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Full Title
The New York Fireside Companion : a journal of instructive and entertaining literature, v. XLIX, no. 1252, October 24, 1891, [Incomplete].
Contributor
Garvice, Charles, 1850-1920. Collins, E. Burke, Mrs., 1858-1902. Miller, Alex. McVeigh, Mrs.
Date Added
13 April 2022
Format
Newspaper
Language
English
Publish Date
1891-10-24
Publisher
New York : George Munro
Alternate Title
Fireside Companion On love's altar; or, A fatal fancy / by Charles Garvice. Fatal fancy Mad Kingsley's heir / by Mrs. E. Burke Collins. What was she to him?; or, Virginia King's heart / by Mrs. Alex. McVeigh Miller. Virginia King's heart
Topic
New York (N.Y.) > Newspapers. Popular literature > United States > 19th century > Periodicals. Story papers > Specimens.
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“LAURA JEAN LIBBEY}
PLEASE;REMEMBER that Laura Jean Libbey writd
paper ALL her NEW stories will appear.
Oth
XCLUSIVELY for The Fireside Companion, in which
journals can furnish HER OLD STORIES ONLY.
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. XLIX. {Sic RVANDAWATER SURED} NEW YORK, OC"OBER 24, 1891. {Pee EO COMES FOR 88. ONO
Enrensn acconpina 70 Acr oF CoNoRES# 18 THE YeAR 180, BY GEORGE MONRO, IN THE OFFICE OF THE Laweanafor Coxonsss, Wasmmnoron, D. C.—ENTERRD aT THE Post Orrick at New York a Secon Cass RATES.
wey
BETWEEN THE GATES.
BY JOBN ORESNLEAF WHIT!
Berwasn the: gates of birth nad
An old ia saintly pilgrim passed,
‘With look of one who witnesseth
"Tho Tongesought goal at.
“© thou whose reverent feet havo
found
‘The Master's footprints in the way,
And walked thereon as holy ground,
‘A boon of thee I pray.
“By lack would borrow thy 0
y feat faith the strength. of
I's white saintliness
‘To hide the stains of mine.
“he grace and favor else dented
ted fc
“Thy prayer, my son, transcends my
wife;
No power is mine,” the sage re-
«me burden of a soul to litt,
stain of sin to hide.
“Howe'er the outward life may
For Pardoning grace we all must
‘No man his brother can redeem,
’s ransom pay.
“ Not always age is growth of good;
Its have losses with their
wang palm
Against same stil youth withstood
Tts hands may strive In vain,
“With deeper voice than any speech
Of mortal lips from man to man,
earth's‘ muwisdomy may not
“the Spirit only can.
“Make thou that holy Guide thine
And, following where it leads the
The known shall lapse in the un-
As twilight into day.
“The best of earth shall still rematn,
And ares eternal years shall
mati and death, and Joy and pain,
—The 1 Itependent
oo
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1891. by George M:
‘of Congress, Washington, D,
a a
in AS
:
Bai
aoa Age nea
ue oes
ug He AU
oe a
o ll a
ine
}
nh a ‘il
“saY GOOD- Nicutt, MADGE, OR I SHALL TINK I HAVE DONE IT THIS TIME.”
iro, in the Office of the Librarian
On Love’s Altar: [
— oR —
A FATAL FANCY.
BY CHARLE
Author of “She Trusted Him,”
GARVICE,
“Paid For,” “Elaine,” etc., etc.
‘This story was commenced in No, 1250 of Ta New York Firesipe Companion, Back numbers can be
obtained from all newsdealers,
{rm1s sroRY WILL NOT BE PUBLISHED IN BOOK FORM.]
