Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1901-08-23
my n. coa1a' tell him to promise never again

~ sue uecdme 100 nllch exhausted
TO say more, and soon after fell into a
quiet sleep. When she awoke her father
was sitting across the room, with his
mead resting upon the window sill, while
her own was pillowed upon the strong
arm of George Morcland. who bent ten
DERBY over her. and soothed her as he
would a child. Quickly her fading cheek
slowed, and her eye sparkled with some
hin of its olden light: but George
George was all she had strength to say,
and when Mary, who had accompanied
him. approached her she only knew that
she was recognized by the pressure of the
little biue-veined hand, which soon drop
ped heavily upon the counterpane, while
the cNelids closed languidly. and with
the words. "Hc will not come," she again
slept. but this time twas the long, deep
sleep from which she would never awak-
en-.
Slowly the shades of night fell around
the cottage. Softly the kind-hearted
ncishbors passed up and down the mar
row staircase, ministcring first to the
dead. and then turning aside to weep as
they looked upon the bowed man, who
with his head upon the window sill, still
sat just as he did when they told him she
was dead. At his feet on a little stool
was Jenny. pressing his hands. and COW
ering them with the tears she for his
sake tried in vain to rcprcss.
Mt last. when it was dark without, and
lights were burning upon the table, there
was Il sound of some one at the gate,
and in IL homer Henry stepped across
the threshold. but started and turned
pale when he saw his mother in violent
Mysteries upon the lounge. and Mary
Howard bathing her head and trying to
soothc her. Before he had time to ask
Il question. .Jcnny's arms were wound
around his neck. and she whispered,
Rose is dead. Why were you so late?"
He could not answer. He had nothing
to say. and mechanically following his
sister lie entered the room where Rose
had died. Very beautiful had she been
in life. and now. far more beautiful in
death. she looked like a piece of sculp-
tured marble, as she lay there so cold
and still, and all unconscious of the scald-
ing tears which fell upon her face as
Henry bent over her. kissing her lips and
calling upon her TO awake and speak to
him once more.
When she thought he could hear it
Jenny told him of all Rose had said, and
b. the side of her coffin, with his hand
resting upon her white forehead, the con
science stricken young man swore that
never again should ardent spirits of any
kind pass his lips. and the father, who
stood by and heard that vow, felt that il
it were kept, his daughter had not died
in vain.
The day following the burial George
and Mary returned TO Chicopee. and as
the next day was the one appointed for
the sale of Mir. l.incoln's farm and coun-
try house. lie also accompanied them.
Suppose YOU buy it," said he to
George rs they rode over the premises.
I'D rather you'd OWN it than to see it
in the hands of strangers"
IL intended doing So answered
George. and when at night he was the
owner OF the farm, house and furniture,
he generously offered it to MIR. Lincoln.
rent free, with the privilege of redeeming
it whenever he could.
This WAS so unexpected that Mr.. Lin
coin at first could hardly find words to
express his thanks, but when he did he
accepted the offer, saying, however, that
he could pay the rent. and adding that
he hoped two or three years of hard labor
in California. whittier he intended going,
would enable him to purchase it back.
On his return to Glcnwood he asked
William. who was still there, "how he
would like to turn farmer for awhile"
'Oh, that'll be NICE" said Jenny, whose
love for the country was as strong as
ever. And then. Willie, when pa comes
back well go to Boston again and prac-
tice law. you IL W
Jenny looked up in surprise while Will
liam asked what he meant. Briefly then
MIR. Lincoln told of Georges generosity
and stating his own intentions of going
to California, said that in his absence
somebody must look after the farm, and
he knew of no one whom he would as
soon trust as William.
William pressed the little fat hand
which had slid into his. and replied that,
much MS he would like to oblige Mr.. Lin
coin, he could not willingly abandon his
profession in which he was succeeding
even beyond his most %sanguine hopes.
But said he, II think I can find a good
substitute in Mr.. Parker, who is anxious
to leave the poorhousc. He is an honest,
thorough-going man, and his wife, who is
an excellent housekeeper, will relieve
Mrs. Lincoln entirely from care"
Mercy exclaimed the aforementioned
lady. II could never endure that vulgar
creature round ME. First I'd know she'd
want to be eating at the same table. and
l couldn't survive that"
Mr.. Lincoln looked sad. Jenny smiled,
and William replied that he presumed
Mrs. Parker herself would greatly prefer
taking her meals quietly with her hus-
band in the kitchen.
we can at least try it" said Mr.. Lin
coin in Il manner SO decided that his wife
vcntured no further remonstrance though
She cried and fretted all the time. SEEM
inely lamentins their fallen fortune more.
than the vacancy which death had so re-
Gently made in their midst.
(To pe continually
Proof Positive.