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

How he psibah Shut The Gates. :,


sSDtf fuE Tooin nau ieen very Stlll
4 for long while only the even,
monotonous splash OF the ont going
tide, and now and again the restless,
unconscious movement of the dying
woman in the bed, disturbed the still
ness of the night.
In the big arm chair by the bed
side, in the light of the lamp, sat Il
gaunt woman, angular and haggarl,
with thin compressed lips, yellow skin,
light eyes, and dead straw colored
hair drawn tightly back from her
forehead, and twisted into an uncom-
promising 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
fiutiering breath of the girlish form
beneath the sheet, she noted each
quiver of the unconscious eyelids
The night wore ON, and with the
coming of the gray dawn, wind arose,
moaning round the little house. and
shakening the little f;,stenings 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 gaunt 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, hui tears gathered in her
hard eyes, er thin lii 5 quivered
mo, YOU need 10, tell me. know
| am. ! can feel it llepzibah-you
have been so good To me. There is
something that-you must do-for
me-when am gone
Hepzibah bent over her, waiting,
waichful.
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-will YOU bring
them to me?''
Hepzibah brought over To her lit
tie bundle, tied round with faded pink
ribbon.
The young woman fingered it low
ingly, wisifullv.
"They are Jacks letters-my Jack,
flepzibah, When ! am gone, trust
you to burn them Tor me Tom must
never know Poor Tom he has been
good husband To me but loved
Jack first only he was so wild II did
not know that he cared for me- And
he went away in temper, and
married Tom. But when Jack came
back from sea last time, II found
out how much he cared. 1t was terri
ble-and ! loved him so, Then he
was drowned-my poor Jack"
A weak sob choked her broken
whispering.
Promise me you will burn them,
Hepzibah, for Toms sake"
Dear, | 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.
81 will do what can, Nellie" she
responded in smothered voice.
Call Tom now, | feel | am soon
going. | feel so cold-so numb"
Hepzibah hastily left the room.
She was back in an instant, followed
by stout, ruddy faced man of about
fifty. He stepped softly to the bed,
and took the dying wuman's hand in
his big grasp.
Come. Nell, my lass. you must
bear brave heart Well have YOU
better soon" There were tears in his
cleery voice.
Nellie looked at him with Il 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 violent.
Iy; her eyes opened in terror.
"The letters You will burn them,
Hepzibah-"
Tom turned 10 Hepz.bah, wonder
ingEy. He thought the delirium had
returned.
"What letters does she mean y
Hepzlbah was silent, she averted
her eyes. Then
"'She means her dead mothers let
tiers" she replied in steady voice.
The dying woman looked her graft
tudei for the saving lie. There was
silence again and solemn sense OF
waiting in the room. At last Nellie
made faint movement with her hand.
The tide was nearly out. Bevonil.