The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1896-03-26

gate when she caught sight OF girl
hurrying down the road, and she paused
to hear what further news was being
brought that way so fast.
Its Farnum's darter Mary" she called
back to Mrs. Bassett, who stood in the
doorway watching her departing Wis
itor.
"Oh, Miss Mandy" the girl cried,
hreathlessly, as she drew near, Mis-
Pettigrew's dyin', an she wants you an
Mis- Bassett an everyone to come quick!
I'm going for the minister. She says
she can't go easy till you've all heard
her dyin' words"
1t WIS a strange, awed, solemn group
of women, old and young, interspersed
with few of the sterner sex, who found
themselves gathered together III Mrs.
Pettigrew's small bed-chamber shortly
Gfter this unexpected summons. They
were waiting in embarrassed silence
the arrival of the young minister, for
Mrs. Pettigrew had refused to speak her
dying words until he should come.
The injured woman was lying on her
bed with her eyes fast closed, Yld the
sharp face looked pitiably white and
worn. There were those among the
hushed and waiting throng whose
hearts were stirred with pity they had
seldom felt for this poor alien needle
woman who had come to cast her lot
among them three years before, and
whose sharp, boastful tongue had won
for her few friends.
Phoebe Allis, the self-appointed
nurse, was not there. 1t was during
her unexplained absence that Mrs. Pet
tigrew had sent young Mary Farnum,
left there by Phoebe in her stead,
abroad with that strange summons.
Except for the Farnums. Phoebe was
Mrs. Pettigrew's nearest neighb n, and
she had always shown unvarying kind
ness to the poor, solitary soul, and had
listened patiently to the never-cnding
stories of those rich city folk, those fine
connections, on whose grand ways Mrs.
Fettigrew so loved to dwell. And il
was Phoebe who had cared for Mrs. Pet
tigrew's abandoned cat when it's mis-
tress had suddenly gone on that event
full journey whence she had returned
more overbearing than ever, and laden
with her inheritance of family silver
the immediate cause of her recen down
fall and her present precarious condi-
ton.
AT last the young minister arrived
and Phoebe Allis, coming N brca thless
at almost the same moment, regarded
the throng which filled the small low
ceilinged room with an establishment
which more than equaled his OWE.
He bad been summoned, as he sup
posed, to pray over the departir e soul
of this hayward sister, so suddenly
brought low; and he felt strangely EN-
barrassed by the presence of this un-
Iooked-for audience.
AS he bent over her, Mrs Pett;grew S
eyelids were suddenly raised, and re
'ealed a pair of haru, gray, scintillat.
ing eyes. With u bony hand she waved
him aside.
Il didn't send for you to come pray
over me. That won't do me DO good
in the condition l am in," she said, in
her high, ringing voice.
I've been a wicked woman, an now
I'm sufferin' for i'll know all that
sent for you to listen to my aonfes
sion, my dyin' words, an wan. We al
to hear"
Phoebe Allis, breaking through the
throng, caught the sufferers hand
For goodness sake, Mis- Pettigrew
don't say another word" she whispered
anXiously. 'GCu'll work yourself into
a fever. She amt quite herself" she
added, turning to the eager listeners
80 won't you jest quietly go an leave
her alone with me?'
But Mrs. Pettigrew imperiously shook
off the restraining hand. Il am my
self" she declared, sharply. An
won't be shut up by Phoebe A'lis MOI
no one else. I'm goin' to speak my
dyin' words, for I've deceived you all
an | mean you all to hear"
Hush, hush, for mercy's sake! Jest
you wait a minute till l tell We
Phoebe pleaded, but her gentle voice
was drowned by the others rising
treble.
Il come here among you goin' or
Three years ago, MIS-. IeItlRfcW wen
on, shrilly, IAN you tried to tn' kind to
me, but l was that disaSreeahle you
couldn't stand havin' me boardin rounC
among you for what SEWN could do
an so jim Farnum let me have this
tumble-down old house to live in my
self, rent free; but | warn't CRATE u
: even then-though, goodness knows
it's the only real home ever had.
: ''Pettigrew deceived me. 1 married
him for home l never got, an when ht
: died ! left the place where I'd lived I
dogs life, an come here where no ont
knew me. I've had a quarrel witt
Providence all my life. I've alwhy'
wanted to have things decent an be
somebody, but anythin l ever under
took to do has failed.
| 80 | was jealous an hated every ono
O you for bein' better off n myself.
) wanted to get even with you, somehow
so | made a plan, an Dragged of my
rich relations an how elegant they
lived.
AN all the time l was worlkin' nv
) fingers to the bone, an pinchin' an