Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1896-12-18
A LOST PARADISE.
BIZ MARX SALE

long while; only the even, monotonous
splash OF the outgoing tide, and now
and again q 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 dead 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 hut-
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, o 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 pathetic
look Of entreaty.
''Hepzibahl" The pale lips just
formed the whispered word.
The gaunt woman rose hastily and
bent over her.
"Hepzibah-you have been very good
to me-"
A painful pause, breathing was go
difficult.
Gam I dying now?"
The woman bending over her made
no response. but tears gathered in her
hard eyes, her thin lips quivered.
mo, you need not tell me. know ]
am. I can feel it. Hepzibah-you have
been so good to me. There is some.
am gone
I sFIepzibah 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
1eft-a packet 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
ly, wistfully.
"They are Jacks letters-my Jack
Hepzibah! When am gone, trust yor
to burn them for me. Tom must never
know. Poor Tonne has been good
husband to me; but l loved Jack first
only he was so Wild did not know
that he cared for ne. And-he went
away in temper-and I married Tom
But when Jack came back from sea
last time, IL found out how much he
cared. 1t was terrible and I loved
him SO! Then he was drowned-my
poor jack"
A weak sob choked her broken whis.
pering.
Promise me you will burn them
Hepzibah, for Toms sake"
Dear. I promise"
"You have been so good to me, 50
patient with me. When am gone YOU
will be good to poor Tom"
A dull red flush overspread the elder
woman's face. She turned her head
into the shadow.
Il will do what can, Nellie" she re-
sponded, in smothered voice.
Call Tom now. feel am going
soon-going. I feel so cold-so numb
Hepzibah hastily left the room. She
was back in an instant, followed by q
stout, ruddy-faced man of about 50
He stepped softly to the bed, and tool
the dying woman's hand in his big
grasp.
Come, Nell, my lass, you must bea,
q brave heart. Well have you bette,
soon." There were tears in his CHEEKY
voice.
Nellie looked at him with faint
smile; she raised the big red hand il
which her own was imprisoned to hel
lips. Then, exhausted by her recen'
efforts, she closed her eyes. and seemed
to sleep. Presently she started violent
ly; her eyes opened in terror.
1.-THE letters! You will burn them
aepZlDan-
Tom turned to Hepzibah, wondering
ly. He thought the delirium had re
turned.
what letters does she mean?"
HepZibah was silent; she averted he1
eyes. Then
"She means her dead mothers let
ters," she replied, in a steady voice.
The dying woman looked her graft
tude for the saving lie. There was 9
silence again and a solemn sense Of
waiting in the room. At last Nellie
made faint movement with her hand
The tide was nearly out. Beyond, the
sun was rising in golden splendor, max
ing q glittering pathway across the
waves, straight to the cottage window
The night wind had softened into 6
warm breeze. It came waited in
mingling with the salt Of the sea-with
the scent Of the flowers in thelittle gar.
den below.
Nellie's big, sad eyes took in all the
beauty of the morning. then they
gently closed.
So Nellie Thurgood, Tom Thurgood's
young wife, died, and was buried in the
little churchyard by the sea; and the
tide came in end the tide went out