The White Pine news. [volume] (Treasure City, Nev.) 1868-1906, 1901-10-31

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 stains on her face, for she did not
yet know how bereaved she was.
For a moment Billy stood irresolute,
and then, as Mary moved uneasily in her
slum bers, he advanced a 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 Bllly's extended arms, as
II he alone were all the protector she now
had in the wide, wide world. Ere long
Ella, too, awoke, 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 excitable sister. Billy
tears were flowing. too. but at length
rising up. he said to Mary. Something
must be done. The villagers must know
of II, and shall have to leave you alone
while l tell them"
In half an hour from that time the
eottag e was nearly filed with people,
some of whom came out Of idle curiosity.
But there were others who went there
for the sake Of comforting the orphans
and attending to the dead, and by noon
the bodies were decently arranged for
burial.
There will be no trouble" said one, in
finding a place for Ella, she il DO bright
and handsome; but as for Mary. | am
afraid she'll have to 90 to the poorhouse-"
Were | In a condition to take ether"
replied Mrs. johnson, II should prefer
Mary, for in my estimation she Ii much
the best girl; but there is the baby, who
must go wherever Mary does. unless she
can be persuaded TO leave her"
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 out,
LET me go with Alice; told mother
would"
Billy Bender, who all this while had
been standing by the door. started for
bone, never once thinking, until he
reached 1t, that his mother more than
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 abe could ro-
proach him he said. Mother, have you
heard the news7"
Mrs. Bender had a particular lore for
news. and now forgetting how near to
deaths door" she had been. she eagerly
demanded. What news? What has hap
pened7'
When Billy told her of the sudden
deaths of Mrs. Howard and Frank. an
expression of What That alp passed
over her face, and she said, Dear me.
my snuff, Billy. Both died last night, did
they2 Hain't you nothin else to tellT'
yes. Mary Judson and Ella Campbell,
too, are dead"
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.
Campbelps affection than her own dan
gerous symptoms were forgotten, and.
springing up she exclaimed. Ella Camp
bell dead What'll her mother do7
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 have the teakettle billed agin
get back"
Before you 90 anywhere, suppose you
stop at Mrs. Towards and comfort poor
WIN Nlit5 al Aho iiiAf bF'ahSt Hho
and Alice have got to go to the poor
house."
"of course they'll 20 there. and they
ort to be thankful they've got so good a
place"
81 want to ask you" said Billy, cant
we-couldn't you take them for a few
days, and perhaps something may turn
upf" ....-
william Bender" said the highly as
tonished lady, what can you meant A
poor, sick woman like me, with one foot
in the grave take the charge of three
panper children! l sha'n't do 1t. and you
needn't think OF it."
"But, mother" persisted Billy, who
could generally coax her 10 do as he Tx ed
Its only for few days, and they'll not
be much trouble or expense. for I'll work
enough harder to make 1t up"
II have said no once, William Bender,
and when say no. 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 tax
ing his cap he returned to Mrs. How
ards, while his mother sta rted for Mrs
Campbells.
Next morning between the hours of 8
and 10 the toling bell sent forth its sad
summons, and ere long a few of the vii
layers were 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 at the strangers around
her, or leaning forward to peep at the
tips OF the new morocco shoes which Mrs
Johnson had kindly given her; then, when
her eyes fell upon the coffin, she would
burst into such an agony OF weeping that
many Of the villagers also wept In sym
pathy, and as they stroked her soft hair
thought, "how much more she loved hel
mother than did Mary" who. without
tear upon her cheek, sat there immoya
BILE, gazing dxedly upon the marble fac,
of her mother. Alice was not present
for Billy had not only succeeded In win
ming his mothers consent to take the chill
dren for a few days. but he had ais,
coaxed her to say that Alice might com,
before the funeral, on condition that h
would remain at home and take care o
her.
CHAPTER Nv.
Scarcely three hours had passed sine,
the dark. moist earth was heaped upoI
the humble grave of the widow and he
son, when again, over the village of Chic
opee, foated the notes OF the tollng bell
and Immediately crowds of people. witt
seemingly eager haste, hurried toward
the Campbell mansion, which was sool
nearly filled.
On a marble table in the same room la,