Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1896-10-31
A LOST PARADISE.


$50 g. C
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 incorporating
] knot at the nape of the neck.
: She had watched for many weary
nights now beside that bed. bu1 still her
eyes were wide and ~watchful. ard her
attitude alert. She counted each fut-
tering breath of the gMirlish 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, a 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 a 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 gannt woman rose hastily and
bent over her.
"Hepzibah-you have been very good
to 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 |
am. can feel it, Hepzibah-you have
been so good TO me. There is some
thins-you must do-for me-when |
am gone"
Ilepzibah 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
left-a packet-letters-wiil 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 l am gone, thrust you
10 burn them for me. Tom must never
know. Poor Tonne has been a good
husband to me; but l loved Jack first
only he was SO Wild did not know
mat he cared for me. And-he went
away in a temper-and l married Tom.
But when Jack came back from sea
last time, II found out how much he
cared. 1t WAS terrible - and | loved
him so! Then he was drowned-mv
poor Jack"
a weak sob choked her broken whis-
pering.
Promise me you will burn them,
Hepzlbah, for Toms sake"
Dear, l promise"
You have been so good TO me. so
patient with NE, When | am gone YOU
will be good TO poor Tom"
a dull red flush oyerspread the elder
woman's face. She turned her head
into the shadow.
i VIII do what can, Nellie" she re-
sponded, in a smothered voice. F,
Call Tom nov l feel l am going
soon-going. l feel so cold-so numb"
Hepzibah hastily left the room. She -,
was pack in an instant, followed by a
stout, ruddy-faced man of about so.
He stepped softly to the bed, and took 8
Inc dying woman's hand IN his big i
grasp. -,
Come, Nell, my lass, you must bear i
a brave heart. Wen have O better c
There were tears in his CHEEKY G
voice. =.
Nellie looked at him with a faint
smile; she raised the big red hand in 1
her w was imprisoned to her i
Ups. Then, exhausted By her recent v
efforts, she closed her eyes, and seemed n
to sleep. Presently she started violent d
"; her eyes opened in terror. +
1.-THE letters. You will burn Them I,
y
Tom turned to Hepzibah, wondering d
". He thought the delirium had re- =
i.
What letters does she mean?r q
Hepzibah was silent; she averted her p
Eyes. Then 10
"She means her dead mothers let. W
-ers,' she replied, in a steady voice. a
The dying woman looked her graft. a
-ude for the saving lie. There was n y
again and a solemn sense of /
in the room. At last Nellie fl
made a faint movement with her hand y
The tide was nearly out. Beyond. the G.
'un was rising in golden splendor, max y
ng a glittering pathway across the Il
waves. straight to the cottage window. ri
The night wind had softened into a fl
warm breeze. 1t came waited in Y,
ningling with the salt of the sea-witb n
he scent of the flowers in the little gar y
len below. Il
Nellie's big, sad eyes took in all the p
beauty Of the morning, then thew p,
yently closed. q;
u lOIl i / VI
'oung wife, died, and was buried in the II
little churchyard by the sea; and the fe
ide came in and the tide went out. o,
through the long summer days and III
lights, and peaceful order reigned in v,
ne little cottage, for Hepzibah was a IL
'otable housckeeper; and Tom was %,
'rateful to her in a dull, impersonal h,
way. His heart was buried in a newly re
q q grave on the cliff side, and moth a,
ng seemed real to him but that. ar
Hepzibah watched him from under re
ler white eyelashes. and kept silent. ar
'ut his pipe was always ready for him al
ne came indoors, and his favoritc ca
God simmered on the hob.
Hepzibah's hair grsw brighter as the
lays went on; her cheeka had d comelv ~
W.; ~ began - ~ thnnght 81 her III