The Atlanta constitution., 1900-10-29

1 burning spot OF color would appear II
each cheek, and drops stand on her brow
| in the intensity of the struggle to master
| them, but after a time she would pusf
them away with trembling hands, and
| lean back i'm her chair with a puzzled
| frightened look that went to Moly's heart
| At last. bodily weakness gained the day
| and the strong will. in spite of all its
| brave resistance. was conquered. One
| morning after breakfast, which she had
scarcely tasted the old lady pushed her
key basket toward Molly. and asked her
with pitiful attempt of n smile. to act
as houSekeeper for once as she did
not feel equal TO 1t that day. The apology
| for smile was kept up valiantly while
the girl remained in the room but when
the door closed behind her, and the ia
miliar rattle of the keys was audible in
the passage without. Miss O'Neilrs sto-
icsm deserted her and she burst into
tears.
| These keys were the insignia of her
royalty. and In giving them up she aban-
dCned her supremacy. The weight OF
years and increasing exhaustion and In
fin nifty had subdued her at last. and she
made no more efforts to combat theTi.
Gradually her dependents grew reconciled
TO seeing the fam,liar figure which they
Quitous, stationary in the hgh-backed
chair in the corner; to refer to Molly
for instructions on indoor concerns. while
MIR. Burke NOW a fequent visitor was
the authority on all matters connected
with the estate.
Under the altered circumstances things
W ent on much as usual within and With
out that well ordered house. and every
one congratulated themselves that this.
SfSrn
a mistaken idea, as a conversation which
Molly once had with her. proved.
do you krow," said Miss ONeill. look
ing up, with a little quiver of the lip.
what strikes me as the strangest or ali
the strange things that be fall me now-a-
days? 1t is seeing how very we'll you
can all get on without me-
Dear said Molly. gently. I'VE only
try to do our best; you would not like
things to so wrong or to be niismah-
ageG?"
"Oh, no; it is all quite right. and L am
am glad it should be SO. only it sur
plises me rather. | used to think, you
know, that no onc could do without me,
and that nothing could be right unless
saw TO 1t myself. And here you are, all
as comfortable as possible. and every
thing goes on much as before. and L am
just cypher in my own house"
There was a little husky note IN her
voice recurring now and then, but other
wise she spoke with a clearness and vigor
which astonished Molly, and smote her.
moreover, with keen remorse at having.
like everyone else. supposed her kinswo-
man to be Incapable of noticing much
that had evidently caused her pain and
chagrn.
1.-THE supremacy of your mind" contin-
ued the latter, after pause, extends
over just much space as your body
car CARY you acrcss-that is my impress
sion. Mine. at present. does not reach
beyond this room, and It viii soon BE-
less-it will soon be less" she continued
musingly. "'Six feet of earth for u
grave was not that the allowance which
the warriors of old used TO make to their
enemies when they sought for terms?
1t is what our friends grant US now-a-
days. No matter how important you
may have thought yourself. this is what
you come to-a few feet of earth for
grave-and there is an end of you"
'Oh, don't speak like that" cried Molly.
quick tears starting to her eyes. we are
not all so ungratefuL We are constant
in our love and remembrance for the
dead
Eyes. my dear, you think so now. but
wait a little Wait till have been tucked
away under ground. even for short
time The rain will fall and the sun Will
shine, just as If there were no new grave
in the churchyard-it is the way of ma
ture. And you will laugh and sing and
forget, as is the way with human ma
ture.'
81 may laugh and sing, but shall not
forget" said Molly, crossing impulsively
to her side.
Miss O'Nen glanced up at the girls
"Why, you know-y)u. yourseif-that /
speak the truth. You have not forgotten
those you used to love years ago." contin-
ued Molly. "If | were to mention their
names. even new. you would feel them
stirring in your heart"