Her audience, including even
Quincy, listened intently to the dramatically told story, and they could
almost see the frenzied face, the pointed finger, and hear the wild,
mocking laugh.
For a few moments nothing was said. Finally, Ezekiel broke the silence.
"Well, I guess," said he, "that will of her'n will stand, all right.
Lindy's got enough of her own; she won't be likely to interfere; and I
never he'rd of their havin' any other relatives."
Then Uncle Ike spoke up. "I shall go to the funeral, of course, next
Friday, and I shall expect to hear the Rev. Mr. Howe stand up in his
pulpit and tell us what a good Christian woman Hepsy was; she was so
kind and so benevolent, and so regardful of the feelings of others, and
it wouldn't make a bit of difference if you went and told him what
you've told us, Alice; he'd say just the same thing."
"Oh, hush! Uncle Ike," cried Alice, pleadingly; "she was a good woman,
excepting on that one point, and you must own that she had some
provocation. Let me ask you a question, Uncle Ike. How far should
promises made to the dead be kept?"
"Just so far," replied Uncle Ike, "as they do not interfere with the
just rights of the living.
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