The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1899-12-09
CHAPTER XIII.
THE SHADOW OF DEATH


CHAPTER XIII.
TIE SHADOW OF DEATH
Two days passed and no change came.
The sun lay warm and bright on the
lawn outside. The birds sang their
same sweet song. The breath OF flowers
perfumed the summer air, and the un-
equal battle between life and death still
went on In the darkened room.
Berthe sometimes sat up to relieve
Wilson and the nurse, but Margaret
gave way to none.
1T Is only the beginning" she said,
In answer to Wilson's expostulatlons.
Let me stay now. After awhile will
sleep" And Wilson, yielding. she
spent three nights in weary vigil, but
when the fourth came nature would
stand no more.
She could no longer endure the raw
lngs OF delirium which brought the
past so sharply and wildly before her.
She could not listen to the eloquent
pleadings for love in such weak and
broken sentences. nor hear her own re-
proach, SO doubly cruel, repeated by his
unthinking lips.
"Oh, for the power to live 1t over
again, she cried in the anguish OF her
heart. '@Oh, for one moment of con-
seriousness in which he might under
stand
! The sleep induced by bodily WEAKNESS
was deep and long, and it was quite late
the next morning when Margaret reach
ed Brian's room.
Wilson met her with IN encouraging
smile.
He has been very quiet" he said.
noting the question in her eyes. !
managed to snatch several hours
sleep"
The hours passed slowly. The silence
was unbroken except by the humming Of
the bees outside the window, for even
Brian's complainings were stilled for
the time. Once he murmured Margaret's
name and she felt his eyes upon her
face, but there was no intelligence in
them, only the dullness of delirium.
After little while he began once more
to give expressions to his feyered fam
cies.
1t was always Margaret and the shad-
ow between them, Margaret reproaching
or repulsing him, or Margaret helpful
and encouraging.
And Margaret could only sit and
listen; though when his sharp cry rang
through the silence of the room. Mar
garet, I can't see you; where are you,
Margaret" she placed her head beside
him, and answered in low, wretched &C
cents:
Here, Brian; close beside you. Can I
you feel my hands? They are holding
| yours.
Did her voice penetrate that dui.
| brain? For one second she thought so.
d. Tho hno pn1 from
| her face.
Hands! Who said hands7 Oh, yes;
remember now. You said it, Margaret
Don't you know you said it2 Your hand
would be in mine. Do you-think Of
the night And I said-ah, I-said-
what did I-say?"
His voice sank away in an unintel-
ligible muttering. A few seconds OF
| silence and his mind wandered again
| He was fighting his old battles now
| and calling upon Margaret for sympathy
and help.
| And In an anguish that could find nc
| other expression, she buried her face
in the pillow beside him.
| Il can't bear it, l can't bear it," she
cried, passionately.
Bear It," repeated the weak voice
Bear ita All, no; can't bear your
contempt. You are-so hard; so hard
upon me. No right to-reproach you.
| No right-at-all." Her head sanl
lower. She could find no answer tt
these bitter complainings.
Suddenly she felt hand upon hel
shoulder, and raising her miserable face
she saw Wilson standing over her.
| viii you come out in the air for I
few moments?" he said, with quiet au
thority. THE weather is pleasant
| Thomas will take care Of Brian.
With sort OF mechanical obedience
she followed him to the broad piazza
where the pure air, warm sun and odol
OF. suent Covers seemed doubly CRATE
| ful' the close atmosphere Of Thu
sick room.
He was silent for somo seconds. Evi
IDENTIFY he found it difficult to put hi
thoughts in suitable language.
She saw and understood his hesita
ton.
Il know what you would say" sh
broke in, covering her face With ne
hands. Il know SO well. You nav
beard Brian. You understand. AM
you must realize now what hard, un
lind. undutiful wife I've been
| w nat a.
HUSH" he interrupted, in strang
roice. Il must not allow even your lip
, 10 saw such unkind words about your
{ sef. They are not deserved. You la,
100 much stress upon what he says
!: oysctting that it is only the raving Q
i ielIr.um. Brian has made me his con
Il !0ant and feel that can judge.
Il You cannot know oil, she answered
t Pressing her hands together. 70
sannot know Of the hundred little thing
{ the motions, expressions. words-a
J, meaning so much. You cannot know
3 hem, but / do. They are always be
hre me-, and the last day-the very las
: tay-i spoke unkindly. | shall neve
i i .orget IT. never. / saw that 1t hui
sim. / intended to tell him wss SOFT,
z had no chance, They brought hi