The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1896-10-23
A LOST PARADISE.
BY MARK SALE.

y
lonr while: only the even, monotonous
$,nssb of the outgoing tide, and now
md again a restless, unconscious move
mpnt of the dying woman in the bed.
disturbed The stiffness of the night.
In the bic alm-chair by the bedside,
n the light of the lamp, sat a gaunt
woman. angular and haggard, with
him compressed lips, yellow skin, light
,yes and dead straw-colored hair
drawn tightly back from her forehead,
end twisted INTO an uncompromisiLg
knot at the uape of the neck.
She had watched for many weary
nights now beside that bed, but still her
eres we're wide and watcbful, and her
attitude alert. She counted each fut-
ering breath of the girlish form be-
meath the sheet, she noted each culver
ct 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
noaned then slowly opened her eyes.
Great sad blue eyes-like a child in
trouble. She fixed them upon the
watcher in the chair with a pathetic
look of entreaty.
"Hepzbah!" The pale lips just
formed the whispered word.
The gaunt woman rose hastily and
bent over her.
"Hepzibah-you have been very good
10 me"
A painful pause, breathing was so
difficult.
"Am 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. know 1
am l can feel it. Hepzibah-you have
been 50 good to me. There is some
thing-you must do-for me-when I
am gone"
Hepzbah bent over her, waiting,
watchful.
The dying girl raised one feeble hand,
pointing towards the old bureau in the
corner of the room.
THEREIN the third drawer on the
ieft-a pacllet-letters-will you bring
them to me?"
Hepzibah brought over to her a lit
Tie bundle, tied round with faded pink
ribbon.
The young woman fingered it loving
~ wistfully.
They are Jacks letters-my Jack,
hepAbah When 1 am gone, trust you
70 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
mat ne cared for me. And-he went
away in a temper-and / married Tom.
but when Jack came back from sea
last time, II found out how much he
cared II was terrible = and l loved
MIN SO! Then he was drowned-my
poor jack"
weak sob chol<ed her broken whis-
pering.
;, Promise me you will burn them,
nepzlbah, for Toms sake"
Dear, | promise"
You have been SO good to me, so
patent with me. When 1 am gone you
Will be good to poor Tom"
dull red flush overspread the elder
"oman's face. She turned her head
mo the shadow.
Will do what can, Nellie" she re-
'pohded, in a smothered voice.
Oall Tom now. feel l am going
Oon-going. I feel so cold-so numb"
hepzibah hastily left the room. She
vas back in an instant, followed by a
'out' ruddy-faced man of about so.
,e stepped softly to the bed, and took
NC dying woman's hand in his big
'rasp
come, Nell, my lass, you must bear
brave heart. Well have you better
Ooh There were tears in his CHEEKY
oice.
Ne'lle looked at him with a faint
%lle; she raised the big red hand in
'n'cn her own was imprisoned to her
ps' Then, exhausted by her recent
nortS' she closed her eyes. and seemed
S,eep. Presently she started violent
ner eyes opened in terror.
Inc letters! You will burn them,
iepzibah-"
ION turned to Hepzibah, wondering
y lie thought the delirium had re-
urned
what letters does she mean?''
nepzibah was silent: she averted her
yes. Then
one means her dead mothers let.
~, -, she replied. in a steady voice.
,ne dying woman looked her graft
n, uue Tor the saving lie. There was
. uence again and a solemn sense of
rnsaldL ah in the room. At last Nellie
n, lalnt movement with her he nd.
~. ne tlde was nearly out. Beyond. the
~ NJ was rising in golden splendor, MAX
Is rs gilttering pathway across the
r NJ. straight to the cottage window.
r ae night wind had softened into q
~; i breeze. 1t came waited in.
~ silng with the salt of the sea-with
a. H. scent of the flowers in the little gar
,as' s,ile's big. sad eyes took in all the
,ss u'y OF the morning, then they
emily closed.
Io ~ Nellie Thurgood. Tom Thurgood's
its, us Wife, died, and was buried in the
''s churchyard by the sea; and the