wishes for me every day, and
wants me to write a letter, all to herself," answered Kittie, too busy
running her eyes over the few lines, with the signature

"Yours, most sincerely,
"PAUL MURRAY."

in bold, handsome hand, to notice the different expressions in the eyes
that were watching her pleased, smiling face. Perhaps no one detected
therein just what Mrs. Dering did, for it takes a marvelously small
thing, to open a mother's eyes. But then Kittie's pleasure was as
innocent as a child's; she read that letter over and over, and admired
the beautiful writing, but thought that all her pleasure grew from the
fact of hearing from Pansy, who had been gone a month, and said, as she
put it in her pocket, "It was very kind in Mr. Murray to write, I'm sure
for I did want to hear from Pansy."

But every one forgot the letters after awhile.

At supper-time Ernestine asked for something to eat. She even raised
herself from the pillow by her own strength, and said how very hungry
she was, and as the girls left the room to get what she asked for, a
strange cold thrill struck their hearts. Eagerly, as though famishing,
Ernestine ate the cream toast that they brought, drank the chocolate,
and asked for more.

"Give her all she wants," said Dr. Barnett, in answer to an appealing
look from Mrs. Dering; and so they brought more, with the strange pain
still in their hearts; and she ate it eagerly, with that unearthly
brightness in her eyes, and such a fluttering stain of scarlet in her
wasted cheeks. The sad truth came first to Beatrice, as she looked from
husband to mother, and read it in their pale, quiet faces; then it came
to Olive, for she drew near, and put her arm around Bea, with a touch
that both gave and asked for help; and then Kittie and Kat, seeing the
hopeless sadness in their faces, suddenly realized that they stood in
the dread presence at last, and with one accord turned to each other for
help; while Jean crept to her mother's side, and hid her face in the
folds of her dress. So death found them, as he drew near, and claimed a
place before mother, sisters, or brother; but he did not come
repulsively, or like the grinning head that portrays him to our mind's
eye; instead, it seemed as though a white angel, with kindly eyes had
drawn near, and breathed upon the sufferer before he kissed the life
from her lips; for after a short stupor Ernestine awoke, and looked upon
them with peaceful, shining eyes.