Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1896-10-27
HEPZIBAH.

The room had been still for long
while. Only the even, monotonous
splash of the outgoing tide and now
and again 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 uncompronising 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
futtering breath of the girlish form be-
meath the sheet, and she noted each
quiver of the unconscious eyelids.
The night wore on, and with the
coming of the gray dawn a wind arose,
| moaning round the little house and
shaking the fastenings of the sickroom
window.
The dying woman stirred, and she
| moaned, then slowly opened her eyes
great, sad blue eyes-like child in
trouble. She fixed them upon the watch
| er in the chair with pathetic look of en-
treaty.
"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 so
difficult.
Gam dying now?'
The woman bending over her made
| no response, but tears gathered in her
hard eyes, and her thin lips quivered.
''No, you need not tell me. know 1
am. can feel it. Hepzibah, you have
| been so good to me. There is something
that-you must do-for me-when I
am gone''-
Hepzibah 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
left-a packet-letters. Will you bring
| them to me?''
Hepzibah brought over to her little
! bundle, tied round with faded pink rib
bon.
The young woman fingered it loving
ly, wistfully.
'fThey are Jacks letters-my Jack,
Hepzibahl When L am gone, trust you
to burn them for me. Tom must never
know. Poor Tom-he has been O 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 temper-and L married Tom.
But when Jack came back from sea last
time, II found out how much he
cared. It was terrible-and loved him
sol Then he was drowned-my poor
Jackr'
A weak sob choked her broken whis-
pering.
Promise me you will burn them,
Hepzibah, for Toms sake" I"
Dear. L promise. -
''You have been SO good to me, so pa
tient with me. When 1 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.
'1 will do what L can, Nellie" she
responded in a smothered voice.
"Call Tom now. feel am going
soon-going. feel so cold-so numb. ="
Hepzibah hastily left the room. She
was back in an instant, followed by a
stout, ruddy faced man of about 80. He
stepped softly TO the bed and took the
dying woman's hand in his big grasp.
Come, Nell, my lass, you must bear
brave heart Well have you better
soon.'' There We're tears in his CHEEKY
voice.
Nellie looked at him with a faint
smile. She raised the big red hand in
which her own was imprisoned to her
lips. Then, exhausted by her recent
efforts, she closed her eyes and seemed
to sleep. Presently she started violently.
Her eyes opened IN terror.
1.-THE lettersI You will burn them,
Hepzibah"-
Tom turned TO Hepzibah wondering
ly. 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
ters,' she replied in steady voice
The diving woman looked her graft
! tnde for the saving lie There was g.
silence again and a solemn sense on
waiting IN the room- At last Nelne
! made q faint movement with her hano-
The tide was nearly out Beyond the
sun was rising in golden splendor, max
a gIitteriDg pathway across the
', -.yes, straight to the cottage window.
] The night wind had softened into .