The Helena independent., 1893-07-16
A DEATH-BED CONFESSION.

LOOKING AItef tho poor IN tniG parish! AEd
would do II again II hrd my time 10
come over again, but 1t will take mora Vi an
that to wipe out my aims. md God 70 give
mo II can't always believe that ovon His
mercy will be equal to il. think some
times the black heat in me. that started
me on that deel, must have como from the
devil. and that am hjs child after ALL and
shall 90 back to him at tho last. Don't
look 90 shocked. sir. That's not what
really believe; it's only what ! sometimes
fear ought TO believe. whsn wake ~ In
the chill night and think things over. lying
there alone.
ITO sse mo old and trim. with my cap
and little checked shawl, you'd mover think
shat was once enc OF the prettiest girls on
all the South Downs. But wno. and my
cousin Lillian was the other. We lived at
Whitecroft together. nt our uucle's. He
Was a well-to-do farmer. ms we'll o-do as a
farmer could be in such times 40 those and
on such land as shat.
Whenever hear people say home iva
Whitecroft think of. with its narrow win
dows and thatch ioof and the farm build
ings about it, and the bits OF trees all bont
one way with the wind from tho sea.
"Whitscroft stands on shoulder Of the
Downs. and. on clear dav, you can rec
right ous to sea and over the hollow whore
Felscombe lies cuddled down close and
warm. with its elms and ita church and its
bright bits of garIen. They are sheltered
from the sea wind down there, but there's
nothing to break the wing of 1t rs 1t rolls
across the Downs on to Whitecroft; and of
n night Lillian and used to lie and listen
to the wind banging the Windows, AID know
that the chtmneya were rocking over onr
heads. aud feel the house move to and fro
with the strength of wind, like a. if IL was
the swing OF ciadle.
Lillian and / hnd como there. little
things. and uncle had brought Us up to-
Rether. and We loved each other like sisters
until that happened, and this ia the frat
it; and if being sorry can pay for things
we'll. but fear mo there are some things
nothing can pay for.
ia was one wild windy night. when, il
you should open the door an inch. every
thing in the house Jared and rattle. We
were sitting around tho fire, uncle and IN.
liam and !, us with our knitting and be
asleep in his newspaper. and nobody could
have gone to sleep with wind like that
but a man who had been bred and born u
SEA. or on the South Downs.
Lillian and l were talking over our new
winter dresses when there came knock at
the side door, not nigh so loud as some OF
used TO it. unole sat up wide awake and
said, 'Harkn In a minute it come again.
and then l went to the door and opened il
bit. There was some one outside who be
gan to speak as soon as he saw the light,
hut could not hear what he said for the
roaring of the wind and the OF acking Of the
trees outside.
"'Shut that doorp thundered unole from
the parlor. Let the dog in. whatever he
10. and let him tell his tale this side the
oak
$50 lot him in and shut the door afte,
him. and had better have shut the lid OF
nv own coffin after me,
Him that let IN was dripping wet and
all spent with fighting the wind on these
Downs, where it ia like q lion roaring for
Its prey, and will 10 nigh to kill you if you
fight it long enough. He leaned against
the wall and said:
80 i have lost my way and I have had a
wrong with my arm-hollow-slip-lig
hospitals beg your pardon. Pm sure.
and with that he tainted dead of on the
coconnut mating at my feet.
"Uncle came out when screamed, and
we got the stranger in and put him on the
big couch by tho fl g. Uncle was nursing
up with one Of his bad attacks of bron-
end, and the first thing he said when he
felt the poor chaps arm down was:
"'Ihis is a bad break. Which of you girls
will 90 and wake one of the wagoners ia
fetch the doctor from Felscombe?'
"I will I said.
wine and the brandy and bade Lillian rub
his hands bit. and be gu she didn't let
him zee her looking frightened when he
came TO.
"Why did do that? Because tho Lord
made me to be foo.-giving him her
p city face to be the first thing he looked
ut when he come to after that long. dreHrv
spell on tho downs and that long iourney
into the land where reop.e 10 when they
faint.
But everything that there was of me-
ached to be of some use to him. So went,
and once outside ths door it seemed easie
to take Brown Bess and go myself to Fels
were but sleepy and slow-headed at the best
of times. So l saddlsl Brown Bess myself
ana started.
1t was but a small way acros1 the Downs
that had to lead her, it being almost al
much ns both OF us could do to keep our
feet in the fury of tho wind. Then down
the steep hill into the village. aud as soon
~ we had passed the brow it was easy, and
mounted. was down there in less tins
shan 1t would have taken to rouss one of
those heav, headed carters; and docto-, he
come back with me. walking beside Brown
Bess with his hand on her bride, he not be
ing toy any means 10th TO come out such q
night. because. forsooth, IL was me that
fetched him. Dyes. l might have married
him If had wanted to, and MOI e than one
better man than him, but that's neithe.
here nor there.
when we got in wo found Lillian kneel.
inR by the sofa. rubbing the young man'a q
hands as i had told her to, and his eyes
we've open and there WAS bit of color in
MS cheek, and he WAS looking at her like as
bus anyone but u fool might have known he
would look; ana the doctor, he saw 1t, too,
ana looked nt me and grinnsd; and il had
been God that grin should have been his
last. No. don't mean to be irreyent bu,
it's true, all the same.
We'll. the am was eet, and when he w,s
Bit easier we settled around the fire and he
told us that his name was Edgar Linley,
and he WAS an artist and had been painting
the angry sunset that had come before TINT
nights storm, and got caught in the dust
and go lost his way. na many do on our
downs at home. some not 30 lucky az him
10 see a light and get to il.
"Ihis Mr.. Linley had way with him
ike no man ever see. not only way to
please women with. but mon to. Inayer
saw my uncle 30 taken up with ANYBODY.
and the long and the short of 1t was thai
he stayed there month, and we uursed
him; and at tie end of the month I knew
no more than had known thnt evening
when had seen him looking nt Lillian; but
he and Lillian, they had lear ned n deal in
shat time. 8iIg III
And one evening wa At my bedroom
window, and soc them coming mp tho oath
In the rcd light OF the evening, walking
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