The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1895-10-04

an ICNOl LCAAs AAoAs you - yCuA
mother, and then your husband and
children. You just go back to them as
needs your care. carried your mother
in my arms before you was born, and
if she wants anybody else now to look
after her let her just tell me so and
I'll be off in brace o shakes"
She looked deiantly at the yellow,
dried-up creature in the bed. Mercy's
withered lips twitched, but no sound
came from them. Jim, strung up by
the situation, took the word. "You
can't do no good up here, the doctor
says You might look after the kids
downstairs a bit when you can spare
an hour; and I've got to go to tha
shop. I'll send you telegraph if
there's a change" he whispered to the
daughter; and she, not wholly discon.
tented to return to her living iptsr'
ests, kissed her mother, fingered a
little and then stole quietly away.
All that day the old women re-
manned 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-iu-law, who
slept perforce. At midnight she awolla
and sent him to bed The sufferer
tossed about restlessly. At half-past
two she awollc, and Honor fed her with
some broth as she would have fed a
baby. Mercy, indeed. looked scarcely
bigger than an infant, and Honor had
the advantage of her only by being
pulled out with clothes. A church
clock in the distance struck three.
Then the silence fell deeper The
watcher drowsed. The lamp Aickered,
tossing her shadow about the walls aa
If she, too, We're turning feverishly
from side to side. A strange ticking
made itself heard in the wainscoting
Mercy sat up with scream of terror
Jim" she shrieked; 'Jim!"
Honor started up, opened her mouth
to cry Hush then checked herself,
suddenly frozen.
jim" cried the dying creature,
"listen! Is that the death spider?"
Honor listened, her bl God curdling.
lACA NAAE NGAlN NON dIAkS Lllt utOT anu
opened it. jim" she said in low tones,
speaking towards the landing; tell
her it's nothin'; it's only a mouse She
was always nervous little thing"
And she closed the door softly, and,
pressing 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 pathetic,
ally to have a grandchild with her in
the room, day and night. Don't leave
me alone again" she quavered; don't
leave me alone, with not a soul to talk
to-" Honor WINGED, but said nothing.
The youngest child, who did not
have to go to school, was brought-a
pretty boy with brown curls, which the
sun, streaming through the panes,
turned to gold. The morning passed
slowly. About noon Mercy took the
child's hand and smoothed 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 a girl"
There was a long pause. Mercv's
eyes were half-glazed, but her vision
was inward now.
The mignonette will be CROWN in
the meadows Bobby" she murmured.
Yes, and the heart's-ease," said
Honor, softly. 1--WE lived in the coun,
try, you know, Bobby"
There is flowers in the country"
Bobby declared, gravely.
YES, and trees" said Honor. Il
wonder ii your granny remembers
when we were larrupped for stealth
apples?"
"Ay, that do, Bobby, he, he!"
croaked the dying creature, with a
burst of enthusiasm. I'VE was a pair
O. tomboys. Tho warmer he ran after
US, cryin' 'Ye. Yer but we wouldn't
take no gar. lie, he he"
Honor wept at the laughter. The
native idiom, unheard for half
century, made her face shine under
the tears Don't let your granny ex-
cite herself, Bobby. Let me give her
her drink" She moved the boy aside,
and Mercy's lips automatically opened
to the draught
Tom was wi us, Bobby" she CUR,
gled, still vibrating with amusement.
land he tumbled over on the heather.
he, he!"
Tommy is dead this forty year,
Bobby" whimpered Honor.
Mercy's head fell back and an express
sion of supreme exhaustion came over
the face. Half an hour passed. Bobby
was called down to dinner. The doc,
tor had been sent for. Suddenly Mercy
sat up with jerk.
1T be CROWN dark, Tom," she said,
hoaTsely; "hain't it time to call the
cattle home from the ma'shes?"
shes takin' rubbidge again." said
Honor, cholSingly. Tell her she's in
London, Bobby"
A wave of intelligence traversed the
sadow face. Still sitting up, Mercy
bent towards the side of the bed. "Ahl
is Honor still there2 Kiss me-Bobby."
Her hands CROPPED blindly. Honor
bent down, and the old women's with
cred lips met.
And in that kiss Mercy passed away
Into the greater Silence. Outlook.