Idaho news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1887-1891, 1890-01-11
-SSA.
CHAPTER IX.

Hour after hour would Tessa sit by
her side, holding her hand, listening
% the stories of Antony'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
lhe window curtains; but Mrs. Bevan
wanted neither of them; it was only
Tessa she needed now-Tessa's strong
young finger round which her feeble
clasp fingered Tessa's love and ten
4derness, which 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-
votien. Sometimes he thought he
would tell her what he had seen and
ask for an explanation; but still he
besitated. If he was wrong-if it was
not Tessa whom he had seen in the
2aurel-walk-the question would be an
insult; and, if 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
an the hall. ''She does not seem to
know me- any one but Iessa. And
she has talked so much of Antony to-
day
Ii 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.
stShe has been little delirious, |
think, for she speaks as If she had
seen and spoken to him quite lately
%sWho is with her now2"
<'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
nIm that his sister was right-that
the end was very near He felt the
unaccustomed tears rush into his eyes
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 OPP
pressiye, 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 nc
trace of recognition in that quiet in
different gaze, and her eyes soon turn.
ed from him and rested on Tessa's
1ace-
-'Sing it again, please, Tessa," the
low voice said.
1.-The same hymn, dearp'' Tc~sa had
10 5toop to catch the feeble words.
~tYes-the same. "
There were binding tears in Tessa'i
eyes; but, with an effort, she steadieG
her voice and sang one of the hymns
(which she had learned long ago in the
convent, while Mrs Beyan lay and
listened with closed eyes and smil
ing face.
The night passed, and the dawr
WAS breaking before she spoke again.
.sTessa, you will remember-my
love. my best love to Antony" she
said in clear distinct voice; and Their
che tired eyes closed.
Austen sprang forward with little
passionate, ineoherent cry. IL was SC
hard that she should go like this-that
he, who had loved her so well and
dearly, who had been suchssa good son,
led such blameless life. should be
forgotten altogether-that the last
word Last message should be for
Antony
With passionate sob he raised the
shrunken form in his arms, looked
once into the face, then placed it rev.
scrently back upon the pillows.
--Too late, Tessa! 1t is all ended
now he said, with great sorrow, q
passionate regret in his voice.
But Tessa, with an expression oil
awe on her face, had turned away, and
) was looking from the dead woman's
I pale face to the golden dawn.
-'Ended, do you say?" she said gent.