The Jennings daily record. [volume] (Jennings, La.) 1900-1903, 1902-05-09

exactly like that of old Mrs. Tompkins.
Perhaps these reports made Miss
Tompkins more nervous than she had
been. She tried to laugh at them, even
going to far as to tell her nelghbors
that if they should see thin coil OF
smoke from her chimney during her
absence, they might know the ghost
was warming himself at her banked
fire. The thin coil of smoke had al
ready been noticed, making cold chills
creep up the spine of the superstitious.
who looked upon Miss Tompkins as
the bravest woman in the town.
But by-and-by when several more
winters had passed and the coil OF
smoke continued to be seen. 1t ceased
to be talked of except among few.
Mr.. Passmore continued his visits at
intervals. and people were forced to be
reconciled to the course of events.
Then came a winter so cold that the
oldest Inhabitants said they had never
seen its like And the cold was re-
sponsible for the renewal of the talk
concerning Il ghost at the Tompkins
house. A light began to be burned all
night in back room which some said
was Miss Tompkins' bedroom. 1t was
known that she had become almost
stingy of late years. and nothing but
fear of the ghost could make her burn
light all night and every night. More
over, the lady was growing bent. and
paler and thinner and very sad.
Next door to Miss Tompkins lived
preacher and away In one night when
things We're in stiff freeze, the preach
er's door bell tangled most urgently
and repeatedly.
whats wanted?" he called from the
rear of the hall, as he stood shivering
in his night dress.
1T is l. Miss Tompkins," came from
outside please Mr.. MyeIs- go for
Doctor Parker as fast as you can, and
bring him to me-
That l will. I'll send my wife to
wait on you till he gets there" was the
hearty answer.
But Miss Tompkins was half way
across the yard before he finished
speaking. and evidently it was not she
who required the doctors aid. Some
what later four people stood by bed
in II back room of the Tompkins house.
On the bed was an emaciated. suffer
ing most wretched looking cOnsump-
tive-Ed Tompkins. His sister was
too excited to know or to care that her
face was wet where unheeded tears
had dripped.
III help you, old fellow" said the
doctor, bending over the thin body, eX-
amininG it critically with eyes and
hands. only to gain time to recover
himself somewhat. How long has he
been nerc?'' he asked. Strengthening
himself. and looking at Miss Tompliins.
Five years" she answered trenu-
lousy.
The preacher and his wife started
perceptibly. and stared i'll silence at
his throat and looked away. All three
began to understand many things. The
doctor busted himself with his patient,
though he knew there was no shadow
of use in his miniStrations.
AS for Ed Tompkins, he had known
that Death was at his side when his
sister left him TO call aid, and now he
seemed to be conscious of her presence
alone; this kind sister, who all his
life had given him blessing for blight,
blessing for blight. He did not even
glance at the unnccustomed faces look
ing so pityingly ut him. Seeing how
he watched her. Miss Tompkins
asked:
What is it, Ed?''
''JuSt thinking he answered.
THANK you for all-all."
She bent close to his head and whiSp-
cred to him, weeping
At dawn Il corpse was il the par
lor, and by breakfast time the whole
Petersburg was agog with comment
OF course Miss TompkinS had shield
ed n murderer in her house for five
years But then he was her brother
and had been sick all that time. Wo-
men said they Were proud of Miss
TompkinS: men said she was grand
and young people Gazed at her house
in speechlesS awe. And Mr.. PaSSmore
declared that more perfect character
than Miss TOmpkins' had never graced
the town. He couldn't have looked
happier If all Fettersberg had been
admirinG him instead of Miss Temp
kinS.
About six months later. the much
lauded lady went once more to PERI
wink Home Place. this time not to
answer an advertisement She went
in her own carriage and was greeted
as Mrs. Passmore.-W averley Maya
zine.