The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1894-09-14

1 that other way. an II I see ye'rer
the same mind still. Ill speak first
Don's ask me any more, Andrew, III
speak first"
Heneeforth. ss before, they were
friends-close. firm friends--but no
further. Season after season Andrew
sailed off in mis- yawl for the white
fishing on the Dogger, returning each
time with brain afiame for the sight OF
her. And she met him with mere
smile and handshske, in her eyes no
token Of change. no glimmer OF awak-
ening affection.
Eight years thus numbered away
eight weary, joyless Jears and nell
ther Hilda nor Andrew had sought 10
break through their part OF silence.
About this time. llilda was sore
stricken with typhoid, then rife in the
village. and for an anxious space She
dwelt on the very border-line OF Hero
and Hereafter. On Andrews persuA-
sion-he stalking his word that tho
great mans fees should be forthcom-
ing-Abel called in DIR. Ratciin, OF
Morperland. under whose care hiida
slowly began To mend. II was while
Andrew was away at the Banks-the
doctors comforting assurances Tor
company-that the truth stripped itself
before Hilda. To torture and affiict her
with its mocking ghastliness.
Asyet she was not able to leave the
bed. but lay there with pinched face,
her hair tangled on the pillow, her
thin blue fingers twitching idly at the
rarish patchwork quilt. her eyes wan
derinp TO the half-open lattice through
which was borne the distant sough OK
the waves, and whence she could see
the sun -flecked crests far out beyond
Fork Rocks. Then she would turn 10
answer some question put To her oy
her little niece. Mary-Abel's eldest
daughter. rising ten"-who had crept
into the sick room. Presently the lit
lie maid fell to babbling, childlike, OF
the doings and sayings OF her school
friends
LAY. but yell be gettin' fine schoi.
ard. Mary" said Iiilda. "ltwas guid
thing for the weans when [ parson
opened school. | wish il had been
done long sim
..lt was our 'xam'nation to-day" re-
7 piled Mary. eager with fresh news
J. MIR. Harvey heard me read an patteo
me o. the head Out Of newspaper
:, hard words they was. too
AN maybe We can read writin
Nary" :.
..Oh. yes," returned she. nowise DIS
: posed TO belittle her a'tainments
!, when you get any letters Aunt Hilda
I'll read them all through to yor-
every word. I'm sure could"
. well, I'm goin' to try ye,' SAL
!. Hilda. smilingly. Now. open tina
: drawer-no. the second one-an brint
:, the little black box to me- Yes, tina
;. is it." :.
= Tendcrly picking out the finery wit
u which the box was filled, Hilda place
= the various articles by her side on tn
- bed. Underneath. untouched sine
=. that day. lay the very letter which ma
-. told her its sad tale through Andrew
"A mouth.
- Now, what names that?" said sh
:, pointing to the signature
az Mary screwed her eyes into bead
hung her head sapiently on one si'
a.. and spelled the words under n
Yc breath
-. BEN. Ben: Webb, Webb. 81
announced, at last. with a ring
~ triumph. Its main bad writin, but
IA NO. no." cried Hilda, rising e
\. citedly upon her elbow Not Ben
~. not Ben Webb. Are you sure. Mary
Ben; Webb, Webb" repeated b
ia, niece.
\. Hilda sent up a choking cry II
said it came fro Capt Worsley." $
bs calculated gaspingly. He lied to n
Its fro Een--fro. Ben. Ben Isl
-a,s dead,' Her whole frame. atremb
.c;. she turned to Mary with: Begin
An the first Read it all to me. Can y
ead can YEP"
~ Mary at all events was willing
OF try, and although she Numbered OF
the and painfully under the task. betwe
i'm them they managed to piece the VOL
rev into sense.
an Dear Hilda, IL ran, Il didn't me
/. "a TO say a word, but l can't do itwith'
ase telling you first. Don't hate me. 70
vice did love YOU and do, more nor
She Anyways. you can't say l didn't
'our YOU ali about Polly Barclay-how
inc was to be married. and how II
the broke off Well. me and her hi
sur made i, up again. Her uncle's de
ow- and left her everything-his TN
i, houses and e40O in the bank You
. AZ didn't have free hand. SO you ca
ate blame me. Besides. there's Andy I
hat ley only too glad to have you and
sws banns has been read twice In Grim
church. think things are best
,r;sf alone, and no fuss made. especial
An don't ask the presents back, nor
rted Mary had plodded through her lie
his SO far. when Hilda. with loud shr
inst dropped back upon her pillow.
her and his wife fastened upstairs to
her again sitting up in bed. round-e:
trid- and gesticulating with c'enched
that II might ha' won him back-l W.
IL he ha',~ she cried. shrilly. "A lie.
anv- drew Copley. 1t was lie."
In this fashion she raved all thro
> on the night and long into the next
ner.s DIR. Radcliffe said ii was brain Il
her and. although he eventually bro'