Connecticut western news., 1895-03-28

hours. All night long she sat watching her dying sister, hand and eye alert to anticipate every which. Noword broke the awful stiffness.
 The first thing in the morning Mercy's married daughter, the only child of hers living in London, arrived to nurse her mother. But Honor indig. nantly refused to be dispossessed.
 "A nice daughter you are,' she said. ito leave your mother lay day and a night without sight O your ugly face"
 'I had to look after the good man and the little uns, the daughter plead ed.
 "Then what do you mean by desertin them now?" the irate old woman retort- ed. First you deserts your mother and then your husband and children. You just go back to them as needs your care. I carried your mother in my arms be- fore you was born, and if she wants any body else now to look after her let her just tell me so. and I'll be of in brace O shakes" Y"
 She looked defantly at the yellow, dried up creature in the bed. Mercy's withered lips twitched, but no sound came from them. Jim, strung up by tho situation, took the word. "You can't do no good up here, the doctor says. You might look after the kids down stairs bit when you can spare an hour, and I've got to go to the shop. I'll send you telegraph if there's a change, he whispered to the daughter, and she, not -hnl Ivy tal fr tr ir. ing interests, kissed her mother, lin gered a little and then stole quietly away.
 All that day the old women fingered 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 in-law, who slept perforce. At mid night she awoke and sent him to bed. The sufferer tossed about restlessly. At 2:30 she awoke. and Honor fed her with some broth as she would have fed ba- by. Mercy indeed looked scarcely big ger than an infant, and Honor had the advantage of her only by being puffed out with clothes. A church clock in the distance struck 8. Then the silence fell deeper. The watcher drowsed. The lamp flickered, tossing her shadow about the walls as if she, too, were turning feverishly from side to side. A strange ticking made itself heard in the vain scoting. Mercy sat up with scream of terror. "Jim," she shrieked. "Jimp'
 Honor listened, her blood curdling Then she went toward the door and opened it. "Jim, she said in low tones. speaking toward 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 press ing 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 pathetically 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 winced, but said nothing.
 The youngest child, who did not have to go to school, was brought-a pretty little boy with brown curls, which the sun, streaming through the panes, turn ed 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 long pause. Mercy's eyes were half glazed, but her vision was in- ward now.
 1.-The mignonette will be growth in the meadows, Bobby" she murmured. "Yes, and the heartsease," said Honor softly. "We lived in the coun- try, you know, Bobby" '"There is flowers in the country, '" Bobby declared gravely. .'Yes, and trees," said Honor. "I wonder if your granny remembers when we were larrupped for stealing apples?"
 "Aye, that do, Bobby. He, her' croaked the dying creature, with burst of enthusiasm. We were pair of tom boys. The warmer he ran after us, cry ing. 'Ye! Ye!' but we wouldn't take no gar. He. he, he!"
 Honor wept at the laughter. The native ldlom, unheard for half century | made her face shine under the tears. Don't let your granny excite herself, Bobby. Let me give her drink" She moved the boy aside, and Mercy's lips automatically opened to the draft.
 ''Tom was wi us, Bobby" she gur- 7, gled, still vibrating with amusement land he tumbled over on the heather. He, heP'
 'Tom is dead this 40 year. Bobby, ' whimpered Honor.
 Mercy's head fell back, and an ex. pression of supreme exhaustion came over her face. Half an hour passed. Bobby was called down to dinner The doctor had been sent for. Suddenly Mercy sat up with jerk. Mercy bent toward the side of the bed. "Ah, is Honor still there? Kiss me, Bobby. ' Her hands groped blindly. Honor bent down, and the old women's withered lips met.
 And in that kiss Mercy passed away into the greater silence.-L. Zangwil in Outlook.
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