Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1899-06-29


hair. Still, she had been crying. Her
eyes looked Redeemed.
Then the visitor spoke in a sharp
whisper, drawling the words out sol.
emnly. Wasn't it dreadful sudden,
Marietta?"
"Yes, it was sudden. Still I'd been
expecting as likely as not it might
happen. He's never been real hearty"
mop" Mrs. Carter assented, with a
doubtful, upward infection. Andrew
had looked hearty, very.
Ever since he sprained his knee
joint last fall he's been ailing espec-
tally; it seemed to use him up
''I never noticed that he limped."
"Well, he did, going uphill and
coming home after long trip"
Another pause, and another stanza
of the creaking dirge.
when did-it happen, Marietta?"
whispered Mrs. Luther Carter then.
"Three o'clock this morning, or a
few minutes past. We were up all
night with him. I didn't get wink
of sleep"
"Poor child" Mrs. Carter softly
patted the knitting-needles. "Did-
did he suffer much?"
''No, 1 guess not. That was a
mercy. He didn't seem to sense any
thing all night We did everything
we knew how to for him-everything.
Laudanum didn't seem to do any
good" She began to cry suddenly.
81 was so fond of himl" she sobbed,
apologetically.
eyes, yes, do cry, Marietta-it'll
do you good. You ought to cry. It's
a mercy you can.
''I don't know how we re going to
get along without him, Mrs. Carter. ~
cts a great loss to the neighbor-
hood. We all feel it," Mrs. Carter
murmured. "Luther and L were all
stuck in heap. He read it in the
paper. Just think of our finding it
out in the newspaper"
Mrs. Gamble lifted her dropping h cad
with an air of solemn pride. eyes, ~
she said, "they put it in the paper
right away. I didn't s'pose they
would in to-day's, but they're dread
ful smart about getting things in.
When Andrews Uncle Andrew died,
they got that into the morning paper
| too"
1t was warm in the room, and Mrs.
Garter took up paper from the table
to fan herself. She folded it neatly and
set it waving with slow, steady strokes.
"When are you going to-to-whe en-
will you-bury him, Marietta?" she
asked at length. gravely.
Mrs. Gamble took up her knitting.
work. "Oh, we buried him this morn.
ing as soon as twas real light. We
thought we might as well get it done
with, and we wouldn't feel so bad when
twas over"
"Why, Mrs. Gamble! Why, Inever
heard of such thing in my born days
I never" She spread out the news
paper fan in distracted agitation, and
stared at it absently. Her face ex-
pressed the utmost amezement and
horror.
Suddenly her eye fell on one of the
items in the paper. She read it hastily
once-twice. Then she glanced at the
| D1pOl . OulS, IL was tuO liOI llh .
paper, and the notice in it was of the
'lamentable loss our respected towns
man, Andrew Gamble, has sustained
this morning-as we go to press-in
the death of his valuable and petted
chestnut horse" etc, etc.
Mrs. Luther Carter crumpled the
paper in her fingers and rose. ''Well,
Marietta, must be going I'm real
sorry for you and Andrew, but 'tisn't
as if twas one of the family gone, you
know. Good-by."
She went rapidly home, and finding
the borrowed paper, thrust it into
Luther's hand unceremoniously, point
ing to the date. For the first time
they noticed that it was old and time
stained, and exhaled faint musty
odor. They had read its mention o.
the death of Andrew CANDLES uncle
Luther Carter read and re-read the
date. Then he got up and went ou
of the house.
When at supper time he came back,
he remarked briefly to Cyrus as he
went through the kitchen:
'I've subscribed for the newspaper
myself, Cyry, SO 1 guess you went
need to go borrowing any more. -
Youths Companion.