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<v Speaker 1>This is section nine of The Gilded Age. This LibriVox

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<v Speaker 1>recording is in the public domain. The Gilded Age, A

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<v Speaker 1>Tale of to Day by Mark Twain and C. D. Warner,

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<v Speaker 1>Chapter nine. Washington dreamed his way along the street, his

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<v Speaker 1>fancy flitting from grain to hogs, from hogs to banks,

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<v Speaker 1>from banks to Eyewater, from Eyewater to Tennessee Land, and

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<v Speaker 1>lingering but a feverish moment upon each of these fascinations.

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<v Speaker 1>He was conscious of but one outward thing to wit

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<v Speaker 1>the General, and he was really not vividly conscious of him.

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<v Speaker 1>Arrived at the finest dwelling in the town. They entered

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<v Speaker 1>it and were at home. Washington was introduced to missus Boswell,

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<v Speaker 1>and his imagination was on the point of flitting into

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<v Speaker 1>the vapory realms of speculation again when a lovely girl

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<v Speaker 1>of sixteen or seventeen came in. This vision swept Washington's

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<v Speaker 1>mind clear of its chaos of glittering rubbish in an instant.

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<v Speaker 1>Beauty had fascinated him before many times. He had been

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<v Speaker 1>in love, even for weeks at a time, with the

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<v Speaker 1>same object, but his heart had never suffered so sudden

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<v Speaker 1>and so fierce an assault as this within his recollection.

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<v Speaker 1>Louise Boswell occupied his mind and drifted among his multiplication tables.

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<v Speaker 1>All the afternoon. He was constantly catching himself in a reverie,

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<v Speaker 1>reveries made up of recalling how she looked when she

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<v Speaker 1>first burst upon him, how her voice thrilled him when

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<v Speaker 1>she first spoke, how charmed the very air seemed by

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<v Speaker 1>her presence, blissful. As the afternoon was delivered up to

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<v Speaker 1>such a revel as this, it seemed an eternity, So

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<v Speaker 1>impatient was he to see the girl again. Other afternoons

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<v Speaker 1>like it followed. Washington plunged into this love affair as

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<v Speaker 1>he plunged into everything else, upon impulse and without reflection.

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<v Speaker 1>As the days went by, it seemed plain that he

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<v Speaker 1>was growing in favor with Louise, not sweepingly so, but

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<v Speaker 1>yet perceptibly he fancied. His attentions to her troubled her

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<v Speaker 1>father and mother a little, and they warned Louise, without

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<v Speaker 1>stating particulars or making allusions to any special person, that

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<v Speaker 1>a girl was sure to make a mistake who allowed

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<v Speaker 1>herself to marry anybody but a man who could support

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<v Speaker 1>her well. Some instinct taught Washington that his present lack

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<v Speaker 1>of money would be an obstruction, though possibly not a

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<v Speaker 1>bar to his hopes and straightway, his poverty became a

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<v Speaker 1>torture to him, which cast all his former sufferings under

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<v Speaker 1>that into the shade. He longed for riches now as

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<v Speaker 1>he had never longed for them before. He had been

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<v Speaker 1>once or twice to dine with Colonel Sellers, and had

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<v Speaker 1>been discouraged to note that the colonel's bill of fare

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<v Speaker 1>was falling off, both in quantity and quality, a sign

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<v Speaker 1>he feared that the lacking ingredient in the eye water

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<v Speaker 1>still remained undiscovered, though Sellers always explained that these changes

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<v Speaker 1>in the family diet had been ordered by the doctor,

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<v Speaker 1>or suggested by some new scientific work the Colonel had

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<v Speaker 1>stumbled upon. But it always turned out that the lacking

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<v Speaker 1>ingredient was still lacking, though it always appeared at the

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<v Speaker 1>same time that the Colonel was right on its heels.

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<v Speaker 1>Every time the Colonel came into the real estate office,

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<v Speaker 1>Washington's heart bounded and his eyes lighted with hope. But

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<v Speaker 1>it always turned out that the Colonel was merely on

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<v Speaker 1>the scent of some vast undefined land speculation, although he

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<v Speaker 1>was customarily able to say that he was nearer to

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<v Speaker 1>the all necessary ingredient than ever, and could almost name

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<v Speaker 1>the hour when success would dawn, And then Washington's heart

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<v Speaker 1>would sink again, and a sigh would tell when it

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<v Speaker 1>touched bottom. About this time a letter came saying that

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<v Speaker 1>Judge Hawkins had been ailing for a fortnight and was

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<v Speaker 1>now considered to be seriously ill. It was thought best

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<v Speaker 1>that Washington should come home. The news filled him with grief,

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<v Speaker 1>for he loved and honored his father. The Boswells were

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<v Speaker 1>touched by the youth's sorrow, and even the General unbent

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<v Speaker 1>and said encouraging things to him. There was balm in this.

