Sketches of Dingle Parish

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated.1856 Excerpt: ... they find to the author of the mysterious letter, and no satisfaction could they derive as to the reliance to be placed on its testimony. The next day Mr. Shepard was constantly haunted by the remembrance of the mysterious letter. In the study or in the school, it would still rise up in his mind, and he often found himself abstracted from things around him and speculating upon various solutions as to its origin and authorship. After school was dismissed for the day, he called at Mrs. Brown's to see Mary, who for three weeks past had been confined to her bed by a severe illness. He knocked gently at the door, and Mrs. Brown, with her usual cheerful smile, admitted him. She had a bad night, said Mrs. Brown, in answer to his inquiries, and the doctor thinks she may not remain long with us. Still, she added, as she wiped a tear from her eye, she had a more refreshing sleep this morning, and I think she is better this afternoon. Would you like to see her, sir? Mr. Shepard assented, and was led to Mary's room on the floor above. Mrs. Brown drew aside the window curtains; Mary was lying on a bed in the corner of the room. She stretched out her thin white hand to welcome her pastor as he approached the bedside. You have been worse since I saw you, said Mr. Shepard; but I hope I find you better this afternoon. Not much, sir, said she, and I suppose I must now give up all hopes of living till he returns. It is not quite two years, said Mr. Shepard, and you may yet be spared till that time. No, no: I feel that I cannot live two years longer. I have never thought that I should recover from this; I knew that I must die, and I was willing to go; but I did wish to see Mother, said she, as she saw the tears coming down her cheek, let me tell you what I...