The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1904-06-28
A Whisper From
Spirit Land D 3
tospyr.sA. iss& sy D.lly ssOry rsh ool
By sxrz1Es n. JELLEY

(oepJnght tsn< By Daily story Pub oo.l
THE morning sun Of a beautiful
l spring day glinted the unfolding
leaves, here and there scintillated q
trembling, dew-bathed bud, the scent
Of fresh earth from a near by garden
was In the air. and over all nature
brooded in silent preparation for the
full Of summer. -o
A ruddy-breasted robin hoped
across the graveled walk which led te
. vine-clad cottage. and, after furtively
eyeing the long streamers Of Grape
which fell from the door knob, spread
his wings and scared to q neighborint
tree.
A child's shrill treble echoed from
the house across the way. and a wom
ans voice in soothing accents closet,
followed. Far up the street a toilini
farmers wagon slowly approached
Two women came from the opposit,
direction As they passed the hous,
they ceased talking and glanced to
ward the token which told of a depar
ture to the beyond
~She is dead" remarked the younger
In half whisper.
"She died this morning." replied he
companion, her eyes turned towart
the closed windows.
Il didn't know she was so low"
Last week made a call and knew
she wouldn't live. She wasted ava,
like a violet in the SUM-"
The sound of their footsteps wa
grating as they moved over the grave
walk, and occasionally a small ston
ratified against others as it chanced t
be struck by their feet
Have they heard anything fror
him." queried the first speaker. Their
was curiosity in her voice
II heard he came last night"
He did?"
so the doctor told me this mornin
as he passed my house 1t was q sa
affair"
DO you suppose he was in time I
zee her die?"
The doctor said he came into tn
room as she was dying"
Did she recognize him?"
Il didn't learn"
what a pity she had to diei Every
one is so sorry. He Is just as guilt
Of her death as IL he had murdere
her"
II don't think that way about It"
/ well. I oo.'
Il DON'T" reiterated the older won
an "She played fast and loose wit
him for over a year. and he was tire
Of her trifiing. What else could he
than 60 away and get rid Of seeing he
making eyes at all OF her old flame
I'd like to know. No man Of spir
could stand that forever"
NO one thinks she was untrue, an
even IL she was a little gay that Wa
not good reason for his deserting her
was the protesting answer
Il have known Rollo Ward sinC
ehildhood, and a better man does M
live in Rising Sun He was a kin
husband and did what was right Il
provided for her during his absenc
Itoo."
But she loved him"
After running his happiness she sa
Iher mistake 1t was too late then"
He should have returned when 81
began failing so rapidly"
'She was too proud to write to him
1T is q very sad thing"
The man Of whom these worthy vi
lIagers were talking was gazing at Il
white face of his wife. He stood m
ltionless. his chin touching his breas
and his hands clenched together +
was alone with his dead His arriv
was too late to make known to Il
ldying woman-and her last breat
they told him, was a murmur of b
name. They understood her to faint
say: "Roilo-forgive."
As he stood there looking down
the pallid features of the woman wi
had been his ideal his memory fait
fully served him Like fairy pan
! rama the old golden days of the
/ courtship swept before him. He liv
again the exultant glory Of his Pc
sionate wooing. The stings OF carele
! words, the cutting stabs of all whi
had made him miserable in the pa
. did not mar the sweet pictures whi
hoated up from the past. All he 4
was the old love and admiration
his queen among women He saw b
! coQuettish glances, heard again b
laughter, and the tones Of her 10
voice-her beauty and little gracei
| poses had ever been his admiration
She lay there. white and still. Z
tween her slightly parted lips gleam
her even, pearly teeth. and the yellt
/ band Of their wedding ring made b
waxen finger seem whittier. He b
been too severe, he thought She
truly loved him, forgiven him, and b
asked his leniency with her Il
breath.
5 How white her cheek against
pillow!
Al He had not understood. and b
, gone away when she really loved b
I above all others. Better judgms
would have prevented the loneliness
the past two years
Her brown hair lay in wavy mas
across her shoulders, a silken sea