Waterbury evening Democrat., 1890-03-28
CHAPTER XVI.
ANOTHER FAREWELL.

CHAPTER XVI.
ANOTHER FAREWELL.
Daylight came at last; came SLOWLY,
as if it were forced to contend with the
lnw ling darkness for mastery; and
even then the clouds did not lift, or the
rain cease its stea y down pour.
Martha Parsons never knew whence
came the strength at enabled her to
close the eyes of her dead husband, or
to con inue existence when she had
done so. One was dead, but one vet
lived, and living, needed ter care.
While that life continued she felt that
her strength would continue also. AMI
beyond that she neither thought nor
c red. When his fathers spirit took its
fl; b.. and afterwa DIS while she was
caring for the dead body-straighten g
out the Inns and folding the arms
across the breast 10 nm lay in his
cot and watched his mother without a
word or cry, b t with a look haIf OF
awe and half of surpr Sc. as if he had
seen the flight of the spirit and under
stood why and whittier it had gone
And W hen all was done and the cot in
which he lay had been wheeled into the
kitchen, where the fire burnins in the
sjove, ga litle more cheerful look
to the room, he till asked no questio. 8
and made no con plant.
His mother found herself wondering
if Johnny knew that his ia her was
dead. but could tn nix of no way of as
tertaining without herself imparting
the information if he did not slready
possess it. and tn 8 she feared to 10 lest
it should cause his spirit to follow that
of his father.
ut only we could both CO." were
the words that kept swelling up in her
heart, and seeking utterance at her
lips Then remembering what Lucy
had written; that if possible her mother
should come to them before her babe
was born, that she might be with her
in her hour of trial, she felt anew that
she must live for the sake of err chill
dren. But what was she to do? bow
or a physic an for the sick childp The
rain m ght continue for week, and
already communication was cut off with
all who lived below, if not with those
on the other side of the mountain, and
she dared not leave Johnny to go for
help, even if she could make her way
through the floods. She did leave him
for few moments, long enough to go
to the stable and throw feed to the ami
malS. She did not milk the cows, did
not dare leave the child long enough
for that, but the horses she must feed,
for she might need one to de for help.
and he must be strong to contend with
the torrents which would have to be
crossed if she did go.
About noon she made a cup of tea
for herself and tried to eat, but found
it almost impossible to do so. although
she had eaten nothing for twenty four
hours. and it was only by telling her
s, If that she must eat In order to keep
up her strength until help came that
she was enabled to swallow any thing.
She dared not think how long it might
be before help came; but. come it late
or early. she must keep up until that
time. She tried to tn nix OF some way
of hosting a signal of distress, as she
had read of sh pwrecked mariners do
ing at sea, but could not She watched
the one place in the road which could
he seen from the kitchen window. but
she saw no one pass. No one could
pass the gorge, now roaring. noisy
torrent with depth and power that
made fording it matter of mn oss bill
ty. And so the minutes and the hours
dragged slowly by.
Night closed in early. owing to the
darkened heavens, and she lit, t e
lamps. placing one in the room with
the dead. the other on stand near the
cot Of the living. and sat down by the
side of her Child to watch him die.
came she knew, and she wondered at
her ability to act coolly, or to act at all.
All through the fore part of the night
she sat watching 9 cry mo emenI OF
the hands, every rise and fall of the
chest, every trembl ng OF the eyel DIS.
utterly unconsc .ous of any WEAKNESS in
her own frame. She kept fire burn
ing in the stove. and every little while
gave the dying child a few drops Of
some liquid pr. paration which she had
made, as the only thing she could do t.
prolong life. The child slept almost
continually now, and When he awoke,
made no effort to speak, but the ques-
tioning look which had been there since
b fathers death had not left his eyes.
AS midnight approached she saw in
creasing evidences of approaching
death, and knelt by the side Of the cot
with one arm under the pillow on which
her chld's head lay. His breathing
was less regular now, and weaker. com
ing in little quivering s;gbs and half
fol med sobs. He was awake, and had
been for some moments At last his
eyes were open and he seemed to be
looking at her, but when she ask d him
if there was anyth ng mothr could
do for her poor sick darling" he only
smiled the ia ntest little smile possible,
and made no effort to speak.
She remained kneeling for more than
an hour. now raising now lowering 6
head little as seemed to make is
Breathing easier, until just as the clock
strue< one. look of surprise over
spread his face. and s owly raising one
arm, he placed it about his mother S
neck, allowed it to rest there for an in,
slant. then slow y removed it. lifted
both hands as if to some one unseen by
her. murmured family: "Take me up,
papar' sank back into his mother {
arms, and was gone.
Whom aua,n tho DAYLIGHT camo l. n,r