Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1901-05-31

aoward's. The sun was lust rising.
Within the cottage there was no sound or
token of life, and, thinking it's inmates
were asleep. Billy paused several min
utes upon the threshold, fearing that he
should disturb their slumbcrs. AT last,
With a vague prescntiment that all was
not right. he raised the latch and enter
cd. but instantly started back in aston
lshmcnt at the scene before him. On the
:hundle bed lay Frank, cold and dead.
and near him. in the same long, dream
less sleep. was his mother, while between
them. with one arm thrown lovingly
across her brothers neck, and her check
pressed against his, lay Mary-hcr eye
lids moist with tears which, though sleep
ing. she still shed. On the other side of
Frank, and nestled SO closely to him that
her warm breath lifted the brown curls
from his brow, was Ella. But there were
no tear status on her face, for she did not
yet know how bcreaved she Was.
Flo Il moment Billy stood irrcsolutc,
and then. ais Mary moved uncasily in her
slumbers. he advanced Il step or two to-
ward her. The noise aroused her. and
instantly remembering and comprehend
ing the whole. she threw herself with a
bitter cry into Billy's extended arms, as
if he alone We're all the protector she now
had in the wide, wide world. Ere long
Ella, too. awokc. and the noisy outburst
which followed the knowledge of her loss
made Mary still the agony of her own
heart in order to soothe the more violent
grief of her cNcitablc sister. Billy's
tears were flowing, too, but Mt length
rising up. he said to Mary. "Somcthing
must be done. The villagers must know
of it. and l shall have to leave you alone
while l tell them"
In half an hour from that time the
cottage was nearly filled with people,
some of whom came out of idle curiosity.
But there We're others who went there
for the sake of comforting the orphans
and attending to the dead, and by noon
the bodies were dccently arranged for
burial.
''Ihcre will be no trouble" said one, .in
finding a place for Ella, she is so bright
and Handsome; but as for Mary. ] am
afraid she'll have to go to the poorhousc.''
"Werc l in IL condition to take either
replied Mrs. Johnson. II should prefer
Mary. for in my estimation she is much
the best girl; but there is the baby. who.
must so wherever Mary does. unless she
Giii w " w IL u
Before anyone could reply to this re-
mark Mary, who had overheard every
word, came forward. and, laying her
face ON Mrs. Johnson's lap. sobbed ont.
LET me go with Alice; | told mother |
would"
Billy Bender. who all this while had
been standing by the door. started for
home. never once thinking, until he
nal, IL t1,n% Iii, ~tI,. .,... 41-.
six hours before, had sent him in great
haste for the physician. On entering the
house he found her, as he expected. rolled
up in bed. apparently in the last stage of
scarlet fever; but before she could re-
| proach him he said, Mother, have YOU
heard the news?"
Mrs. Bender had a particular love for
! news. and now forgetting 'how near to
deaths door she had been. she eagerly
demanded, What news? What has hap
penedy'
When Billy told her of the sudden
deaths of Mrs. Howard and Frank. an
expression of what? That all?" passed
over her face, and she said, Dear me.
my snuff. Billy. Both died last night, did
they? Hain't you nothin' else to tell?"
"Yes. Mary Judson and Ella Campbell,
100, are ueiu.
Mrs. Bender, who. like many others,
courted the favor of the wealthy and
tried to fancy herself on intimate terms
with them, no sooner heard of Mrs.
Campbell's atfliction than her own dan
gerous symptoms We're forgotten, and,
springing up. she exclaimed, '.Ella Camp
bell dead! What'll her mother do? 1
must go to her right away. Hand me my
double gown there in the closet. and give
me my lace cap in the lower drawer. and
mind you lave the teakettle billed agin |
get back"
Before you go anywhere. suppose you
stop at Mrs. Towards and comfort poor
Mary. who cries all the time because she
and Alice have got to so to the poor
house"
"Of course they'll so there, and they
ort to be thankful they've got SO good a
place"
II want to ask you." said Billy. cant
wc-couldn't you take them for a few
days. and perhaps something may turn
up?"
william Bender" said the highly as
tonished lady, what can you mean: a
poor. sick woman like me. with one foot
in the grave, take the charge of three
pauper children. l sha'n't do it, and You
needn't think of it,"
but, mother" persisted Billy. who
could generally coax her to do as he liked.
Its only for a few days. and they'll not
be much trouble or expense. for I'll work
enough harder to make it up"
II hay" said no once. William Bender,
and when l say no. l mean no. was the
answer.
Billy knew she would be less decided
the next time the subject was preached,
so for the present he dropped it, and talk
ing his cap he returned to Mrs. How
ards. while his mother started for Mrs.
Campbelrs.
Next morning between the hours of 8
and 10 the tolling bell sent forth it's sad
summons, and ere long Il few of the viii
layers We're moving toward the brown
cottage. where in the same plain coffin
slept the mother and her only. boy. Near
them sat Ella. occasionally looking with
childish curiosity Mt the strangers around
her, or leaning forward to peep at the