Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-02-15
CHAPTER XVII.

CHAPTER XVII.
How the flame fiickers in the lamp!-
how bright.
with q strange beauty-and now
dim for ever"
And two opposing and mighty prin'
ciples were at fearful strife in tha1
chamber. Death was there with pow
er not to be withstood and there life
vainly endeavored to combat him. YET
there were no shows Of terror or o1
violence in the struggle-no exhibition
of the torturing pain, and Of the spirit
vainly resisting and striving to escape
All was gentleness, even in the MUIR
murs which occasionally fell from the
lips Of the dying girl. Her cheek was
transparent-her eye wore sublimat-
ed light. as 1t quivered in its socket
and fiickering in changing directions
seemed in search of some expected
presence. Her pale lips were slightly
parted. and the even tops Of the pearly
teeth below were just perceptible. The
gauze Of her drapery was scarcely
lifted by the heave Of her bosom; and
as her hand lay partially upon 1t, you
might even trace out the smallest OF
her blue veins. like so many fibres OF
the flower. shining through the delicate
skin She was dying-dying without
seeming pain. and we'll might her
brother fancy from the pleasant smile
upon her cOuntenance, that the whis-
pering sound which reached his ears
on entering the apartment, had fallen
from the sister angels already busy
around her.
He sat beside her, took her hand
pressed his lips upon her forehead. and
for a few seconds remained without
attracting her notice. Her eye al
the lips. which had fallen apart, were
reclosed as she recognized him. AT
last a faint smile enlivened them-a
fond effulgence filled her eye-she laid
one of het hands upon that with which
he had already clasped her own, and
murmured something family which he
could not understand. It=was strong
effort which her mind had made to
concentrate itself upon a single object
and some minutes elapsed before 1t
was quite successful. At length she
spoke:-
"Oh. Robert, l sent for you. I'm Sc
glad you were not yet gone, for I feel
that I am dying. l am not mistaken
now. / know it to be death. This
darkness-these shades that come
across my eyes are its cloud, and II
presses momently closer and closer
upon them. 1t must be so: and have
been afraid-very much afraid since
you left me, that my thoughts were
crowding and confused. They were
strangely mixed up together-very
strangely; and once l felt that they
were escaping me: and then grew
terrified. l would not lose my senses
| would have them to the last; for
would speak to you and to Kate, even
with my parting breath. 1t is sweet
to die so. I could bear it then; but
not to know. not to say farewell, and
pray for you in the moment Of parting
would he terrible indeed-terrible, ter
rib!e''
H.. eyes closed, and her hands were
clasped, as she concluded the sentence
while her lips separated, and her voice
was heard in whispers. as If in pray
er. When her eyes again opened. there
was a wildness in their eXpression-a
misty cleaning, that seemed to confirm
to those around her, the fear which
she had expressed. The mind was
evidently wandering: but the strong
will, still pre-eminent enabled her tc
bring back the forgotten thoughts
and to fix them in expression. Hel
words now were in broken murmurs.
Not my will, not my will, but thine
Father,-yet for him-for Robert, my
poor brother-could it only be-for
him-fOr Robert"
The name recalled her more vividly
to him who sat beside her, and hel
eyes were again fixed upon his face.
old mauma!-is she here, Robert
where"
He shook his head negatively. bu
made no other reply.
BE good to her for me: tell her
lah."
She closed her eyes, and a sligh
distortion of the lips declared the pans
which she felt at that moment, ant
from which II was several minutes be-
fore she was so far recovered as to bt
able to speak again. When she did, 4
was with sweet smile of patien
resignation.
Strange that death cannot take hi:
prey without inflicting pain. | an
willing Ia go with him. l offer no re-
sistance. yet he strikes and rends, thu
same as if I did. Life struggles still
even when you desire it not; but /
does its duty--it holds on to its trust
and | must not complain. But, dea
Robert. forget not old mauma. Give
frock which l have made for her
Kate will give you the message that J.
to go along with 1t. And. Robert-th
, garden-the-ah. how cloudy, cloudy
so very dark: and that is through sil
sin"
The lips continued to mutter, though
: the words grew indistinct. The mint
I was again wanderng-the soul wa
anXiouSly seeking to escape its earthl,
= tabernacle: but the flesh as tenaciousl.
| IL
: ton on one side. and Kate upon tn
: other. hent speechlessly over the dyinl
: maiden. The eyes of Kate were full
of tears: but Singleton choked wit
= the grief to which tears could Civ
= no utterance. She started while he la,
: in this position, and her head, wit