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

- i'1 L iiiN. pIIlluS III OH Que
jacket from under his head and passing
it to Mary. said: Take it to Bill Bender
he offered me a shilling for it. and a
shilling will buy milk for Allie and crack
crs for mother-take it,
No. Frankly" answered Mary, won
would have no pillow; besides, I've got
something more valuable, which / can
sell. Eve kept il long. but it must so to
keep lis from starving'-and she held to
view the golden locket which George
Morriaad had thrown around her neck.
You shan't sell that said Frank.
You must keep j, to remember George;
and then. too. you may want it more some
other time
Mary finally yielded the point. and
gathering mp the crumpled jacket started
in quest of Billy Bender. He was a
kind-hcarted hoy. TWO years older than
Frank. whom he had often bcfriendcd
and shielded from the jcers of their com
lannon's He did not wan the jacket, for
1t was n vast deal too small: n it was
only in reply 10 a proposal from Frank
that he should bny it that he had casual
ly offered him a shilling. But now. when
he saw the garment, and learned why it
was sent. he Immediately drew from his
old leather wallet n quarter, all the
money he had in the world. and giving
1t to Mary. babe her keep it, as she would
need it all.
Half an hour after a cooling orange
was held TO Franks parched lips. and
Mary said. ."Drink, brother: I've got two
more. besides some milk and Bread but
the ear she addressed was deaf and the
eye dim with the fast-falling shadow of
death. Mother! mother.." cried the lit
tie girl, 'Franky won't drink, and his
forehead is all sweat"
Mrs. Howard had been much worse
that day. hut agony made her strong.
S%pringing to his side. she wiped from
his brow the cold moisture which had
so alarmed her daughter, chafcd his
hands and feet, and bathed his head, UNI
til he sceme, better and fell asleep.
Fast the shades of night came on, and
when all was dark in the sick room Mary
sobbcd out. I'VE have no candle, moth
er. and if I go for one, and he should
die
Tho sound of her voice aroused Frank,
and feeling for his sisters hand, he said.
Don't go. Mary: don't leave mc-thc
moon is shining bright, and l guess l can
find my way to Co just as Well"
Nine-ten-eleven-and then through
the dinsy windows the silvery moonlight
fell. as if indeed to light the way of the
early lost to heaven. Mary had drawn
her mothers lounge to the side of the
trunIle bed. and in a state of almost per-
feet exhaustion Mrs. Howard lay gasp
ing for breath. while Mary. as if con-
scious of the dread reality about to oc-
eur. knclt by her side. Oncc Mrs. How
ard laid her hands on Mary's head, and
prayed that she might be preserved and
kept from harm by the God of the or
phan. aud that the sin of disobedicnce
resting ON her own read might not be
visited upon her child.
After a time a troubled sleep came up
on her and she slept until reused by a
low sob. Raising herself up, she looked
%anNiously toward her children. The
moonbeams fell upon the white. placid
face of Frank. who seemed calmly sleep
ing. while over him Mary bent. pushing
back from his forehead the thick clus-
tering curls. and striving hard to smoth-
err her sobs. so that they might not dis
turb her mother.
Does he Sleep asked Mrs. Howard.
and Mary, covering with her hands the
face of him who slept. answered:
Turn away mother-don't look at
him. Franky is dead. He died with his
arms around my neck. and told me not
to wake you"
Mrs. Howard was in the last stages of
consumption, and now she lay back. half
fainting upon her pillow. Toward day
light a violent coughing fit ensucd. and
she knew that she was dying. Reckoning
Mary to her side, she whispered, II am
leaving you alone in the wide world. Be
Kind to Ella and our dear little Allie,
and so with her where she goes. May
God keep and bless you my precious chill
dren-and reward you as you deserve, my
darling-'
The 4entence was unfinished, and in
unspcakable awe the orphan girl knelt
between her mother and brother-shud-
dering in the presence of death, and
then weeping to think that she was alone.
CHAPTER III.
Just on the corner of Chicopce Com
mon. and under the shadow of the cen
tury-old clms which skirt the borders of
the grass plat called by the villagers the
MALL" stands the small red cottage of
Widow Bender. who in her way was
quite a curiosity. All the ILLS which flesh
is heir to" Widow Bender, if she could
ascertain the symptoms. was sure to have
in the most aggravated form.
On the morning following the events
narrated in the last chapter Billy. whose
dreams had been disturbed by thoughts
of Frank. arose early. determined to call
at Mrs. Towards and see if they were
in a of anything. But his mother,
who had heard rumors of the scarlet fe-
yer, was up before him. and on descend
ing TO the kitchen Billy found her sitting
before a blazing iire-her feet in hot wat
er and her head thrown back in II manner
plainly showing that something new had
taken hold of her in good earnest.
"Oh. William said she. i've lived
through II sight, but my time has come at
last. Such a pain in my head and stom-
ach. l do believe I've got the scarlet
fever, and you must run for the doctor,
quick
Scarlet %fever!!' repeated Billy; why.
you've had it once, and You can't have it