Angela motioned her husband to bend near to her. Her eyes shone with
unearthly brightness. He put his ear near her lips. Her voice was
very, very faint.

"Take--care--of--our--baby--Frank. I'm--I'm--leaving you. God--help-
-you--and--keep--you--and bless you--for--your--love--of me."

She paused to take breath--then she whispered her leave-taking. The
words never left O'Connell's memory for all the days of all the
years that followed. "My--last--words--dear--the--last--I'll--ever--
speak--to--you. I--I--love--you--with--all--my heart--and--my soul--
HUSBAND! Good--good-bye--Frank." She slipped from his arms and lay,
lips parted, eyes open, body still.

The struggle was over. She had gone where there are no petty
treacheries, no mean brutalities--where all stand alike before the
Throne to render an account of their stewardship.

The brave, gentle little heart was stilled forever.




BOOK III

PEG


CHAPTER I