Vashti's Fate — page 29: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

lel all ea. 6 - - —— = “~ oer . ee en eS OS BP ge eS “ : “4 . > « wet o~ >» aL 24 A SHOCK. = So is cers with a ‘cock-and-bull’ story about me falling off the cliff into the lake when I was shot. We laid low till we heard the mister was dead, and then we joined the army again. My brother was killed at Plattsburg; and, think- — ing maybe the family’d be glad to know there wasn't any murder done at all, I came right away, as soon as I could, to tell em. I’d come afore, if I hadn’t been afeared they d string my brother right up. ‘That's all, ma’am, I’m stay- ing at Tim Jarvys; he’s my sister’s husband; if you should want anything of me, you'll find me there.” He touched his cap again, and went swiftly away. Margery Gresham’s nerveless hands dropped heavily to her side, and, as she leaned against a tree, her face dark- ened with a shadow like unto death’s. Gradually she slipped away from that support, and, unable to stand, sat down upon the ground. With shuddering fingers she un- tied and took off her bonnet, and, dipping her hand into a little spring that bubbled from the root of a tree, she moistened her pallid lips, and face, and head mechanically, forcing the tide of life to surge up again trom her be- numbed heart. | 3 ‘““Oh!” she moaned, ‘‘I must not die now. Father of mercy, help me to live and work out my fate! Oh, life! fail me not now.” She sat with her head resting upon her hands till the evening shadows gathered close about her, and then, struggling to her feet, she went slowly and painfully to the house. In her own room, she rang for a servant, bidding her send Philip Bryce to her, with some wine. Philip came, and stood aghast at the deadly pallor of her face.. He poured her a glass of wine without a word. She took it, e A