Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1905-11-18


she sank forward upon Der face. a.
weak as a child.
'sShe Is dying" said Nancy Hep
me 20 place her upon the settee-"
NO. She must not die here" said
Lake. "Conc we VIII take her 20
Catherine Elcin's room up stairs"
He was fearfuliy agiiated. and per
haps az that moment even his soul
writhsd with rcmorse. They raised the
unconscious form OF their mother. ana
bore il 20 the room formerly used b.
Kate Eisin.
They placed their mother u9cn nc
BED. anu size opened her eyes.
They started hack from thc calm.
reproachful expression OF ttose Cyins {
orbs.
My children" said Fan. IN : feeble /
voice. II am dying. ] know I am j. /
ing. but I am glad 20 die. I thank God T
that / die in my senses. II seems liSs
fearful dream. but know x Is true
dread reality. You. who cali your
SELF Luke Hammond. are my son. And
YOU nre my daughter. My mind 10
calm and clear. Il was not utterly
clouded as n has sometimes been, and
I remember ali. or nearly all. I have
doue in this house. At times during
~ madness I have hocn entirely sane.
! End so great was my misery in being
sane. that I have prayed 90 be mad
ccain. But never have I been in ny
clear mind more than a few moments
90 time. and for many months 1 have
. never been utterly mad I have al
! ways believed that I should see my
children again. May God forgive me
FOR an the evil have done. as I FOR
give YOU. my children 1 have done
, and thought much evil. but was mad.
I or half mad. My daughter. place your
. hand in my bosom. there is weight
there"
/, Nancy Harbcr obeycd. and drew cut
q, the little sack OF golden coin.
"S.uk So, bury %, cast it away said
, tlc dying woman. "How I loved Sc ia
r-y madness There's the price OF q
human life in iC oh. scatter IL 20 thC
N winds, Roland my SON"
But Hammond felt weak. sick and
, faint and hurried away 90 his library
4 His face worc an appalled, oad chastI
=. look. as DE departed but there was n'
d. F tclr in his eye. no repentance i1 hl
couL TIE regretted nothing more.
-, lie has gone" moaned Fan. turnin
IA hcr weeping eyes upon Nancy. VIII
Ancit near her. "Ah. I loved my hus
81. band too much 90 gain th- love on 10
-. children. Have you children. Ncillee
EYES. my mother. one son." sal
~. Nancy.
"And has he-has Roland children
Eyes. u-y mother one son." rc1lc
-,aucy.
.~, II would ask many questions" sal
thc dying woman. "I would talk m-c
, 80 with you. my daughter But death
.~ near ne. But on. my child. tell m
.v-. have you known me TO be your pc
90 mother very long.'
.,.- $40 my mother" said Nancy. "V
be. have suspected it only q short time.
ii, wrote my fathers name on the Fec
,.,. and YOU recognized It."
- ct remember now. 1 tainted. To,
~ nc my SCARED and distorted face. =
=. the rovages Of that awful disease. q
,-r, smallpox. no wonder you did not sl
~ pcct sooner. But stay. I rememb
something more. That sick man
CT the red room-that young maiden
so,- the other-who are theye You DO d
IN answer What deed OF crime are $
nm doing. my daughter
Nancy made no reply. Sorry
,,,-1 what She hal done she was. but S
ii, row is not repentance. She had 70
,r-. pose 10 accomplish. and what that p
pose was the reader shall soon learr
OH Farewell. my daughter. and u
,,,o God forgive YOU. May you repent @
- reform ere you die. And now 10 q
NJ. =, mercy Father OF an mercy. I comm,
T, my soul"
i,Is old Fan "a we have called IT
Elizabeth Dunn. never spoke as.
,.,., She fell asleep. and in that sleep
an. tortured spirit passed away from ea
+. A. forever.
,uet Nancy covered the body with SD
and stole away TO the library.
tf,~. found Iuke drinking brandy. and ],
his ing very wild.
"She is dead" said Nancy. coldl
Ia, 1T is we'll" said Luke. and
IN, you must perform the duties she
,rolrs formed Tor time"
chill. "Are you not sorry. LukeF'
,op cor course am. Nancy" said
5ead II am puzzled how 70 manage al
have the burial Trouble there-rO
,vitb ahead"
con And that was his sorrOw.
mad NOW. Nancy. go TO Catharine E
bnish Daniel must have his sleep. l 1
MAD think"
Nancy left him sitting at his de
. 81 his eyes hard. keen and cruel