The Natchitoches enterprise., 1897-02-18
HEPZIBAH.

Tho room had bcsn still FOR long
while. Only the even, mon0tonour
! splash uf the outgoing tide and now
and again q restless unconscious move
mont Of the dying woman in the b0d
disturbed the stiffness of the night.
In tho big armchair hy the bedside.
ID tho light Of the lamp, sat gaunt
woman angular ard haggard. with thin
com pressed lips. yellow skin. light eyes
and dead straw ool3red hair drawn
/ tightly back from her forehead and
twisted into an incorporating knot
at the nape of che neck.
Shs had watched for many weaxy
nights now beside that bed. hnt Sill
| her eyes were wide ard watchfu1 and
| her attitCde alert. She counted each
futtering breath of the girlish form be-
meath tha sheet, and she noted each
quiver ca tho unconscious eyelida
The night wore on. ard with The
coming Of tho gray dawn wind arose.
moaning roand the little house and
shaking tho fasteninss Of tho siokrooin
window.
The dying woman stirred. ard she
rnoauod, then slowly opened hsT eyes
great sad bIue eyea--iike child Ia
trouble ehe fixed them upon the watch
Ok IN the chair With pathetic Iookof en-
treaty.
sHepzibahi'' Tho pale lips 5usA
formed the whispered word
IAe eauzt woman rose hastily and
bEn< oref her
hare bssn ess good
20 NE
a painful pause; breathing was 80
difficult.
Am ! dying nowf''
Tho woman beading over her mado
no response. bat fears gathered in her
hard eyes, and her thin lips QuiYered.
mo. you need not tell 1ne. i know
am. can feel ik Hepxibah, you have
been SO coed TO me There Is something
that--yon must do--for me-whan
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.
Therein the third drawer on the
left-a packe letters. Will you bring
them to naei''
Hepzibah brought over to her q little
bundle, tied round with faded pink rib
bon
The young woman fingered Il loving
II. vistfully.
They are Jacks Ietters-n1y Jack.
Hapzibahi When arn gone, / trust you
10 barn them tor me. Tom must never
know. Poor Tom-he has been good
husband to me, but loved Jack llrnt--
only he was so wild. / did not know
that be cared for me. And--he went
away IN a temper--and married Tom.
But when Jack came back from sea Last
time. III found ous how much he
cared. e was terrible-and / loved him
sol Than he was drowned-my poor
Jackl''
A weak sob choked her broken whis-
pering.
" Promise me you win barn them.
Hepzibah, FOR Toms sake. "
Dear promise.
sYcu have heen eo good "a ne. eo paz
tient with me- When ! am gone you |
win BE good 70 poor Tom. =
A dull xed dush overspread the elder |
woman's faca She turned her head into |
the shadow.
''I will do what ! can, Nellie. . alae
responded In snothered voice.
ssCall Tom now. / feel I am going |
soon-going. 4 feel SO cold--so numb. .
Hepzibah hastily left the room. She |
was back In an Instant followed by q [
stout, ruddy faced man Of about 30. He /
stepped eoftIy 70 the bed and took the I
dying woman's haud ID his big grasp
"Come, Nell. my lass. you muss beax
brave heart. Well have you better /
soon. There were tears 10 his CHEEKY
voice
Nellie looked at him with . faint /
smile. She raised the big red hand IN /
which hor own was imprisoned to hsT
lips Then, exhausted BY her recent
efforts, she closed her eyes and seemed
to sleep Presently she started violently (
Her eyes opened in terror.
'.rhe lettersI You will burn them,
Hepzibah'-
Tom turned to Hepzibah wondering
y. He thought the delirium had rs-
turned.
What letters does she meanf
Hepzibah was silent. She ayerted her
eyes. Then:
She means her dead mothers let
terz she replied in q steady voice.
Tho dying woman looked her graft
tude for tho saving lie. There was q
silence again and q solemn sense Of
waiting ii the room At iast Nellie
made faint movement with her hand.
Tho tide was nearly cnk Beyond rho
sun was rising II golden splendor. max
ing ALTERING pathway across fhe
waves, straight to the cottage Ninaow.
The night wind had sofsened INTO :