Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1895-11-03
How Hep1bah Shut the GatesOf Paradise

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| dav." JAMES BARTON.
How Hepzibah Shut the Gates Of Paradise
The room had been very still for q
long while: only the even mOnotonous
splash OF the outgoing tide. and now
and again tho restless, unconscious
movement Of the dying women in the
bed. disturbed she awosome stiffness on
the night
in the big armchair by the bedside,
i'm the light of the lamp, sat gaunt wo-
man. angular and haggard, with thin,
compressed lips, yellow skin, light eyes
and dead-suaw-colOred hair drawn
tightly back from her forehead and
twisted into 0u uncOmpromising knob
at the uapc OF the neck
She had watched for many weary
nights now beside that bed, but still
her eyes wore wide and watchful, and
her attitude alert. She counted every
6uttering breath OF the girlish form be-
meath the sheet. she noted each CULVER
of the unconscious eyelids
The night wore on, and with the
coming of the gray dawn, a wind arose.
moaning around the little house and
shaking the fastenings Of the sick room
window.
The dying woman stirred; she moan
cd. then slowly opened her eyes. Great,
sad. blue eyes-l.lIc D child In trouble.
Sac fixed them upon the watcher in tho
chair v1Jn O. pathetic look o. treaty.
"Hepzibah,' The pale lips just form
cd The whispered word.
The gaunt woman rose hastily an.
bent over her.
Disqualification have been very good
A painful pause. breathing was so
difficult
Am I dying n0w?"
The woman bending over made no
I response, but tears gathered in her hard
eyes her thin lips QuiveTed.
NO. You need not tell me. I know
am. lean feel IT, HepZibah-you have
J been so good TO me There is some
/ thing that-you must-dO-for-me-
/ Wlen am gone
Hepzibah bent over her waiting,
watchful.
The dying girl raised one feeble hand,
pointing toward the old bureau In the
/ corner Of the room.
Therein the third drawer in the
/ left -packet-letters-will you bring
them to mc2'
.Hepzibah brought over to her a little
bundle. tied round with faded pink rib
bon.
The dying woman fingered it loving
/ ly. wistfully.
They are Jacks letters-my Jack.
/ Heuzibah, When / am gone, / trust you
TO burn them for me- Tom never must
/ know. Poor Tom ne has been a good
husband to me. but ! loved Jack first
I only ne was so Wild did not know
that he cared for me. And-he went
/ a way I'm a temper-and I married Tom.
/ But when Jack came back from sea last
time. II found out how much he cared.
Tr was terrible-aud I loved him so.
/ Then ne was drOwned-my poor Jack
A weak sob cholled her broken whis-
/ perinE
Promise YOU viii burn them, Hepzi-
/ bah. for Toms sake
Dear, I promise.
.YOu have been so good TO me, so pa
ticut with me. When ! am gone You
/ will be good TO poor Tom.
A dull red flush Overspread the Wo'
mans face. She turned her head into
I the shadow.
II will do what I can Nelly, she re-
/ suonded I'm q smOthered voice.
call Tom now, I feel I am soon
going. I feel so cold-sO numb
Herzibah hastily left the room. She
v7s back i'm an instant, followed by a
s-out ruddy-faced man of about 80.
10 steDDed softly to the bed, and took
mo diving woman's hand In his big
grasp. -. 49,
come. Nell. my lass, you must bear
brave heart. Vel have YOU better
soon" There were tears in his CHEEKY
voice
Nellie looked UP at him with faint
smile She raised the big red hand in
which her own was imprisoned. to her
Inns Then. exhausted by her recent e1-
gor+s she closed her eyes, and seemed
~ eieeD Presently she started VIC
Ientlv: her eyes opened in terror.
"Tbe letters! You Will burn them,
Hepzibah-
Tom turned to Hepzibah wondering
w. He though the delirium had re-
what letters does she mean?' he
asked. Hepzibah was silent; she avert
ed his eyes $780, -
she means her dead mothers let
ters." she replied in a steady voice.
The dying woman looked her graft
tude for the saving lie. There was ST.
lence again. and O. solemn sense Of walt
ing in the room. At last Nelly made
faint movement with her hand.
Hepzibah comprhended instantly
she stepped TO the window, drew aside
the curtain and opened wide the sash.
So Nelly looked for the last time upon
her little world.
The tide was nearly out Beyond,