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were beggars henceforward； that sheher motherhad just taken the
very bread out of her darling's mouth； and ended by bursting into a
flood of penitent tears。 They did not come so quickly as in her
old poetical days； but when they came they stung deeply。 She was
roused by a formal visit from a vestrymanone of the music
committee。 Mrs。 Tretherick dried her long lashes； put on a new
neck ribbon； and went down to the parlor。 She staid there two
hoursa fact that might have occasioned some remark but that the
vestryman was married； and had a family of grownup daughters。 When
Mrs。 Tretherick returned to her room； she sang to herself in the
glass and scolded Carrybut she retained her place in the choir。
It was not long； however。 In due course of time； her enemies
received a powerful addition to their forces in the committeeman's
wife。 That lady called upon several of the church members and on
Dr。 Cope's family。 The result was that； at a later meeting of the
music committee； Mrs。 Tretherick's voice was declared inadequate to
the size of the building and she was invited to resign。 She did
so。 She had been out of a situation for two months； and her scant
means were almost exhausted； when Ah Fe's unexpected treasure was
tossed into her lap。
The gray fog deepened into night； and the street lamps started into
shivering life as； absorbed in these unprofitable memories； Mrs。
Tretherick still sat drearily at her window。 Even Carry had
slipped away unnoticed； and her abrupt entrance with the damp
evening paper in her hand roused Mrs。 Tretherick； and brought her
back to an active realization of the present。 For Mrs。 Tretherick
was wont to scan the advertisements in the faint hope of finding
some avenue of employmentshe knew not whatopen to her needs；
and Carry had noted this habit。
Mrs。 Tretherick mechanically closed the shutters； lit the lights；
and opened the paper。 Her eye fell instinctively on the following
paragraph in the telegraphic column：
FIDDLETOWN； 7th。Mr。 James Tretherick； an old resident of this
place； died last night of delirium tremens。 Mr。 Tretherick was
addicted to intemperate habits； said to have been induced by
domestic trouble。
Mrs。 Tretherick did not start。 She quietly turned over another
page of the paper； and glanced at Carry。 The child was absorbed in
a book。 Mrs。 Tretherick uttered no word； but during the remainder
of the evening was unusually silent and cold。 When Carry was
undressed and in bed； Mrs。 Tretherick suddenly dropped on her knees
beside the bed； and； taking Carry's flaming head between her hands；
said：
〃Should you like to have another papa； Carry； darling？〃
〃No；〃 said Carry； after a moment's thought。
〃But a papa to help Mamma take care of you； to love you； to give
you nice clothes； to make a lady of you when you grow up？〃
Carry turned her sleepy eyes toward the questioner。 〃Should YOU；
Mamma？〃
Mrs。 Tretherick suddenly flushed to the roots of her hair。 〃Go to
sleep；〃 she said sharply； and turned away。
But at midnight the child felt two white arms close tightly around
her； and was drawn down into a bosom that heaved； fluttered； and at
last was broken up by sobs。
〃Don't ky； Mamma；〃 whispered Carry； with a vague retrospect of
their recent conversation。 〃Don't ky。 I fink I SHOULD like a new
papa； if he loved you very muchvery； very much！〃
A month afterward； to everybody's astonishment； Mrs。 Tretherick was
married。 The happy bridegroom was one Colonel Starbottle； recently
elected to represent Calaveras County in the legislative councils
of the State。 As I cannot record the event in finer language than
that used by the correspondent of THE SACRAMENTO GLOBE； I venture
to quote some of his graceful periods。 〃The relentless shafts of
the sly god have been lately busy among our gallant Solons。 We
quote 'one more unfortunate。' The latest victim is the Hon。 C。
Starbottle of Calaveras。 The fair enchantress in the case is a
beautiful widow； a former votary of Thespis； and lately a
fascinating St。 Cecilia of one of the most fashionable churches of
San Francisco； where she commanded a high salary。〃
THE DUTCH FLAT INTELLIGENCER saw fit； however； to comment upon the
fact with that humorous freedom characteristic of an unfettered
press。 〃The new Democratic war horse from Calaveras has lately
advented in the legislature with a little bill to change the name
of Tretherick to Starbottle。 They call it a marriage certificate
down there。 Mr。 Tretherick has been dead just one month； but we
presume the gallant colonel is not afraid of ghosts。〃 It is but
just to Mrs。 Tretherick to state that the colonel's victory was by
no means an easy one。 To a natural degree of coyness on the part
of the lady was added the impediment of a rivala prosperous
undertaker from Sacramento； who had first seen and loved Mrs。
Tretherick at the theater and church； his professional habits
debarring him from ordinary social intercourse； and indeed any
other than the most formal public contact with the sex。 As this
gentleman had made a snug fortune during the felicitous prevalence
of a severe epidemic； the colonel regarded him as a dangerous
rival。 Fortunately； however； the undertaker was called in
professionally to lay out a brother senator； who had unhappily
fallen by the colonel's pistol in an affair of honor； and either
deterred by physical consideration from rivalry； or wisely
concluding that the colonel was professionally valuable； he
withdrew from the field。
The honeymoon was brief； and brought to a close by an untoward
incident。 During their bridal trip； Carry had been placed in the
charge of Colonel Starbottle's sister。 On their return to the
city； immediately on reaching their lodgings； Mrs。 Starbottle
announced her intention of at once proceeding to Mrs。 Culpepper's
to bring the child home。 Colonel Starbottle； who had been
exhibiting for some time a certain uneasiness which he had
endeavored to overcome by repeated stimulation； finally buttoned
his coat tightly across his breast； and after walking unsteadily
once or twice up and down the room； suddenly faced his wife with
his most imposing manner。
〃I have deferred；〃 said the colonel with an exaggeration of port
that increased with his inward fear； and a growing thickness of
speech〃I have deferrI may say poshponed statement o' fack thash
my duty ter dishclose ter ye。 I did no wish to mar sushine mushal
happ'ness； to bligh bud o' promise； to darken conjuglar sky by
unpleasht revelashun。 Musht be doneby God； m'm； musht do it now。
The chile is gone！〃
〃Gone！〃 echoed Mrs。 Starbottle。
There was something in the tone of her voice； in the sudden
drawing…together of the pupils of her eyes； that for a moment
nearly sobered the colonel； and partly collapsed his chest。
〃I'll splain all in a minit；〃 he said with a deprecating wave of
the hand。 〃Everything shall