Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1874-04-15
The Parsons Last Text.

One afternoon in May, Prudence Palfrey
made her appearance at the cottage in
Horseshoe Lane, and was solicited by
Salome to speak to the parson, who had
locked himself in the little room after the
departure of the two deacons.
1t was with an inexplicable sense of I'M
easiness that Prudence crossed the library
and knocked softly on the panel of the in
ner door. The parson did not seem to hear
the summons at all events he paid no at
tention to it, and Prudence knocked again.
He's gittin' the least bit hard of hearin',
poor soul" said Salome. " Mebbe he heard
that, though" she added, more cautiously,
Z" for he always hears when you don't spose
he WILL Do jest speak to him, honey; he'll
know your voice in mint"
Prudence put her lips down to the key.
hole and called, " Parson Wilbird :''-it's
Prue- won't you speak to me?"
He made no response to this, and in the
silence that ensued, broken only by the
quick respiration of the two women there
was no sound as if he were preparing to
undo the fastenings. Prudence rose up
with half heightened expression on her
countenance and looked at SaIome.
"What can have happened?" she said,
hurriedly.
Lord o. mercy knows" replied Salome,
catching Prue's alarm. Don't stare at me
in sech q way, dear I'm as nervous as
nothin ,"
care you sure he is there?"
" Sartin. j. all but see him going in an
/ haven't ben out of the room sence. He
must be there"
els he subject to vertigo, ever?"
dunno" said Salome, doubtfully.
mean, does he ever faint ?n
He did have curious sort of spell two
or three weeks ago am DR.. Theophilus give
him some med'chine for it.n
He has tainted, then! Get candle
quick, Stop, Salome, III go with you,
library alone. She was impressed by some ne
impalpable presence In the half darkness.
The shadows huddled together in the cor
ners. The long rows of books, in their
time-stained leather bindings, looked down
sombrely from the shelves. On the table
was an open volume, with an ivory paper
cutter upon it, which he had been reading
His frayed dressing-gown lay across a
chair in front of the table. 1t seemed like
some weird, collapsed figure, lying there.
All the familiar objects in the room had
turned strange and woe-be-gone in the
twilight. Prudence would not have been
left alone for the world.
The two went out together for the candle,
which, Salome with trembling hand
lighted at the kitchen stove. Then they
fitted back to the library silently, with
white sharp faces, like ghosts.
"What shall we do?"
1--WE must break in the door" said Pru-
dence, under her breath. " You hold the
candie.n
She placed her knee against the lower
panel and pressed with all her strength.
The lock was old and rusty, and the screws
worked loosely in the wormeaten wood
work. The door yielded at the second pres
sure, and flew open, with shower of fine
dust sitting down from the Intel.
The girl retreated step or two, and,
shading her eyes with the palm of her
hand, peered into the darkened space.
Nothing was distinct at first, but as Sa-
lone raised the light above Prue's head,
the figure of the parson suddenly took
| shape against the gloom.
BE was sitting in an old-fashioned arm
chair, with his serene face bent over great
| Bible covered with green baize, which he
| held on his knee. His left arm hung idly
by his side, and the forefinger of his right
hand rested lightly on the middle of the
page, as If slumber had Overtaken him So
reading.
Laws o. mercy, if the parson hasn't
gone 10 sleep ~ exclaimed Salome, step
ping into the small compartment.
" Asleep" repeated Prudence, the reas-
sured color returning to her cheek.
Salome laid her hand on the parsons
arm, and then passed it quickly over his
forehead.
Hes dead :" cried Salome dropping
the candlestick