Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1870-11-12

her lap, he turned, at the last moment, snd
withdrew sulkily into the house. n@Hs'H8
| when the briskstrotting horses had lslt. the
walls Of the city behind, and were ramblina
along through fields and green trees, Stephen
turned to look at the sleeper, and gavex sigh
Of relief to see light dash Of color 8lrsady
creeping into her cheeks. f''' 4'' '''f 7'st,
Hour aftef h0uf she slept, while the uncle
had score Of cases 10 relate, in which people
had been saved from impendine nlnssS, -.
haps death, by the power Of long winter
rupted sleep. Stephen agreed viii al the
old gentleman's views on this point still,
whea they halted for some time 70 rest, and 70.
fresh the horses, he stepped stsalthily up 10
the wagon, drew asids the cover, Just 1 little,
and called Hattie softly BY name. She ought
70 take something 70 eat, he said, but the
hypocrite knew very we'll that was no. what
he wanted her TO wake up for; he could O. nd
NO peace till he was sure that she would ad-
here, in broad day light, to what she had con-
sessed when she believed herself dying, in the
| night. et '.ga Ert'. eea
AT dusk tho wagon rolled into the gar.
den surrounding the parsonage, and Sophy,
who was coming out Of the house with loud
greetings for her brother, was instantly
checked BY the finger Stephen laid on hfs
lip. His mother came out too, and togeth-
er they wept when Stephen told them in
what deplorable condition he found poor
Hattie; omitting, Of course, the part of
the tale that interested him most. When
the sleeper had been removed from the
wagon to the bed in her room, she seemed
for q moment on the point Of waking up /;
but she only asked for water, drank with.
out opening her eyes, and Immediately sank
into sleep again. ~ t5.9 ailsc7
Sophy slept in the room together with
her, and the next morning the entire fam
lily, including Stephens father and Sophy's
husband, wore In the breakfast room anx.
iously awaiting the appearance Of Sophy
aud her friend. But Sophy came alone,
With troubled face and discouraging nc
counts Of .Hattie's mental condition. Early
in the morning, she said, Hattie had walked
up, and raising herself in bed, had looked
around her wildly, asking for her aunt,
and how she had aDne to this strange
place. Gently as possible Sophy had ro-
called to her mind what had taken place !;
but, apparently, without needing or under.
standing her, Hattie had suddenly buried
her face in the pillow, and cried till Sophy
thought she must be utterly exhausted.-
Thinking that these hours Of weeping had
brought her relief, and a feeling Of thank.
fulness for dangers escaped from, Sophy
had been surprised beyond measure to find
that an inexplicable rigidness had taken
possession of her, against which the kind
est, most loving words we're Of no avail
She professed to feel in good health, but
she said she could not leave the room, and
begged that no one, not even Stephens
mother, should be admitted TO her. Ste
phen's father, who was always ready to
grumble about the "women, with their
whims and notions" was contradicted by
Sophy, who said she feared worse for the
mind Of the poor child that had gone thro'
such trials and fatigues.
Stephen said never word, but there was
no doubt in his mind that the dread Of
meeting him actuated Hattie in her refusal
to see any one. What she had said to him
in the hour she had fancied her last, had
been a. sacred bequeathal iu her estima-
tion--a testament, or last will and now,
coming back to life again, it might we'll
seem to her most holy feelings-au irrepar-
consider fitting and maidenly. 1'ss
Toward evening. watching his sisters
absence. with sudden resolve he stepped
into Hattie's room. She sat near the win.
dow, at work on black dress she had COM
missioned Sophy to buy for her; when the
door opened she turned her head thinking
to see Sophy enter. But hardly had she
reooon;.ed Stsphen,s form. vhe she drop-
ned ker savinr from her hands and Aed 10
the f,rthest corner Of the room, Cover
inc her eves Win one hand she raised tie
other beseechiurly. repeating coufassdiy,
" Please notl O. please not r. a5sss'
aH.tt;a" !" sa;d he. q 4 life to sep,rate
that death brourht 20 near together =
Why do you suddenly despise me, 90 that
vou nave not = sinele vord for me2 Look
IN a mo. only once. to read "a nv eyes
how fully I value he treasure 1 hsve found
snd how vrstched il win make mo 70 hear
you recall vhat seemed 10 liz nv soul To-