Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1895-07-27

from the place. How differently is
ones mind impressed by an Incident
according TO the time OF day al which
IL happensl The occurrence which had
aroused intense curiosity in the night
seemed not TO the same degree extra
ordinary now; and though we resolved
70 seek the woman. whoever she might
pc, we did so prompted solely by the
nope OF gratifying our desire for food,
We therefore boldly proceeded to re-
connoitre the premises We examined
each cabin as we came to u, but In
none until the last was there any evil
dence OF recent occupation. AS we
approached It slight sound made
known to us the presence of some
tenant
We advanced to the doorway. in
whlch blanket suspended from the
upper sill, served as n door, My friend
knocked on the frame. There was no
response. He repeated the ceremony,
az the same time speaking to whom
soever might be within. The only am
sMer was low, but quite distinct
Well what shah We do now?" he
queried. Let's look In at any rate"
sNld |. my curiosity returning with all
me strength OF the previous night. At
mis- he pushed aside the curtain, and
this Is what we saw: A room as scan
tily and as roughly furnished as the
one In which we had slept upon led
AT the farther side a woman whom
AT once recognized as our midnight Wis
tor She did not appear apr oacnsive
or danger nor angered At our intru-
sion but seemed TO be either unwill-
ing or unable to move or speak We
saw that she was the only inmate Of
the cabin.
u beg your pardon. madhme,' said
my friend, I'VE were IN hope Of tb-
tanning something TO eat. We thought
there might be a family Wing tere.
put II seems that you are more In
need Of assistance than ourselVcs, fog
You are evidently III. ls there man
about the place."
She slowly moved her head uron the
pillow with a negative Significance,
! noticed her eyes. They were OF q
beautiful color, with 10 LOOK ~ in
sanity in them Their expression
seemed that OF curiosity. without u
brace Of fear or displeasure.
You are very IN. are you not7" /
asked. To this she nodded affirmative
~. Have you any food2' | continued.
She shook her head
How did you come here2" To this
inquiry OF my companion she made no
answer II was repeated, aud other
questions asked concerning her rOnli-
ton. with like result, "Can we do any
thing tor you2" we persisted SIN no
response, though the woman appeared
~ ~ AAAAtlNANk VI Hhlil'Allllk bAIlll AllhN
our remarks. which she seemed
scarcely to hear We were convinced
that here was a mystery worth unr1Y-
cling, and all thought OF our own hun
ger and everything else than the piti-
full case Of the creature before us was
bpuished from our minds.
We turned from the bedside and
started towards the door, W. Ind no
intention of leaving her, but wanted
Ia discuss outside the cabin what was
best to be done. Quickly from the
couch came In pleading tones the
worGs: DO not leave mel" "Will
you TALK I asked. Yes" she an
swercd. ~ must talk to you, ! was
thinking--thi nMng-whnt ought 10
do-und-Ol ! must tell youl You are
strangers 10 me, but-you have
muthers-sistcrs You are kind know
! can--can trust you. You Will do a.
say?"
The tone Of agony, the Intense earn
estEcss OF her duplication would have
moved heart OF flint Indeed, my
henr had gone out In sympathy FOR
the poor creature from the moment
I behcld her here. | promised to do any
thing that man could do In her behalf,
and began to question her again as to
her needs. Was there anything about
the place which could be prepared for
her to eat She stopped me with q mo-
tion OF her nand. "Do not tank TO me
now" she said. - must tell you some
thing, and there Is not much tlme. !
am going TO diel Yes, ! know II ip go.
Draw that bench up near the bed md
ait down by me and let me toll you my
story" We could only obey, seeing
II was useless to interrupt and cruel to
disoblige her
- have eaten nothing for four days"
she began. My friend started to his
feet, but she motioned him to be quiet
ct II nearly over--the suffering" she
said, rs she smiled to him kindly. We
could see that her yes We're already
taking ON the expression Of death.
The end was indeed near
Back Of IT, cabin, by the big fir
tree. are my husband ana child.
diggcd the grave with that old shovel
there" aud she poined toward "A cor
ner. In which we saw n broken, worn
out implement. to which 1t would have
been difficult tn give name. II want
to be buried there. Will-will you
bury me by my husband and babyY'
She spoke very slowly now. and her
voice was 80 weak that we heard with
and the sadness of her voice
and the indescribably pitiful expression
of her features moved us TO teurs. We
promised faithfully to perform the sad
duty asked Of us, when she spoke yet
once more:
My history il there" The slightest
movement OF her head directed
our attention to a roll Of paper lying
upon Il shelf near at hand,
1T is his confession, If the world
hears our story"-she here stopped n
moment, and then-"God help me-and
him. Goodbye"
We were In the presence Of the dead.
81 wonder who she was" broke In
my friend. after many minutes Of ~
lence. We looked upon form wasted
by hardshlps and starvation. She
must have been beautiful once. She
appeared OF midle age, though her hair
dark, had become premature
ly threaded with gray.
Whatever her name and history she
has found rest from a life whl1h had
become "A burden. Let us see what the
paper has to say" AS | spoke / took
the document from the shelf and again
seated myself beside the bed. II seemed
the appropriate place for the perusnl
" what she told us was her history.
The writing had been done with
lead pencil on sheets Of old wrapping
paper. ! read aloud as follows.
ITO whoever may find this paper: |
I'm about TO ole by my own hand Life |
FOR me and mine has become unbear- |
IN the Christian religion. But feel |
hat there Is no hope for men. At any |
rate. though ] have sinned greatly md |
my punishment IL Just, II II greater
han can bear. Whatever Ia 10 fol- |
CIV. the sooner ] meet 1t the better. |
nave had upon my brow from my birth |
he brand OF Cain. May he who brought |
bout my mothers shame be made to /
'seI I'm some Way the weight Of the