Waterbury evening Democrat., 1894-11-19

AoAo sOu NfS DOru, ana IL s1e wants any
 body else now to look after her let her
 just tell me so. and I'll be off in brace O shakes -
 She looked defiantly at the yellow.
 dried up creature in the bed. Mercy's
 withered lips twitched. but no sound
 came from them. Jim, strung up by tho
 situation, took the word 'You can't
 do no good up here. the doctor says.
 You might look after the kids down
 stairs bit when you can spare an hour,
 and I've got to go to the shop. I'll send
 you q telegraph if there's a change, " Inc
 whispered to the daughter, and she, not
 wholly discuntented to return to her liy- ing interests. kissed her mother, lin gered little and then stole quietly away.
 All that day the old women fingered together in solemn silence, broken only by the doctors visit. He reported that Mercy might last a couple of days more In the evening Jim replaced his sister in-law, who slept perforcc At mid night shc awoke and sent him to bcd The sufferer tossed about restleSsly. At 2:30 she awOLe. and Honor fed her with some broth as she would have fed ha- by. Mercy indeed looked scarcely big ger than m infant, and Honor had the advantage of her only by being puffcd out with clothes. 4 church clock in the distance struck 3. Then the silence fell deeper. The watcher drowsed. The lamp fiickered. tossing her shadow about the walls as If she. too. were turning feverishly from side to side. A strange ticking made itself heard in the vain scoting. Mercy sat up with scream of terror. Jim" she shrieked. Jim" Honor listened, her blood curlling Then she went toward the door and opened it. Jim, she said in low tones, speaking toward the landing. tell her it's nothin: it's only n mouse. She was always n nervous little thing" And
 she closed the door softly, and press ing her trembling sister tenderly back
 on the pillow tucked her up snugly in | the blanket.
 Next morning. when Jim was really present. the patient begged pathetically
 room. day and night Don't leave me
 alone again." she quavervd: don't | leave me alone. with not n soul to talk | to" Honor winccd. but said nothing The youngest child, who did not have
 to go tO school, was brought-a pretty little boy with brown curls, which the
 sun, streaming through the panes. turn
 cd tn gold. The morning passed slowly. ! About noon Mercy took the Child's hand ! and smoothcd his curlS.
 My sister Honor had golden curls
 like that, |" she whispered. They were in the family. Bobby, |" Honor answered. ''YOur granny had them, too. when she was girl. '' There was long pause. Mercy's eyes
 were half glazed. but her vision was i'm
 ward now.
 The mignOuctto will la growth in
 the meadows Bobby. she murmured "Ycs. and the heartsease. said Honor softly. We lived in the Coun-
 try. you know. Bobby"
 There is flowers in the country, :"
 Bobby declared gravcly.
 Yes, and tres" said Honor. II
 wonder if your granny remembers when
 We were larruppei for stealing applcs:'' Aye, that I do. Bobby. He, he!'
 croaked the dying creature. with burst of enthusiasm. We were n pair of tom boys The warmer he ran after Us, cry
 ing. Ne! Yr" but We wouldn't take
 no gar. He. he, htI'
 Honor wcpt at the laughter. The native idiurI unhCard for half a century
 made her faru shine under the tears
 Don't let your granny excite herself,
 Bobby. Let me give her a drink. " Shs
 moved the boy aside. and MerCy's lips
 automatically opened to the draft. Tom was wi Us. Bobby she gur-
 glcd. still vibrating with amusement,
 ''and he tumbled over on the heather. He. hc,'
 Tom k dead this 10 year. Bobby. |" whimpcred Honor.
 MerCy's head fell back. and an ex-
 prcsSiun of supreme exhaustion came
 over her fac" Half an hour passed.
 Bobby was called down to dinner. The
 doctor had been sent for. Suddenly
 Mercy sat up with a jerk. Mercy bent toward the side of the bed. An, is
 Honor still there: Kiss me. Bobby. '"
 Her hands gruped blindly. Honor bent
 down. and the old women's withered lips met.
 And in that kiss Mercy passed away
 into the greater silence. Zanewill
 in Outlook.