One morning, te Afth after the fait, Royce woke
up—that is to say, he came back from the land of
delirions Jooked ronnd bl with the
light of returning intelligence in his
‘But for some time he thought he ‘wos s sill dream-
tng, for hia eyes ad never before opened on, such
singular surro e room Was broader at
She top than the bottoms the bed was a ledge like a
8 berth. Qui nite within reach ¢ of his band was a
d_ copper utensils
ile as i ‘they had ‘Nast c come. from ti the ss smith’
On a shelf above his head w
ot ks here Was a.smiall flap for table,
upon whieh st jug of 5 th
couple of bookshelves with books.’ His clothes
ight band of brass. A little clock ticked over
e stove, and a stall looking-glass rellected the
singular interior. The door was only half a door,
and the sun shone in through the space where the
upper half should have been, as if it were laughing
at Royce’s amazement
He raised himself on his elbow and stared round
with a puzzled frown. Where on earth was he?—
how had he come there’
‘As he asked himself these questions he realized
tho fact that hevoom was moving then he dropped
his head and shut his eyes, convinced
stil sic. and going off his head again, forina din,
jerstood, as we all understand on
Mn ocensions, that he had been sick
Yes, decidedly the, strange tment
singular furniture, all as
stowed a
it, with its
mt lly arranged and
ay as it it wore a.eabin on board a slip,
g, and after awhile he ventured to
hi it de-
Tirious, burawake and a reasoning being, fle sat
upright and looked round him, and, still keenly
gurions, put aside the curtain that screened the
eon nis bed
To his surprise, a young girl with dark hair and
dark eyes, which met bla with, gent, and, as it
eemed to him, glad satisfaction, was sittin
tere.
‘'ffe put hig hand to bis head and looked at her
vaguely, and, as if she found his bewildered scru-
tiny embarrassing, sho rose and poured out a glass
of offered it to him, with her eyes
1d the faintest tinge of color in her
[@ took the glass, but to his amazement it seem-
ed to weigh half a’ hundred-weight, and it would
have f fallen but that her slim fingers clutched it
‘mi
*I—{ don’t wish to appear inquisitive," he he said,
looking at her, and noticing witt newed amaz
ment that his voice sounded thin and feeble, “ bat
Lshould be extremely obliged if you would kindly
inform me who I am; and I should take it as an
additional favor if you would also tell me where I
"she opened her lips, then closed them again, and
looked down in silence for a moment or two; ‘then
she raised her eyes to his, and from their translu-
cent depths thore seemed to glow a delicious beam
of pity and sympathy mingled with tender satis-
“Have you forgotten? Can you not remember
sho sald, Mowiy and inca Ieee voles. which he
seemed to recall “as one he had heard in the land
f shadows in which he had been of late sojourn-
100k his head; it apyieared to be hung
cosely on his neck, and nothing would have in
duced him to shake it again, lest it should have
come off.
r. NO” he eal, “tnot yet, anyhow.”
left her face for 'a moment, and wandered round,
an their wandering fell ‘upon his bandaged
arm; then tho Haht of me memory flashed into hiseyes,
ahd he nodded carefully, es; Bee got it Aud
so I'm alive? I shovel Twas dead!
0 certain of anytbing im my Iie,
Twas neve
But Tam alive,
am.
Yes,” ehe sald, a3 slowly and softly as before,
and with the faintest of faint smiles on her red,
wely.
ide in the woman's way,
which is halt éntreaty halt command:
He obeyed instant’, but suil stared up_at hers
then he raised himsel ‘again, and the blood craw
it could not fly just yet—to his face, and hi
fase
wai
understood, and softly put out her hand and
tid on his arm.
ont must be quleh” she snid.
certainly,” he responded. “But it
has all eoue back seo a aah“ waa tro 10 one
and one indulged in’ exter He glanced at his
bandages, em ieking.
fav's all Tesalla blank after that. Nau thought
a woman's face; wh:
it was yours!”
She dood with her hands lightly clasped round
he glass, her eyes downcast,
f fe est lie down and not think,” she murmured,
soft
n lie down "—he did so— but I shall have
to think Tem afraid, And ttwas you? You came
ip just in time and sat er”?
MANO; Just too ate” sho. said Sarecly audibly,
and het 5 oes flashed under thelr loua oe
here’ tell me
where ‘hore
«This is a i he tala,
ant” he repeated; then hiseyes brightened.
