Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1896-10-24
A LOST PARADISE.
EY NJ ARK SALE

EY MARK SALE
The room had been very still for
Dong while; only the even, monotonous
splash of the outgoing tide, and now
and again q restless, unconscious move
1nent 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 dead straw-colored hair
drawn tightly back from her forehead.
and twisted INTO an uncomPromisiLg
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 f1ut-
tering breath of the girlish form be-
meath the sheet. she noted each culver
of the unconscious eyelids.
The night wore on, and with the COM
ing of the gray dawn, wind arose,
moaning round the little house. and
shaking the fastenings of the sick room
window.
The dying woman stirred; she
moaned, then slowly opened her eyes.
Great sad blue eyes-like q child in
trouble. She fixed them upon the
watcher in the chair with a pathetic
look of entreaty.
+Hepzibah!" The pale lips just
formed the whispered word.
The gaunt woman rose hastily and
bent over her.
''Hepzibah-you have been very good
20 me-
a painful pause, breathing was so
difficult.
Am I dying now?"
The woman bending over her made
no response. but tears gathered in her
hard eyes. her thin lips quivered.
NO, you need not tell me. L know I
am L can feel it. Hepzibah-you have
been so good to me. There is some
thing-you must do-for me-when L
am gone
Hepzibah bent over her. waiting,
yHvatchful.
The dying girl raised one feeble hand,
pointing towards the old bureau in the
corner of the room.
-'There-ip the third drawer on the
.yeft-a Packet-letters-wilI you bring
them to me?"
Hepzibah brought over to her q lit
tie bundle. tied round with faded pink
ribbon.
The young woman fingered it loving
Iy. wistfully.
They are Jacks letters-my Jack,
-Nepzibahi When 1 am gone, 1 trust you
TO burn them for me. Tom must never
know Poor Tonne has been a 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 q temper-and / married Tom.
But when Jack came back from sea
last time, I'll found out how much he
cared. 1t was terrible and loved
him so. Then he was drowned-my
poor jack
"A weak sob chol1ed her broken whis-
pering-
Promise me you will burn them,
Ffepzibah, for Toms sake"
-'Dear, 1 promise
You have been so good to me. so
patient with me. When 1 am gone you
will be good to poor Tom"
dull red flush overspread the elder
woman's face. She turned her head
into the shadow.
II will do what I can. Nellie" she re-
sponded, in a smothered voice.
Call Tom now L feel I am going
.soon-going. 1 feel so cold-so numb "
Hepzihah hastily left the room. She
was back in instant. followed by n
stout, ruddy-faced man of about so.
He stepped softly to the bed. and took
ehe diving 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
Hoice-
Nellie looked at him with a faint
smile; she raised the big red hand in
which her own was imprisoned to her
tips Then, exhausted by her recent
efforts, she closed her eyes. and seemed
60 sleep. Presently she started violent
gy- her eyes opened in terror
The letters! You will burn them.
Hepzibah-''
Tom turned to Hepzibah, wondering
fy- He thought the delirium had re-
turned.
what letters does she mean?"
Hepzibah was silent; she averted her
Eyes. Then
--She means her dead mothers let
Gers" she replied. in a steady voice.
The dying woman looked her graft
<ude for the saving lie. There was a
silence again and a solemn sense of
waiting in the room. At last Nellie