Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1888-04-12
SHAKE RAG UNDER THE HILL.
Continued from first page.)

1
abe still and let me talk! 1t will
not be long-I must tell you soon
then go to her and break it all, and
send her Observation-Disclosures | am
gone. My curse on him; no, |
should have known--no curse en- him
but OIL" and then the dread
full blood. But he would go on:
"'Twas long ago-so very long it
seems-away off in the south by the
sea; they called me sailor | aoas a
sailor-l remember now, and all
my life before the sickness came.
1t was in Cayenne, and the ship had
sailed when | was well. When |
grew well the past was all a blank,
and | forgot all of home and friends
and name; and yet the ways of life
were all the same to me as they had
been--only the dark cloud that
dropped between me and the past
the dreadful pause "between me
and the past | wandered here and
took the name you know; it was the
name of late dear friend. You
know my life since then. You know
what it was to be. That bullet was
a blessed chance, it saved me from
a crime-unconscious crime for her
and nae. And yet her face was
never strange; | might have known
but why, why is she Tonkyns? /
do not understand"
No doubt now remained in Aunt
Betty's mind as to his delerium, and
beckoning to the doctor, an opiate
would have been administered, but
he objected so strenuously that to
humor him she allowed him to
speak on.
"My time is short; this is the sum
of all: My name is Vance, and she
is Molly Gloan. There is some vii
lainy here, for Molly Gloan is q
sister to me. The shock of death
has MADE all clear. remember
now many things she said that al
the time seemed half way known
only the name-I would | think
have known the name. Now 90
You will go, won't you, and tell hei
all? Why is she not here? do not
understand"
There was something of method
in his madness, and with strange
fear at her heart, which was height
ened now by the suspicious conduct
of Joe, she went out softly and
found Molly in the back room still
f in hysterical tears and insisting on
going TO Jack. Her attendants were
on the point of granting her wishes
when Aunt Betty entered and beck
oned to her, and she pushed forward
at once.
"Ssh! be quiet dear! You shall
see him soon; but come with me,
want to talk to you"
In her own tidy bedroom she
learned from Molly, who told il
between her sobs, her own story OF
the concealment of her name. So
the story Of the dying man was toe
truly confirmed. Here was deli
cate task to break to her the truth
that brother lay dying in the next
apartment; but it was through al
last, told calmly and kindly to the
grief-stricken, terrified girl. 1t j.
difficult to state which feeling pre-.
dominated; the sense of shame and
terror at her escape from what she
could not entertain without dread
or supplying grief at the sad alter
native that rescued her from the in
nocent commission of great crime
Slowly, with downcast eyes and
trembling steps, leaning on Aunt
Betty's kindly arm, she entered the
chamber Of death, and gazed, Oh SC
woefuIly, yet pityingly on the form
Of her beloved. Not word was
said as she sank on her knees be-
side the bed and took the outstretch.
ed hand of the dying man, and
kissed 1t In an agony Of tears.
"Sister!" he whispered, and at that
tender word she arose and throwing
her arms gently around his neck and
laying her head on the blood stained
pillow, she walled feebly, "Oh my
brother" The attendants had with
drawn and following their example
Aunt Betty stole softly out leaving
them together.
What passed between them in
= those last sad moments of his life
no one will ever know, nor would
we if we could lift the veil on that
parting scene. When after a few
moments the attendants entered, in
the light Of the pale beam that
shone with ghastly light on the bed
Of death ike a golden stairway
leading to that better world, he was
sleeping his last sleep with smile
on his pale face and his hand clasp
ed in hers who sat watching beside
him, seemingly unconscious in her
great grief that his spirit had taken
flight They led her gently away,