Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1895-11-03

Of the flowers in the little garden be-
low.
Nelly's big, sad eyes took in all the
beauty Of the morning, then they gen
tly closed.
'T am coming, Jack-dear-" she
sighed
So Nelly Thurgood, Tom Thurgood's
young wife, died. and was buried in the
little churchyard by the sea; and the
tide came in, and the tide went out,
through the long summer days and
nights and peaceful order reigned In
the little cottage, for Hepzibah was q
notable hOusekeeper, and Tom was
grateful to her in a dull. impersonal
way. His heart was buried IN the new
ly-made grave on the cliff side, and
nothing seemed real to him but that
Hepzibah watched him from under
her white eyelashes and kept silent;
but his pipe was always ready for him
when ne came indoors, and his favorite
food simmered on the hob.
HepZlbah's hair grew brighter as the
days went on; her cheeks had a comely
flush; she began to take thought of her
dress. She bought a blue bingham
6On II III AAAO a. AtA9All4
kerchief for her neck. Her voice took
softer note, she began to sing about
her work.
But Tom would sit in the churchyard
through the long summer twilights.
and when he came in to supper his feet
dragged YEARLY, and his eyes were
dull with misery.
You should not gTieve so. said Hep
zibah softly, one night after supper.
She was knitting in the freight; her
head was bent over her work.
Tom woke as from dream; he look
ed at her with seeing eyes.
"Ah. Ats we'll to say that to man
whose heart is breakingw
His voice grew husky: he turned his
head away TO the fire.
But you shouldn't grieve as one
without hope. Time must soften things
bit-you have your life before you"
Tom laughed @ short, bitter laugh
not good to hear
She was all had-my Nelly. The
apple of my eye. What goods life to
me now? Such pretty ways she had,
too, 20 he went on musingly; "such ten
der, loving ways
Hepzibah's needles flashed in the
freight.
There arc other women in the world
as fond as Nelly" she said softly, with
her eyes on her knitting.
There WIS d long silence in the room.
The fire flickered; cinder fell on the
hearth. Hepzibah could hear her
heartthrobs; she slowly lifted her eyes
to the mans face.
He was not looking at her at all. but
at q china shepherdess upon the little
table against the wall. His eyes werD
troubled. he was trying TO remember.
MY Nelly did not keep that on there
No. il was on the mantelpiece, here,
that she had il"
He brought the ornament over, dust
ing it with his handkerchief.
Eve must keep the things as she left
them, Hepzibah. he said. But HepZi-
bah had slipped out of the door into the
summer darkness
She rested her arms on the little gate.
and stood looking far out to the sea-
Her face shone white and ghostiy IL
the dimneSs She shiyered in the warm
afr.
you dead woman-you Nelly" she
whispered tensely, why viii YOU not
give him up to me? You have your
Jack. YOU do not want Eim-aud I-Oh,
my Cod
= lat fearless sob choked her; the
.,t ering waves Knocked her; her
.aCe hardened.
"Why should not ten mm? I shall.
do you no harm. Are you anywhere 70
care at all? God. the liie bcyond-are
these anything but words? How can
one hurt the dead? You are asleep in
the churchyard there; and l love him
I tell YOU love him.
The man was sitting smoking mood
lily, gazing into the glowing fire when
Hepzibah glided in, and stood behind
his chair.
TON, I can't bear that you should
grieve SO. She wasn't worthy Of q love
like yours"
"Hepzibah"
He turned his chair quickly and faced
her. She shrank into the shadow.
Il have thought you ought to know
@" she faltered. because cant bear
to see YOU spoilin' your life for love of
her-her who did not love you at all,
but Jack"
Her voice was firmer now, she locked
and unlocked her hands behind her.
Woman! Wha; DO YOU mean? What
lies are you telling me?"
He had sprung to his feet. and came
toward her thrcateningly. She raised
a trembling hand 10 keep him OF.
Its true. Don't you remember her
calling out about the letters the night
II.
Jacks letters to her"
My Cod, Give them to mew
She fumbled in the breast Of her blue
gown.
you must not mind so much, Tom.
There's many q giddy girl been false to
her good man before now and fond,
steady woman has come along to make
him happy after all"
The letters"
Hepzlbah laid the packet on the table
and crept away up the staircase TO her
room. She fell on her knees by the bed
side clutching the coverlet tight over
her mouth. that the de0p-voiced prayer
might be stifed. She shook as with an
ague. The gates OF heaven and hell
were open.
The still hours passed by. Night
waned. but Hezibah, wide-eyed and
numb. crouched by her bed, straining
her ears for any sound from the room
below. Anything anything but this
deadly silence! The hours seemed
eternities.
An hour before dawn came the sound
Of a chair scraping on the tagged floor;
he had risin She held her breath to
listen. Then drawers We're opened and
shut; his footsteps echoed too and fro.
Then silence, and the scratching Of