Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1869-04-14


The light shone full in her face and
through her hand, which looked transpar-
ent. Poor Jennie! | often wonder
what has become Of her.
Il made sure ii was you, Mr.. Redpath,'
said the widow, walk in, Sir"
She was an oddish woman, reminding
you good deal oe her dead husband, with
nothing at all to indicate that she had
ever been anyways pretty in fact, one
OF those women whom you are disinclined
to suspect of ever having been young
Where jennie could ever have got her
not inconsiderable share of good looks
from, was unable to imagine. She was
not over refined or delicate in appearance,
but plump, rosy and healthy, with black
hair, red checks, red lips, and hands and
arms, which, though they performed no
little work, were round, white and shapely
"But you've come alone ?" said Mrs
Hillyer, casting an inquiring glance at
me after she had closed the door, first
having convinced herself that there was
no one else to enter by pcering out mo-
ment into the darkness
"My FREUD, who I expected would ac-
company me, | was unable to find"
replied. l had calculated upon ha ing a
companion during my watch although
had not consulted or taken pains to se-
cure the society of any one, making sure
of friend at whose house had called on
my way; and he, however, was from
home that evening. -..
"You will find it rather lonesome, l
fear" said the widow.
81 shan't mind it," I answered, taking
Jennies hand for moment in mine, and
thinking what downright falsehood l
was telling all the time II shan't mind
it, for I've cigars and book with me, so
I'll get along right nicely"
'sThe doctors only been gone an hour"
continued the old lady. 'Not our own
doctor; but a young man who came in
in his stead. He called again this even
ing, and was quite long time up stairs,
when he was sent for, and left in hurry,
saying he would soon be back and to
let no one 60 into the room until his re-
turn. But we'd best get out of the hall,
for it's right chilly here"
She led the way upstairs to the front
room on the floor above followed by Jen
ME with the lamp. The room was large,
and appeared to be used as sitting-soom.
There was no bed in it. only some chairs,
a table, black mohair sofa, formal and
ancient in style, with round sofa pillows,
and studded in rows along the back with
brass headed nails; a map on the wall at
one side; pair of curious, old fashioned
vases on the mantel-piece; profile cut in
black, and framed, hanging between, and
IN the CRATE below warm, pleasant fire,
which lent an air of cheerfulness to the
otherwise cold, square-looking apartment
There was no light in the room when
We entered, but that frame the CRATE
Jennie lit "a lamp standing on the table,
from. the one she carried, and drawing
rather uncomfortable-iookin rocking
chair, with a faded red cushion close to
the fire, | seated myself, whiIe''the women
stood not far oft on the hearth-rug.
"There's the key of the rear, where
where-where he is" said the widow,
hesitating in her speech, and letting a
tear fall upon her hand, as she held out
to me the key. 'The Doctor handed 1t
to me as he passed out; and; although he
said no one was to go in here, [ reckon
he d ddu't. mean it; so if he don't come
again soon you'll have to wet the face and
lips little, Sir. And now Jennie and
III be off to bed, as we're most tagged
out; but not to sleep, | think
| knew that both mother and daughter
must be much wear;ed by their long
musings, so bade them good night. |
heard them climb the stairs and sat for
some moments dimly cons cious of the
sounds they made while preparing for
ed When these ceased, an uncomforta-
Bile feeling crept over me--a feeling of
chilliness pervading every part of my
body not exposed to the glow of the fire;
restless feeling, that made me SHIFT
about In my chair and glance towards the
windows, wnere, through one, whose cur
tain was partially lifted, and blind flung
back ward, | could see the long arms of
the buttonballs swaying gently to and
fro, and their thin skeleton fingers seem
ing to clutch at the window-panes. |
could hear the wind sob and moan pit
eously outside, and for the life of me |
couldn't but associate it with the voice
of the old man Hillyer, which had grown
somewhat querulous toward his latter
days | tried id vain to rad. | did
notking but turn over the pages one af-
ter another. took out my watch once
or twice and looked at it, anxiously hop
ing the doctor would come. An hour
grew to two, and still [ hesitated about
entering the room where was the corpse,
partly because of the uncomfortable feel
ing that had such hold of me, and partly
because of the doctors instructions. l
must confess that | have a strong aver
sion to funerals and dead people This
may sound hard and unfeeling, but never
theless, it is the truth. | do not know
how it would be with the corpse of one l
loved-there it is again, corpse the very
words sends shudder through me.
at is pretty certain he won't come
now," said |, referring to the doctor, and
looking once more at my watch. 1t was
past eleven. "Still he might come" [
Thought: "doctor are used to being about