Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1889-12-05
+ {. SSA,
CHAPTER TX.


her side, holding her hand, listening
to the stories of AEtony's boyhood,
and receiving the last messages OF
eternal love and perfect forgiveness.
Mrs. Calender would come and stand
by the bed in awkward silence. or
creep about the room in her creaking
shoes; and Austen would bring his
book and sit silently in the shadow of
the window curtains; but Mrs. Bevan
wanted neither Of them; it was only
Iessa she needed now-Tessa's strong
young finger round which her feeble
clasp ingered-Tessa's love and ten
derness, witch went with her TO the
very gate OF the dark valley, and
cheered her through the mists and
shadows.
Austen grew to feel ashamed of his
unworthy suspicious and evil thoughts
as he watched The girls care and de-
votion. Sometimes he thought he
would tell her what he had seen and
ask for an explanation; but still he
hesitatei. If he was wrong-if it was
not Tessa whom he had seen in the
laurel-walk-theq question would be an
insult; and, II she--Austen could not
trust himself TO think of that alterna-
tive. SO he waited; and day after
day the shadow of the coming change
grew darker over the household.
''She has been much worse to-day,
Austen" Mrs. Calender said sadly
one evening, as she met her brother
In the hall. "She does not seem TO
know me-any one but Tessa. And
she has talked so much OF Antony to-
day."
1t was years since the name OF the
one who had disgraced them had been
mentioned between the brother and
sister; and Mrs. Calender hesitated
and lowered her voice as she spoke.
''She has been little delirious, |
think, for she speaks as il she had
seen and spoken to him quite lately"
"Who is with her nowP"
"Only Tessa; she does not seem TO
want any one else," Mrs. Calender
said, with sigh.
Austen went upstairs and entered
his mothers room. One glance told
him that his sister was right-that
the end was very near. He felt the
unaccustomed tears rush into his ewes
as he looked at the still peaceful face
and the sunken eyes, which were ra-
diant with great calmness-a perfect
peace.
The evening was very hot and op-
pressive, and Tessa had opened the
windows to admit all the air possible.
Mrs. Bevan looked up as Austen en-
tered, and her eyes fingered for a
moment on his face; but there was no
trace OF recognition in that quiet in
different gaze, and her eyes soon turn
ed from him and rested on Tessa's |
face.
"Sing it again, please, Tessa," the
low voice said.
1.-The same hymn, dearP" Tessa had
to stoop to catch the feeble words.
'Yes--the same"
There were binding tears in Tessa's |
eyes; but, with an effort, she steadied |
her voice and sang one of the hymns |
which she had learned long ago IN the |
while Mrs. Bevan Law and /
listened with closed eyes and smil-
ing face.
The night passed, and the dawn
was breaking before she spoke again.
"Tessa, you will remember-my
love, my best love TO Antony" she
said in clear distinct voice; and then
The tired eyes closed.
Austen sprang forward with little
incoherent cry. 1t was so
hard that she should go like this-that
ne, who had loved her so we'll and
iearly, who had been such.a good son,
ed such blameless life. should be
orgotten altogether-that the last
vord-last message should be for
With n passionate sob he raised the
drunken form in his arms, looked
'nce into the face, then placed IL rev.
'rently back upon the pillows.
"Too late, Tessa 1t is all ended
low," he said, with a great sorrow, a
,assionato regret in his voice.
But Tessa, with an expression OF
we on her face, had turned away, and
vas looking from the dead woman's
ale face to the golden dawn.
"Ended, do you sayP" sh9 said gent