Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1901-08-23
CHAPTER NNu.

CHAPTER NNII.
The windows of Rose Lincoln's cham
Der were open. and the balmy air of May
came in. kissing the white brow of the
sick girl. and whispering to her of swell.
ing buds and fair young blossoms. which
his breath had Weakened into life, aud
which she would never sec.
Has Henry Gomez" she asked of her
father, and in the tones of her voice there
WAS an unusual gcntlcness, for just as
she was dying Rose was learning to live.
For a time she had seemed so indiffer-
Ont and obstinate that Mrs. Rowland had
almost despaircd. But night after night,
when her daughter thought she slept, she
prayed for the young girl. that She might
not die until she had first learned the
way of eternal life. And, as il in am
swer to her prayers. Rose gradually be-
gan to listen. and as she listened. she
wept. wondering. though, why her grand
mother thought her so much more wicked
than anyone else.
On her return from the city Jenny had
told her as gently as possible of IIenry's
conduct toward Ella. and of her fears
that he was becoming more dissipatc,l
than over. For n time Rose lay perfect
- Yang "h' cNiAhH' NHliNlhS IN Wiz
asleep. was about to leave the room,
when her sister called her back, and bid
ding her sit down by her side, said, Tell
me. Jenny, do you think Henry has any
love for me:'
"He would be an unnatural brother if
he had not" answered Jenny. her own
heart yearning more tenderly toward her
sister, whose gentle manner she could
not understand.
Then resumed Rose, sit he loves
me. lie will he sorry when | am dead.
and perhaps it may save him from ruin"
The tears dropped slowly from her long
eyelashes. while Jenny. laying her round.
rosy cheek against the thin. pale face
near her, sobbcd out. You must not die
dear Rose. You must not die. and
leave us"
From that TING the failure was visible
and rapid. and though letters went fire.
quently to Henry. telling him of his sis
ter's danger, he still fingered by the side
of the brilliant beauty, while cast morn
ing Rose asked. will he come today
and each night she wept tina he was not
there.
Calmly and without n murmur she had
heard the story of their ruin from their
father. who could not let her die with
out undeceivins her. Before that time
she had asked to be taken back to Mount
Auburn, designating the spot where she
would be buried, but now she insisted up
on being laid by the running brood at the
foot of her grandmother's garden, and
near a green, messy bank where the
spring blossoms We're earliest found. and
where the flowers of autumn fingered
longest. The music of the falling water.
she said, would soothe her as she slept,
and its cool moisture keep the grass green
and fresh upon her early grave.
One day, when Mrs. Lincoln was sit
ting by her daughter and. as she fire.
quently did, u%ttering invcctives against
Mount Holyoke, ETC., Rose said. Don't
talk so. mother. Mount Holyoke Semi
nary had nothing to do with Fastening
my death. l have lone it myself by my
own carelessness;" and then she confess
ed how many times she had deceived her
mother. and thoughtlessly exposed her
health. even when her lungs and side
were throbbing with pain. Il know You
will forgive me-" said she. ''for most Sc
verely nave 1 been punished"
Then, as she heard Jenny's voice in the
room below, she added. There is one
tlc liluS MllSu L MOulu sly 10 you.
Ere l die, you must promise that Jenny
shall marry William Bender. He is poor,
I know, and so are we, but he has a no.
bic heart, and now. for my sake, mother.
take back the bitter words you once
spoke to Jenny, and say that she may
wed him. She will soon be your only
daughter. and why should You destroy
her happiness. Promise me, mother,
promise that she shall marry him."
Mrs. Lincoln. though poor. was proud
and hanghty still. AMI the struggle in her
bosom was long and severe. but love for
her dying child conquered nj last.
and, mother" continued Rose. may
he not be sent for now? | cannot be here
long. and once more / would see him and
tell him that l gladly claim him as u
brother"
a brother! How heavily those words
smote upon the heart of the sick girl!
Henry was vet away. and though in Jen-
ny's letter Rose herself had once feebly
traced the words, Come, brother-do
come" he still fingered, as if bound by
Il spell he could not break. And so days
Went by. n night succeeded night. until
the bright May morning dawned. the last
Rose could ever sec. Slowly up the
eastern horizon came the warm spring
sun, and as its red beams danced for y
time upon the wall of Roses chamber.
she gazed wistfully upon it. murmuring.
ut is the last-the last that will ever rise
Toy me-
William Bender was there. He had
come the night before, bringing word that
Henry would follow the next day. There
was a gay party to which he had prom
ised to attend Miss Hcrndon. and he
deemed that a sufficient reason why he
should neglect his dying sister.
If Henry does not GOMEZ said Rose.
tell him it was my last request that he
turn away from the wine cup. and say
that the bitterest pang l felt in dying
was a fear that my only brother should
fill a drunkard's grave. He cannot lool;
upon me dead, and feel angry that l wish