried. " it i» quite light; it is cloven o'clock ia tiio morn- •; My q°d!" Ho pat h's hand to lii 9 eyes. Then I am blind! Paudella, I am sorry -so sorry for you A few months'ago 1 ; fancied my sight was failing and went to con- ! salt an oculist. He told mo; in a roundabout way of courso, but it amounted to this that I 1 should ovontually become blind,; Only I did ' i not expect it would como yet," ' ■ He lay baclc on the pillows looking so J white tiiat Heator {houofit ho was ctyiotr She i soot for a doctor, When .he came ho told her that Gustavo could livo but a fow days, i Ibe shock of his blindoess wa3 too miioh for ■ I a constitution that had always been delicate ' l ho doctor addressed Hester. as " Mrs' { Erskine," and she did not undeceive lib. ' i uell, Gustavo need never know now. " fanOoUa," lie whispered, when Hester returned to Ins bedgirio, " I can mtess whnJ 1 tho dpetor told you, and I am glad, I coiild v not bear to livo lilco this and bo a burden !o you, Darling when lam gouo Hester will t be your friend. "' * wl " 1 One ovenins ho asked her to ship to him ' . Sing * Through tho I)uv Thv T, i" ■ > Hparod Us,' " ho said faintly. » Wn nf-rn I ««0d to have that f„, thevesper hy ran Z 5 Sundays at homo. IlmdnlmolCtt n c #,J«L'4» >«! i How litehja >

'' And when life's sad"iloy is past. 'f May wo (toll with Thco at last." Jl Heater yoico rid away in i sob. // '• 'Life's sad dayl'-"lin repeated, softly,.; " Fiiutltrlla, jon hnve mado it happier foil" mo, Kisa.me,avreetlicart."- 1 Hester pressed her hungry lips to his. But! his ki:*» was not for fidr, j And timi for Gustavo Erskino, breathing I'uudcllu's nu mo. ended Life's Sad Day,']