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<v Speaker 1>But when Louise bade him good bye and shook his

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<v Speaker 1>hand and said, don't be cast down. It will all

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<v Speaker 1>come out right. I know it will all come out right,

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<v Speaker 1>it seemed a blessed thing to be in misfortune. And

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<v Speaker 1>the tears that welled up to his eyes were the

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<v Speaker 1>messengers of an adoring and grateful heart. And when the

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<v Speaker 1>girls saw them, and answering tears came into her own eyes,

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<v Speaker 1>Washington could hardly contain the excess of happiness that poured

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<v Speaker 1>into the cavities of his breast that were so lately

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<v Speaker 1>stored to the roof with grief. All the way home,

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<v Speaker 1>he nursed his woe and exalted it. He pictured himself

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<v Speaker 1>as she must be, picturing him, a noble, struggling young spirit,

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<v Speaker 1>persecuted by a misfortune, but bravely and patiently waiting in

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<v Speaker 1>the shadow of a dread calamity, and preparing to meet

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<v Speaker 1>the blow as became one who was all too used

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<v Speaker 1>to hard fortune and the pitiless buffetings of fate. These

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<v Speaker 1>thoughts made him weep, and weep more broken heartedly than ever,

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<v Speaker 1>and he wished that she could see his sufferings now.

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<v Speaker 1>There was nothing significant in the fact that Louise, dreamy

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<v Speaker 1>and distraught, stood at her bedroom bureau that night, scribbling

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<v Speaker 1>Washington here and there over a sheet of paper. But

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<v Speaker 1>there was something significant in the fact that she scratched

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<v Speaker 1>the word out every time she wrote, examined the erasure

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<v Speaker 1>critically to see if anybody could guess at what the

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<v Speaker 1>word had been, then buried it under a maze of

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<v Speaker 1>obliterating lines, and finally, as if still unsatisfied, burned the paper.

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<v Speaker 1>When Washington reached home, he recognized at once how serious

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<v Speaker 1>his father's case was. The darkened room, the labored breathing

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<v Speaker 1>and occasional moanings of the patient. The tip toeing of

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<v Speaker 1>the attendants, and their whispered consultations were full of sad meaning.

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<v Speaker 1>For three or four nights, Missus Hawkins and Laura had

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<v Speaker 1>been watching by the bedside. Clay had arrived, preceding Washington

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<v Speaker 1>by one day, and he was now added to the

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<v Speaker 1>core of watchers. Mister Hawkins would have none but these three,

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<v Speaker 1>though neighborly assistance was offered by old friends. From this

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<v Speaker 1>time forth, three hour watches were instituted, and day and

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<v Speaker 1>night the watchers kept their vigils by degrees. Laura and

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<v Speaker 1>her mother began to show where, but neither of them

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<v Speaker 1>would yield a minute of their tasks to Clay. He

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<v Speaker 1>ventured once to let the midnight hour pass without calling Laura,

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<v Speaker 1>but he ventured no more. There was that about her

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<v Speaker 1>rebuke when he tried to explain, that taught him that

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<v Speaker 1>to let her sleep when she might be ministering to

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<v Speaker 1>her father's needs was to rob her of moments that

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<v Speaker 1>were priceless in her eyes. He perceived that she regarded

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<v Speaker 1>it as a privilege to watch, not a burden, And

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<v Speaker 1>he had noticed also that when midnight struck, the patient

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<v Speaker 1>turned his eyes toward the door with an expectancy in them,

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<v Speaker 1>which presently grew into a longing, but brightened into contentment

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<v Speaker 1>as soon as the door opened and Laura appeared. And

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<v Speaker 1>he did not need Laura's rebuke. When he heard his

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<v Speaker 1>father say, Clay is good, and you are tired, poor child,

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<v Speaker 1>But I wanted you so. Clay is not good. Father,

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<v Speaker 1>he did not call me. I would not have treated him,

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<v Speaker 1>So how could you do it? Clay? Clay begged forgiveness

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<v Speaker 1>and promised not to break faith again. And as he

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<v Speaker 1>betook him to his bed, he said to himself, it's

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<v Speaker 1>a steadfast little soul whoever thinks he is doing the

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<v Speaker 1>duchess of kindness by intimating that she is not sufficient

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<v Speaker 1>for any understanding she puts her hand to makes a mistake.

