The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1879-12-31
a TUBS OF .soRTUzE's wuzEL.

TIE air was lreigbted with the
f1il. scent Of magnoljas-great mass
es ot cream-whiie bloom shown every
y here. Nora Leonard, leaning from
the window, pale and weary, ha.ed
the heavy fragrance. She knew she
could never-neyer again catch the
faiutess hin; Of the. subtle o6or With
out q sudden vision Of all the Sas-
pense, toe pain, the cru =aed hopes,
tie despair. that bad wruns her hee-;
.siace she entered the place Tne seTY
loyeliness gave hec Q sick pang--il
seemed such q mockery 20 her desc.
late heart.
Nora, where are ycu? Where
tie deuce do you keep yourself? Ia
chckiDg-some wates-auy thing. 0,
you're willing | should choke, aren't
youy Bat you won't be o rich gid
ow, you see ard = poor widow win
q dsfyImed child wont"
"0b. Philip, hush !" eiied Nora,
hurrying % the bedside with a ilnsn
rising ca her pale face Don't
don't talk Of cur darling in that way.
There is hope, If she can only be pu;
into The right hands And / shall Try
-after-'
'0n, after I'm deao and gone
Go On; don't have the least consider
ation for my feelings. [ don't mind
it, bless you! l knew / should lay
any bones in this confoUnded hole
ben they cent me here-not mucB
besides bones, | should say"
The invalid was indeed wasted to
a skeleton. His eyes were wild,
gloomy and cavernous, and hectic
spot burned on each cheek His
long, elaw-like babds clatched nerv-
0usly ct the beG-clolhes His voice
az harsh cold and cruel: although
the death damps were already on his
brow, be had not grown more gentle
OF more kind. Jealous and fierce 10
ais love, he was fuIl of sullen resent
meut thst be must ct last release the
womae who had been his bonG.maid
30 long, leaving her free to listen %
kiEder words, 70 be consUled, per-
oaps, by q tendeser love, while
be was laying still snd stark-turning
10 moId-"ashes to ashes, dust 10
dGss"
"it's e. coed c place 70 die ia q
anywhere else, suppose" be said,
moodily, looking into his Wife's face
III yea can say any place Is good TO
die 10. COR fellow that wants TO live,
/ could make another fortune If on
ly had the time"
"0b, never mind. Don't think Of
that now" exclaimed Nora, bathing
his hesd.
"Oh, yes! You're Ike the old wo
nan who, when her husband wanted
10 give some parting instructions,
said. Never mind about that, you
jast 60 on dying You're ia con
founded bury, sin'l you!'
"You are exciting yourself"
"It does me coed ItquickeGs Roy
pulses r. ! relieve / sm jus dying Of
stagnalion y good game Of poker,
nov. Coulound that 9usck doctor
ibs sent M here"
"Tne clergyman called oa VOC yes
terdsy-"
II woo'i see him l doh't Waat
any sulphur snd bIinlst0oe slung
around nere. end as fer the place
where they're sll .gaugia' or their
golden barps, il must BE de0ced
slow
Dear Philip, you lrigbten me !.
How can yoa say such reckless, dsr-
ing things 7"
a ct of coughing stopped the sick
mans sngry answer, follow ed by
complete exhaustion, and Nora sat
oy the bedside, wesriiy, sometimes
moving the restless head, slrokiug
Toe nervous haads, or bathing the
Dot brow, il 9 lifeiess sort Of manner
thst showed none Of the esgerness Of
love or tie anguish Of a fond wife
who is dreaming and fearing the faal
blow.
At last, ihreugh WEAKNESS aad
watching, Nora dropped into a trou-
bled sleep.
No movement stirred her from her
uneasy dreams. 4 dead silence-s
strange, unearihly hush fell upon tie
rcom.
Nc more the busy hands clutebed
at the bedc!otbes, no more the wild,
6elce eyes shot out their baleful
hres.
The hectic aush buried out on the
hollow cheeks, aaG s-hen bnes settled
here, but Nora slept on. A ly set
led on The still face aad walked over
it sithout m0.estation.
~BsaatI.ul hear. and banning lrJs.
Yea are ve-y Eslent nss,
TEa md as q ssrfEfg,o- srtocL aryi