“ofen Tremembet you, You are the gypsy
jortume-teller. , It was you who warned mo not
a
ooked aon
‘ene E'warned you,” she. sald) gently; and
though there was n0 eproach £1 the tone, be said,
gently:
a Aid 1 ne ungraintel {giot elough not to take
your warniny te
"You did not know,” she murmured, with com-
pressed lips,
T'was a foolhardy imbecile,” be said, penitent-
ly, “Have I been ill long?
“Five days,” she said, simply.
“And you *—he stopped and put out bis hand
—you have nursed me through it?”
She disregarded the hand, and, instead of taking
it, smoothed the narrow bedelo thes. He held the
it. It was ridiculously
aU mt have been very bad,” he said, almost to
ee”
«And all thet ‘tae yon have been here? I can re-
member seeing your face now and again through a
Kind of ‘mist. You have been awfully kind and
Roo ave used yourself uy)
ell, Tean't thank you, even if J tried. ‘Will you
tell me your name?
“ Madge,” she said, “ Madge Lee.
aro a gypsy?” he sald, thoughtfully.
shen raised her oes,
2S ETE, she replied, with a kind of sup-
“T shall think gratefully of your people for the
future, ”? he sal
‘Add got it Was one of us who—”
Si ¢ stopped and knit her brows.
es,” he said.
gypsy, the eae was that ie, Mtiow or ‘wrested
with, ' Whero are they? Have they been caught?”
‘She shook her head.
“No,” she said, concisely:
and they have not been cau;
Roy yea rooked rather relieve a ‘than otherwise,
« Perhi well,” he “Til wait wn-
a chance. ‘fo moet them, aud then’ stile. Old
“ they are not here,
moo
She moved from his side and went to a sma
cupboard, painted so exactly like the panels and
ribs of the caravan as to be a secret receptacle, and
roma it.
she said, eee held out the
fen “he changed his mind and held them out to
er.
“Keep them for me, please,” h
She Wold as if nie were’ about to, refas e, but
after a second’s hesitation she retumed them to the
eupbo:
Tie watched her graceful movements with the
interested languor of a man in his condition, and
sayy with dismay that she was leaving the caravan.
“ Madge—Miss Lee!” he sai
She stopped and her face fus
eight called Madge!” she aid,
“1am not a
EY Hite Mage best,” he sig, “ though T don’t
agree with your last statement
"Awe eho sald, tooking stra ‘ight before her
over the half door.
“Oh, Wa nothing,” he enld, tying 10 fnvent
some feason for detaining her.
member. Youll have to bear with mé Tora hte
hile; "ad as a blind
pup.
fe stopped at the word, atid, looking round,
she saw the handsome face grow suddenly clouded
by, some dark reflection,
natter,” she said, as if she had re-
nee.
he said. “ We've only been half in-
troduesd. You've told me your nate. I'm called
jack —whigh was, trae, for it was @ regimental
nieknai k Graham.”
She at i Tooked at the slit seene framed by the
door
u like it? It's not as pretty as yours.”
She pene ed the door and went down the steps,
“Now, I’ve done it,” he said, fulling back with a
sigh. Why. eoulda’ t, I have held my: tongue?
She'd have stayed then.
He tried to think, bat presently he: fell asleep.
When he woke the ‘sui ht had gone, but by the
light 0 of a Intern han m the ceiling he saw
a stout, erly jan standing beside. him,
Sue was almost as dark as a negress
“Is it another five day
Sule laughed sd stwok her hen
7
ug
“No; you’veslept through the day; that’s all, my
gentleman,” she said,
Yery pretty sleep it’s been. You
feel apother man, don’t sot, sir?»
Ido indeed!” said Ropes; ~ta- +
phatically.
You're wondering who T am,
¥ gentleman?” she reroarked,
poorlig at dim with her dark eyes
made into
a that’s t st guess you ever
aude In sour tie he said. I
idn’t like to because Dve
done nothing but’ ask raestions
since I came to. But any in-
formation, however small, will be
fede "received and acknowl
jodtded.
