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Cultural Background |
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Storyteller's Cabin |
Two days later, as Melviny worked in the garden, she watched Thomas and his bride stroll out arm-in-arm. She saw the young lady bend to smell a new blossom, and she saw her drop to the ground in a dead faint.
Thomas cried out for Meviny, and she ran to his side, staring stricken at the lady's pale face. "Melviny, run to the house and tell your mama I need her to bring smelling salts," Thomas gasped. "And tell one of the men to go for the doctor! Run, now!"
And Melviny flew off to the house, while the master came behind with his bride in his arms. Melviny and her mama stayed at Melinda's side with cold compresses and smelling salts, and they heard her weak voice when at last her eyes fluttered open:
"Thomas, Thomas are you there?" Thomas hurried to her side.
"Yes, my love, I'm right here. Are you feeling better? You gave us all quite a scare!"
"Thomas, I'm dying. It's true - I know it is. But nothing can take me from you forever. Our love is too strong. Thomas, I'll come back to you. I'll come back as a white bleedingdove and live in the snowball bush in the garden."
"No, my love, you're not dying, you're not!" Thomas pleaded. But three days later, his young bride passed away without saying another word, and her grave was planted over with the flowers that she loved.