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<v Speaker 1>And if I did not know it before, I know

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<v Speaker 1>now that there are surer ways of pleasing her than

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<v Speaker 1>by trying to lighten her labor, when that labor consists

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<v Speaker 1>in wearing herself out for the sake of a person

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<v Speaker 1>she loves. A week drifted by, and all the while

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<v Speaker 1>the patient sank lower and lower. The night drew on.

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<v Speaker 1>That was to end all suspense. It was a wintry one.

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<v Speaker 1>The darkness gathered, the snow was falling, The wind wailed

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<v Speaker 1>plaintively about the house, or shook it with fitful gusts.

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<v Speaker 1>The doctor had paid his last visit and gone away

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<v Speaker 1>with that dismal remark to the nearest friend of the

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<v Speaker 1>family that he believed there was nothing more that he

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<v Speaker 1>could do, a remark which is always overheard by some one,

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<v Speaker 1>it is not meant for, and strikes a lingering, half

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<v Speaker 1>conscious hope dead with a withering shock. The medicine files

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<v Speaker 1>had been removed from the bedside and put out of sight,

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<v Speaker 1>and all things made orderly and meet for the solemn

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<v Speaker 1>event that was impending. The patient, with closed eyes, lay

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<v Speaker 1>scarcely breathing. The watchers sat by and wiped the gathering

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<v Speaker 1>dapths from his forehead, while the silent tears flowed down

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<v Speaker 1>their faces. The deep hush was only interrupted by sobs

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<v Speaker 1>from the children grouped about the bed. After a time,

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<v Speaker 1>it was toward midnight. Now mister Hawkins roused out of

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<v Speaker 1>a doze, looked about him, and was evidently trying to speak. Instantly,

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<v Speaker 1>Laura lifted his head, and in a failing voice, he

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<v Speaker 1>said while something of the old light shone in his eyes. Wife, children,

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<v Speaker 1>come nearer, nearer the darkness grows. Let me see you

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<v Speaker 1>all once more. The group closed together at the bedside,

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<v Speaker 1>and their tears and sobs came. Now without restraint. I

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<v Speaker 1>am leaving you in cruel poverty. I have been so foolish,

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<v Speaker 1>so short sighted. But courage, A better day is is coming.

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<v Speaker 1>Never lose sight of the Tennessee land. Be wary. There

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<v Speaker 1>is wealth stored up for you there, wealth that is boundless.

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<v Speaker 1>The children shall hold up their heads with the best

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<v Speaker 1>in the land. Yet, where are the papers? Have you

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<v Speaker 1>got the papers? Safe? Show them? Show them to me.

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<v Speaker 1>Under his strong excitement, his voice had gathered power, and

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<v Speaker 1>his last sentences were spoken with scarcely a perceptible halt

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<v Speaker 1>or hindrance. With an effort, he had raised himself almost

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<v Speaker 1>without assistance, to a sitting posture. But now the fire

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<v Speaker 1>faded out of his eyes, and he fell back, exhausted.

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<v Speaker 1>The papers were brought and held before him, and the

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<v Speaker 1>answering smile that flitted across his face showed that he

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<v Speaker 1>was satisfied. He closed his eyes, and the signs of

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<v Speaker 1>approaching dissolution multiplied. Rapidly. He lay almost motionless for a

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<v Speaker 1>little while, then suddenly partly raised his head and looked

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<v Speaker 1>about him as one who peers into a dim, uncertain light.

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<v Speaker 1>He muttered, gone, no, I see you still it is.

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<v Speaker 1>It is over, but you are safe. Safe the ten

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<v Speaker 1>the voice died out in a whisper. The sentence was

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<v Speaker 1>never finished. The emaciated fingers began to pick at the coverlet,

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<v Speaker 1>a fatal sign. After a time, there were no sounds

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<v Speaker 1>but the cries of the mourners within the gusty turmoil

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<v Speaker 1>of the wind. Without Laura had bent down and kissed

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<v Speaker 1>her father's lips as the spirit left the body, but

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<v Speaker 1>she did not sob or utter any ejaculation. Her tears

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<v Speaker 1>flowed silently. Then she closed the dead eyes and crossed

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<v Speaker 1>the hands upon the breast. After a season, she kissed

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<v Speaker 1>the forehead reverently, drew the sheet up over the face,

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<v Speaker 1>and then walked apart and sat down with the look

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<v Speaker 1>of one who is done with life and has no

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<v Speaker 1>further interest in its joys and sorrows, its hopes, or

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<v Speaker 1>its ambitions. Clay buried his face in the coverlet of

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<v Speaker 1>the bed. When the other children and the mother realized

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<v Speaker 1>that death was indeed calm. At last, they threw themselves

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<v Speaker 1>into each other's arms and gave way to a frenzy

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<v Speaker 1>of grief. End of Chapter nine,