The Sentinel. [volume] (Trenton, N.J.) 1880-1882, 1881-11-19

curry IN the same unvary1ng words
"We thought we'd each hev change
She took up her life on the hill as il
born to the place, and, to the astonish
ment of every one, Miss Diantha &C
cepted the change with no break in the
immovable silence But when the select
men appeared and appealed to her to
end the scandal and go in person fol
the sister, who had banished herself in
the hope of bringing about peace, she
listened till even old Lamson had said
his last word, and then, having written fcl
few moments, laid the slate on the
table and left the room.
"She's got dumb devil" said Dea-
con Piper, as he read slowly:
"FChloe has made her own bed, and
she can lie in it. She chose to go, and
she can stay. If you will not have her
any other way, 1 will pay her board"
Miss Althea went to the town farm
but once, fury of anger possessing
her as she crossed the wretched thresh-
old, and venting itself in words that
brought terror to every one within hear
ing distance. Underneath the storm
hurt feeling and affection really lay, but
Chloe had passed beyond any power of
interpreting the perverse and tumul-
tuous manifestation. She lay back in
her chair with closed eyes, her patient
face little more patient, and slow
tears falling one by one.
"When Diantha comes for me, I'll
go back" was all she would say, and
Miss Althea, worn out with her own
vehemence, went unwillingly away.
The winter went by, Miss Althea
waiting upon Lucinda "by inches," as
the neighbors said, as if in this way to
atone for past lack toward Chloe. The
reluctant New England spring came
slowly on, and in the "Devil's Gully"
by the mill, faint green showed here
and there between the lingering drifts.
The road to the town farm, seldom used,
had been almost impossible, but Hiram
at intervals had brought word that
"Miss Chloe was about the same, fur's
he could see, but maybe her own folks
could tell better" The hint passed
without notice till one evening in early
April, when messenger rode swiftly
up Breakneck and burst into the house
where the three sat by the dim lamp,
Lucinda keeping up her monotonous
flow of words, the two sisters silent.
"She's dyin'," he said. "The doc
tors said she might live till you got
there"
"Who?"
Miss Althea had risen, and stood now,
fierce and rigid, clutching the fright
ened how as she smoke
"Miss Templeton," he said, strug-
Cling away. Hiram told me to get
you team"
"Run, then" Miss Althea screamed.
The fastest Wallis got. Tell him to
be quick"
Lucinda burst into loud crying.
"Be still, you fool p rang out Miss
Diantha's voice, with it's old sharp COM
mand. "I'm goin' on the hoss," and
snatching her hood she ran to the
gate, climbed from the long-disused
horse-block to the horses back, and
with dangling stirrups and Tapping
rein she held her place by sheer will, as
the frightened animal tore down the
hill and through the village street, still,
as speed slackened, urging him on over
the four miles between her and the
chance of speech. Up hill and down,
through thick wood and between low
meadows, the rush of the swollen river
drowned in the clatter of hoofs, and at
last the faint, twinkling lights of the
farm. The horse stood with dropping
head and streaming tanks as she slid
from his back, and pushing aside the
startled and curious group about the
door went up the stairs and toward
the room to which Hiram pointed.
She passed swiftly in, the doctor and
attendant were motioned out by hand
so imperative that none could gainsay
it, and Diantha, boiling the door, turned
to the bed, and after one look at the
motionless form upon it, fell on her
knees and buried her face in the cover
let.
81 thought you'd feel bad, Dianthy,"
Miss Chloe said, the words coming
family, and as if from some remote dis
lance. IT thought you'd come, an I
held out an waited. There isn't any
time now, but, Dianthy, you must prom
Use me one thing. You must go home
and let by cones be by-gones. 1 want
you to be good to Althea."
Miss Diantha raised her face, white
and set, as if death had touched her,
too. She lifted her hand as she knelt.
Don't, Dianthy = don't !" Chloe
cried, trying to rise.
"Before you that I've killed, swear
it," said Miss Diantha, solemnly. Give
held my tongue for spite, an I'll hold
it now for punishment. The last word
I say to livin' soul l say to you now,
Chloe Templeton."
ooh, Dianthy, don't!" walled Miss
Chloe, falling back on her pillow, end
ing with this last appeal the long en-
treaty of her life. When Miss Althea
entered with the doctor, the elder sister
sat motionless and silent by the bed. In
silence she pointed to Miss Althea as
the one to make arrangements, and
waited till nothing further remained to
be done. In silence she rode home, and
shut herself into her own room, and
there she remained till the hour for tho
funeral services, held in the old church
on the common.
From every quarter the people focked
in. No such opportunity had come for
years of seeing all the actors in this vii
lage tragedy, and Miss Diantha faced