I'm Mother Katie,” she said,
{{and ive me aa has beon doctor
and let me tell yo
eeileman” = thous Ji abit t
you
the better if you'd had a reg'lar
rkler,
“Tm sure of that,” said Royee.
‘a—choruler, I thinke you
face grew vast with
a eile laugh.
+s
“THAL?S & doctor,” she ox-
pia
vee laughed ‘feebly.
“Tvs a very good name for
them,
a
that was possible to be done, an
Lim very gratoful to you, Mother
‘atie.”®
ep bto nodded as if that settled the”
you Madge's mother?” he
asked, ga alter a pause
“Lor, nol
other *_ahe replied,
“and 37)
4
She’ ain't got a.
"| LAURA JEAN LIBBEY
Me: : Avorphiant”
7? assented Katia
ot hens” ale sald,
got avlecr ways.
a of us—got a bit of book.
\\\ \
\ Hoyee tooked up at the-bo
‘Yes, them’s her books,”
Kati dlanging a them
mixture of awe and contempt
run wnlch thors ignorant of my
writing always contem-
inte paper and Print, Badge
is strauge aud peculiar some-
times, but it's best to take her as
she i and let her go her own
"Royce nodded.
“Where are we going—to a
fair?
“ Not just now. There ain’t no
fale fora time. XYe'e just going’ acroes country,
*Royee did not like to be too inquisitive, or he
would have, asked what they were working at. In-
Bo youn
She lau
“That's always the way with sick folk,’ she said,
“Get up? Not if you was to be paid for'it, my gen
tleman!”
“Well, there’s not much chance of any one offer-
ing to pay me for it, go, had better tie still,” he
said, But I. hate ‘giving you trouble,
Mother Katie.
0 trouble,” she said, placidly.
ite looked round, ad ig face tush
think I could get up?”
“This is Madge’s van?” he said. “I am ‘turn-~
ing her ont?
* Yes, its Madge’s,”’ she assented; “ but it don’t
make ‘no difference.
and there’s the tents. Most of us ’ud
doors in this weather. Now I'm gots, to ond y row
some broth, and when you've took it, you just turn
round and get. another doss,”
“Twill, “What is a doss!
“Sleep,” she said, with ‘a genial grin, and went
We've got another van here,
M ather
ant a fom minntes the gil Toltie came up the
teps, carefully bearing a basin of soup.
eis pat it beside ain and sat down on a locker
opposit 6 bed ret al hee head on her hands, and
shed at him with two large eyes gleaming like
windows grou hes Tangled
¢ looked at her, smiling, ‘waiting for ber to
spea or, at any rate, to remove het gaze; bit her
oyee appeared t¢ to have got fixed, and pelther ink
nor Wal He felt fascinated, and at
broke the lanes.
g
E Heagesnog," said the gicl,curtly.
Royce's spoon stopped within an inch of his
Then he went on with his soup
Well, it’s very good.’”
sick folk,” said the girl, suc-
philosorteatly.
“Specially for
BB
“Yes, What is your name?”
tie. You ain't to talk,” said Lottie, with
the temovable evox
She stretched out her hand for the basin, butstill
stared at him, and Royee felt the eyes going through
and through him,
“y praca t kee} you, Lottie,” he said.
‘Pm to wait till you've gone off,” she said, as
euntly and dowgedly as before,
Rovee turned over, and after a minute, still feel-
ing the big eyes upon him, sai
“Pm asleep now, Lottie, thank you.”
‘The girl made no response, but after a minute or
two got up and left him,
raised himself, several attempts,
enceveted in reachiie a a coupe ot ook from the
shelf, and was surprised to
Longtellow's Poems” an
was too weak to read, ‘almost too weak to think
but the presence of stich books in @ gypsy’s van
filled him a amazement. After half an hour
Mother Katie looked in, and seeing that he was
proceeded to dress his wounds, and Royce,
awake,
Q
nS
=]
Teaenibg ‘and. that’s altered her.”
—
«This is capital broth,” he said; ‘ what is it made—
Sw