The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-03-21


utterance, the bright and perilous eve:
some wild words, some household cares.
something for James, the names of the
dead, Rab called rapidly in 'fremyt"
voice, and he starting up surprised. and
Sinking off as if he were to blame
somehow, or had been dreaming he
heard; many eager questions and be-
seedlings which james and could make
nothing of. and on which she seemed
to set her all, and then sink back under
stood. 1t was very sad, but better than
many things that are not called sad.
James lowered about, put out and
miserable. but active and exact as ever:
read to her, when there was Il lull,
short bits Of the Psalms prose and
metre, chanting the latter in his own
rude and serious way, showing great
knowledge of the fit words, bearing up
like man, and doatinS over her as his
ain Allie" "Ailie, ma woman!" MA
ain bonnie wee dawtic."
The end was drawing on: the golden
bowl was breaking; the silver cord was
fast being loosed-that animula blan-
dula, vagula. hospes, corncsQue, was
about to flee. The body and the soul
companions for sixty years-werc being
walking alone through the valley of
that shadow into which one day we
must all cntcr-and yet she was not
alone, for VIC know whose rod and sta II
were comforting her
One night she had fallen quiet. and,
as we hoped, asleep; her eyes were shut.
We put down the gas, and sat watching
her. Suddenly she sat up in bed, and
taking q bcdgown which was living ON
it rolled mp. she held it eagerly to her
breast-to the right side. We could see
her eyes bright with Il surprising ten
dcrness and joy. bending over this bun
die of clothes. She held it rs a woman
holds her sucking child; OPEN
ing out her night gown impa-
tiently. and holding it close.
and brooding over it, and murmurin1
foolish little words, as over one whom
his mother comfortcth. and who sucks
and is satisfied. 1t was pitiful and
strange to sec her wasted dying look,
keen and yet vaguc-hcr immense love.
Preserve me-! groaned James. Civ
ing way. And then she rocked back
and forward. as if to make it sleep,
hushing it. and wasting on it her inlin-
lite fondness. ''Wac's me doctor; de-
LUZ ON - IL ludI DdlIn.
What bairn?' The only BARN we
ever had; our wee Mysie, and she's in
the Kingdom, forty years and MAR"
1t was telling plainly true; the pain in
the breast. telling its urgent story to
bcwildcred, ruined brain, was misread
and mistnlscn; it suggested to her the
nncasiness of Il breast full of milk. and
then the child; and SO again once more
they were together. and she had her
ain wee MySic in her bosom
This MAS the close. She sank rapidly;
the delirium left her; but as she whisp-
cred, she was clean silly" it was the
tightening before the final darkness
After having for some time lain still
her eyes shut, she said: ...Jamcs'' lie
came close to her, and lifting up her
calm. clear. beautiful eyes, she gave
him Il long look tnrncd to me kindly
but shortly, looked for Rab but could
nou see him, then turned to her
| husband again. as il She would never
| leave of looking. shut her eyes and
| composed herself. She lay for some
time breathing quick, and passed away
| 50 gently. that when We thought she
waa gone. lanes, in his old-fashioncd
| way. held the miro. to her face After
! IL long pause, one small spot Of dimncss
| was brcathcd ont; it vanished away and
never returned, leaving the blank clear
darkness Of the mirror without a stain.
What is orr life? 1t IS even IL vnpor.
which appeareth for 4 little time. and
then vaniSheth away"
RAD all this time had been fully
awake and motio,iless; he came forward
beside us: Allies hand, which .Damcs
had held. WAS hanging down: it was
soaked with his tears: Rab licked it all
over. carefully looked ut her. and re-
turned to his place under the table.
james and sat, don't know how
long. but for some time. saying moth
ing; he started up abruptly and with
| some noise went to the table. and nut
ting his right fore and middle fingers
each into shoe, pulled them out. and
put them on, breaking one of the
leather latchets. and muttering in an
| ger, II never did the like O. tina tafore.'
| believe he never did; nor after
| either. ''Rab!' he said roughly. and
| pointing with his thumb to the bottom
of the bed. Rab leapt up. and settled
himself; his head and eye to the dead
face. Mister John, yell wait for me, -
saiu VIC c"rrier, ana ul5appeareu In the
darkness, laundering downstairs in his
heavy shoes. ] ran TO the front win
dow; there he was, already round the
| house, and out at the gate, fleeing like
q shadow.
| I was afraid about him, and yet not
afraid; so | sat down beside isab. and
being wcariod fell asleep. WOKE from
u sudden no.,c outside. 1t Was Noycu;-
Der, and there had been a heavy fail OF
snow. Rab was in statu quo; he heard
the noise too. and plainly knew il, but
never moved. | looked cut; and !herc