, 1896-12-11
HEPZIBAH.

AAAA
The room had been still for a lona
while. Only the even, monotonouf
splash Of the outgoing tide and now
and again a restless, unconscious move.
ment OF the dying woman in the bed
disturbed the stiffness Of the night.
In the big armchair by the bedside,
in the light of the lamp, sat a gaunt
woman, angular and haggard, with thin
compressed lips, yellow skin, light eyes
and; ds&d straw colored hair drawn
tightly back from her forehead and
twisted into an uncompromising knot
at the nape 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
fiuttering breath Of the girlish form be.
meath the sheet, and she noted each
culver Of the unconscious eyelids.
The night wore on, and with the
coming Of the gray dawn q. wind arose.
meaning round the little house and
shaking the ~fsstenings of the sickroom
window.
The dying woman stirred, and she
moaned. then slowly opened her eyes
great, sad blue eyes-like a child in
trouble. She fixed them upon the watch
er in the chair with a pathetic look of en-.
treaty.
"Hepzibahi" The pale lips just
formed the Whispered word.
The gaunt woman rose hastily and
bent owe her.
"Hepzibah-you have been very good
to me''-
A painful pause; breathing was 30
dificult.
"Am I dying now?"
The woman bending ovef her made
nc response, but tears gathered In her
hard eyes, and her thin lips ~quivered.
"No, you need not tell me. I know l
am. ! can feel it. H~epzibah, you have
been 70 good to me. There Is something
that-you must do-for me-when !
Nm gone
Hepsibah 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
Observation-Disclosures. Will you bring
them to met"
Hepxibah brought over to her q little
bundle, tied round with faded pink rib
bon.
The young woma fingered it loving
", wistfully.
''They are Jacks letters-my Jack,
Hepzibahi When I am gone. I trust you
to burn them for me. Tom must never
know. Poor Tonne has been . good
husband to me. but I loved Jack first
only. be YVES 10 wild. I did not know
that be cared for me. And-he went
away in . temper-and ! married Tom.
But when Jack came back from sea last
time, IL found out how much he
cared. Il was terrible-and I loved him
sol Then he was droIned-my poor
Jacki'
4 weak sob ohoked her broken whis.
pering.
promise me you will burn them,
Hspsibah, for Toms sake"
"Dsar, I promise"
lyon have been 20 good TO me, 70 pa
tient with me. When I am gone. you
viii b. good to poor Tom"
A dull red flush overspread the elder
woman's face. She turned her head into
The shadow.
II will Do what I can. Nellie" abe
responded = q snothered voice.
"tCall Toasnow. !. feel I am going
sooo-goinG. I Tel 70 odd 20 numb. :"
Hepaihah kasdly left the room. Hhe
Wa heek In - instaht, 1Qliowsds " .
Stoat, Ieddy. fAced MAN a SAcdt Co. He
stsppsA,spftiy 10 The ~ and tosk tke;
dying wdlAap's hand n hi 6tg ssiln
Some, Nell. my iaA, yos 800 hear
. brave heart. Well have you hettsr
6uon." There we're teaxs In his cheesJ,
voice. 4
Nellie looked at him with . faint
mil4 Ghs raised the big red hand a.
which hes okn was impEismed 10 her'
ltpa TAse., exhausted ~ her receut
sdkosts, - seaossd hef syes ard seemed
b 11ssr. Presently she stafssd vjoasntly.
Her gsyss opened n tsrrur.
tsThs letesrsl Yoa will barn tAsn,
Hs1hbahn-
4om tsrnsd 10 HseeihaA -waelssias.
r sboasht ~ ds'itis1S hadss-
-Wnssl ssssss soss ~ nssirs
1spabah was stlsak 9he svsetea hss
- xAeni
neans hsr dead mctAsr's ~
9n6AS replied In . iseady vc3cst
m Ayias Woman looked Aae gTatt-
~ ~ savine ~ Thsss va
~ $3.50