Aunt Marianna, a handsome, stout, radiant young
woman, in the bustles and pleats of the early eighties, with the flowing
ruffles of Theodore's christening robe spreading over her lap. How
wonderful life must have seemed to her then, rich and young, and adored
by her husband, and with her first-born child receiving all the homage
due the heir of the great name and fortune! Then came Annie, and some
years later Alice, and how busy and happy their mother must have been
with plenty of money for schools and frocks, trips to the country with
her handsome, imperious children; trips to Europe when no desire need be
denied them, all the world the playground for the fortunate Melroses!

How short the perspective must look now, thought Norma, to that troubled
brain that was struggling among closing shadows, nearer and nearer every
slow clocktick to the end. How loathsome it must be to the prisoned
spirit, this handsome, stifling room, this army of maids and nurses and
doctors so decorously resigned to facing the last scene of all. Why, the
poorest child in the city to-night, healthily asleep in some unspeakable
makeshift for a bed, possessed what all the Melrose money could not buy
for this moaning, suffocating old autocrat.

"I should like to die out on a hillside, under the stars," thought
Norma, "with no one to watch me. This is--somehow--so horrible!"

And she crept toward the bed and slipped to her knees again, forcing
herself against her inclination--for somehow prayers seemed to have
nothing to do with this scene--to pray for the departing soul.

"Norma," the old lady said, suddenly, opening her eyes. She looked
quietly and intelligently at the girl.

"Yes, dear!" Norma stammered, with a frightened glance toward the
nurses.

These were instantly intent, at the bedside. But Mrs. Melrose paid no
attention to them. She patted Norma's hand.

"Late for you, dear!" she whispered. "Night!" Obediently she drank
something the nurse put to her lips, and when she spoke it was more
clearly. A moment later Doctor Murray had her pulse between his
nerveless fingers. She moved her eyes lazily to smile at him. "Tide
running out, old friend!" she said, in a deep, rich voice. The doctor
smiled, shaking his head, but Norma saw his eyes glisten behind his
glasses.

Suddenly Mrs. Melrose frowned, and began to show excitement.

"Norma!" she said, quickly. "I want Chris!"

"Right here, Aunt Marianna!" Norma answered, soothingly. And Chr