River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1895-10-10
nd the little 'uns,- the daughter

pleaded.
Then what do you mean by de.
sertia' them now?- the irate old wom-
an retOrted. First, you deserts your
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
IL she wants anybody else now 10 look
after her let her just tell me SO and
III be off IN a 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
the situation, took the word. You
can't do no good up here, the doctor
says You might look after the kids
downstairs bit when you can spare
an hour; and I've got 10 go to the
shop I'll send you a telegraph il
there's a change" he whispered to the
daughter; aud she, not wholly discOu-
tented to return 10 her living inter
ests. kissed her mother, fingered a
little and then stole quietly away.
All that day the old women re-
manned together Ia solemn silence,
broken only by the doctors visit He
reported that Mercy might last
couple of days more. In the evening
Jim replaced his sister-iu-law, who
slept perforce. At midnight she awol1e
and sent him to bed. The sufferer
tossed about restlessly. At half-past
two she awoke, and Honor fed her with
some broth as she would have fed a
baby. Mercy, indeed. looked scarcely
Al. l. l.. 4
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 iickered,
| tossing her shadow about the walls as
1 if she. too. were turning feverishly
| from side to side. A strange ticking
made itself heard in the wainscoting.
Mercy sat up with a scream of terror.
'.J-im," she shrieked; Jim
Honor started up. opened her mouth
to cry Hush then che cked herself,
suddenly frozen.
Jim" cried the dying creature,
''listeni Is that the death spider?"
Honor listened, her bl God curdling.
Then she went towards the door and
OpChCN H. OAAns SnC SdAQ Al AON bOhCos
speaking towards the landing; tell
her it's nothin'; it's only a mouse. She
was always a 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 grandc hid 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
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 aud 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 girl"
There was a long pause. Mercy'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. I'VE lived in the coun-
try, you know, Bobby"
There is flowers in the country"
Bobby declared, gravely.
Yes, and trees" said Honor. 81
wonder if your granny remembers
when we were larrupped for stealth
apples?"
'Ay, that do, Bobby, he, hei"
croaked the dying creature. with
burst of enthusiasm. I'VE was a pair
o tonboys. The warmer he ran after
US. cryin' 'Ye! Yer but we wouldn't
take no gar. He, he he!'
Honor wept at the laughter. The
native idiom, unheard for half a
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,
''and he tumbled over on the heather,
/ he. he"
Tommy is dead this forty year,
! Bobby" whimpered Homo
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.
lit be CROWN dark, Tom" she said,
hOarsely; ''hain't it time to call the
cattle home from the ma'shes?"
she's takin' rubbidge again." said
Honor, chokingly. Tell her she's in
| London, Bobby"
A wave of intelligence traversed the
sallow face. Still sitting up. Mercy
bent towards the side of the bed. "Ah!
is Honor still there? 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.