Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1896-03-28


sighed
So Nellie Thurgood. Tom Thus
goods Young wife. died, and VA:
buried in the little churhyard by the
sea; and the tide came in. and the tide
went out, through the long summer
days and nights. and peaceful order
reigned in the little cottage, for Hep
zibah was II notable housckeeper; and
rom was grateful 10 her in dull
lmpersonal way Ills heart was bur
led in a newly made grave On the clifl
side, and nothing seemed real to him
but that.
liepzibah watched him from un.le,
her white eye,lashes, AMI kept silent
but his pipe WAS always ready for him
when he came indoors, and his favor
food simmered on the hob.
Hepzibuh's hair grew brighter a:
the days went ON; her cheeks had 4
comely flush She hogan to TAX,
thought OF her dress. She bought :
blue gingham gown in the village, and
muslin handkerchief for her neck
Her voice took softer note. She he.
gan 10 sing about her work.
But Tom would sit in the church.
yard through the long summer tvi.
lights, and when he came in to hi.
supper his feet dragged YEARLY, ard
his eyes were dull with misery.
You should not grieve So" said
IIepzibah, ,oltly, one night after sup.
per. She was knitting in the freight,
her head was bent over her work.
Tom woke as from a dream he
locked nj her with unseeing eyes.
"Ah, it's well to say that to man
whose heart is breaking ~
HIS voice grew husky. he turned
away his head to the fire.
But you shouldn't grieve as one
without hope. Time must soften
things bit,-you have your lie be-
iole YOU"
Tom laughed short, bitter laugh,
not good To hear.
"She was all had d-my Nellie.
The apple of my eye What goods
life to me now? Such pretty ways
she had, too he went on musingly ;
such loving, tender ways-"
Hepzibah> needles flashed in the
freight.
There are other women in the
world as fond as Nellie, she said
softly, with her ewes on her knit
ting.
There was long silence in the
room. The fine ilickered Il cindcr
fell on the hearth. lIepzbah could
hear her heart throhs she slowly
lifted her eyes to Il mans face.
lie was not looking ut her al all,
but at a china shepherlness upon the
little table against the wall His
eyes were troubled, he was trying To
remember.
''My Nellie did not keep that ON
there. No, it was on the mantle piece,
here, that she had it.
lie brought the ornament over,
busting it with his handkerchief.
I'VE must keep the things as she
left them, Hepzibah, he said. But
Hepzibah had slipped out of the door
into the summer darkness.
She rested her arms on the little
gate, and stood looking far out To sea.
Her face shone white aud ghostlv in
the dimness. She shivered in the
warm air
You dead woman, You Nellie"
she whispered tensely, why will you
not give him up To me? Iou have
your Jack, you do not want him and
l-oh, my God =
\ great fearless sob choked her
the shimmering waves mocked aer !;
her face hardened.
"Why should not tell him, | shall
do you no harm Are YOU anywhere
here to care at all? God, the life be.
yond--are these anything but words
How can one hurt the dead You are
asleep in the churchyard and love
him-I tell you | love him -
The man was sitting smoking
modify, gazing into the glowing fire
when lIepzibah glided in and stood
behind his chair.
tom, | can't bear that YOU should
grieve so. She wasn't worthy Of a
love like yours
"Hepzibah -
He turned his chair quickly and
faced her. She shrank into the
shadow.
Il have thought you ought to
know she faltered. "because | can't
bear to see YOU spoilin' your life Tor
love of her-her who did not love YOU
at all. but Jack
Her voice was iirmer now, she lock
ed and unlocked her hands behind
her.
Woman, what do you mean? What
lies are you telling me p
lie had sprung 10 his feet and
Prevention