"Katherine Eleanor," she said slowly and distinctly, "I'm going
now. I can't fight it off any longer. I confess myself. I
burned those deeds. Every one of them. Pa got himself afire, but
he'd thrown THEM out of it. It was my chance. I took it. Are
you going to tell them?"
Kate was standing as tall and straight as her mother, her hands
extended the same, but not touching her.
"No," she said. "You were an instrument in the hands of God to
right a great wrong. No! I shall never tell a soul while I live.
In a minute God himself will tell you that you did what He willed
you should."
"Well, we will see about that right now," said Mrs. Bates, lifting
her face to the sky. "Into thy hands, O Lord, into thy hands!"
Then she closed her eyes and ceased to breathe. Kate took her
into her arms and carried her to her bed.