Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1895-11-28
lErXlRAu'S LOST PARADISE.
Mark sale, IN Chapman's MAGAZINE o,
Fiction

FictioE
The room had been very still for II
long while; only the even, monotouous
splash of the out going tide, and now
and again restless, unconscious
movement Of the dying woman In the
bed disturbed the awe some stiffness
of the night,
In the big armchair by the bedside,
in the light of the lamp. sat Il faunt
woman, angular and haEGard, With
thin. compressed lips. yellow skim
light eyes, and dead straw rolorcd hair
drawn tightly back from her forehead
and twtst,,. into an uncompromisnE
knob at the napc Of the neck
She had watched for many weary
nights now beside that bed. but still
her eyes were wide and watchful, and
her attitude alert She counted each
Tutoring breath Of the girlish form
beneath the sheet, she noted oach
CULVER OF the unconscious cyclids,
The night wore on. and, with the
coming Of the gray dawn, a wind
arose, moaning round tho little house
room window
The dying woman stirred she
moancd then slowly opened her eyes
Great, sad, blue eyes like n child IN
trouble, She fixed them upon the
watcher in the chair with pathetic
look of entreaty
"ncp2ibah!" The pale lips just
formed the whispered word.
The gaunt woman rose hastily and
bent over hCr
"Hcp2ihah YOU have been very
good to me
A painful pause, breathing was so
difficult
Am dying, now"
The woman bending over her made
n" response, but tears gathered in her
hard eyes, her thin lips uuivcrcd
No, you need not tell mo | know
am. can feel It. Ilcr2ihoh you
have been so good to me There IL
something that YOU must do for
me when ! am gone
IIep2ibah bent over her waiting
watchful
The dying girl raised one feeble
hand, pointing toward the old bureau
in the corner of the room
There in the third drawer on the
left--a packet letters will you bring
them to me-"
IIopzibah brought over to her n lit
tie bundle, tied round with faded pink
ribbon,
The dying woman fingered IT low
ingly, wistfully.
They are Jacks letters my lack
IIepzibah! When am gone, / trust
you to burn them for me Tom must
never know. Poor Tom he has been
good husband to me, but loved
Jack first only he was so wild did
not know that he cared for me. And
he went away in temper and
back from sea. last time, | found
out how much he cared. 1t was terri
bic and ! loved him so! Then he
was drowned my poor Jack
a weak sob choked her broken
whispering.
Promise you win burn them, Hep
2ibah, for Toms sake"
Dear, ] promise,
You have been so good 10 me, 50
patient with me. When ! am gone
you will be good to poor Tom
A dull red flush oyerspread the
woman's face. She turned her head
into the shadow.
Il Will do what can, Nelly" she
responded. In a smothered voice.
Call Tom now. feel am soon
going, ! feel 80 cold 80 numb"
Hepzlbah hastily left the room She
was back in ar instant followed by
stout, ruddy-faced man OF about 50.
He stepped softly to the bed and took
the dying woman's hand In his big
grasp.
Come, Nell. my lass. YOU must bear
a brave heart Wen have you better
soon" There were tears in his CHEEKY
voice
Nelly looked up AT him with faint
smile; she raised the big red hand IN
which her owr was imprisoned, to her
lips. Then. exhausted by her recent
efforts. she closed her eyes and seemed
to sleep Presently she started yio-
Iently; her eyes opened In terror.
The letters, You will burn them,
Hepzibah-"
Tom turned to Hepzibah wonder