Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1856-02-13


bathed, and the clotted blood washed from his
nostrils and beard-that was all.
Meanwhile the old man sat there on the
beds edge, clasping one of those colorless
hands in his own. He kissed the almost life
less forehead, he bent over that dying man
with the anxiety which none but father
could feel at such 4 moment.
esAbner, Abner,'' he whispered, edo you
can you hear me? If you can, for Gods
sake give me some signal 20
The eyes, gradually assuming dull, dreamy
! look, closed weariIy, and opened again very
| slowly. 4 low wall burst from the wife. The
old clergyman turned upon her quickly, and
said, with bitter imperielsness:
'sBe still, 1 mast speak with him!'' Then
bending again over theEbed;
s.Abner, have you thought of DEATH Shall
we pray-have you maze peace with God 20
There appeared tofbe sort Of convulsive
effort on the sick mars part to attain sitting
posture For a morsent he seemed possessed
Of perfect consequences and perfect strength.
s.God!' he echoed hoarsly; elather, how
dare YOU name Him God! You, who made
me what l am; you, who goaded me to sim,
and all for noney, money Was it so precious
to YOU that must sell myself, body and soul,
,aarry for it 4! Don't speak to me of God =
There is none-no God-no God -
He sink back on his pillows exhausted
Blood burst anew from his mouth. He tried
TO 50; more, but the words were drowned in
the warm tide that bubblcd over his chest.
And she, the wife, stood there in marble calm
ness and heard that which was to blast the rest
of her young life. Her hands clasped
again, her eyes fixed unfinchingly on the
aoor. She neither moved nor spoke. Look
ing at her, you wou1d have sselt your very
heart melt with compassion, SO wild, so for
lornly miserable was the expression of that
sweet, girlish face.
"Abner, Abner, my son. was all the father
spoke with his blanched quiyering lips.
The nomentary flush faded from the sick
mans features. 1 stood by him and wiped
the blood from his mouth, and l knew that in
few moments all would be over. There was
no struggle, but there was that gathering shad-
dow on his forehead which is so terribly un-
derstandablc. Seeing this, the intense de-
spair on his wifc'S face grew tride more stat
uesque, and her hands locked themselves in
voluntarily tighter, till blood gushed from the
smooth palm that came in contact with the
fnger-nais. Not a word was spoken, not
sound broke the deep stiffness of the chamber,
but the indistinct and oppressive breathing of
the dying man. thought it grew fainter and
slower, and l bent down to place my finger on
the wrist, and to listen more intently but the
old man waved me fiercely, jealousy away.
ssTouch him not he said, esfor he is deadl''
And l thought, indeed, that it was so for
even as he spoke the faint respiration sudden
ly ceased, and the pallor Of an everlasting un-
consciousness crept slowly over the still fea-
lures. But in another moment, saw thatIife
was not yet extinct. The eyes again partly
Enclosed in the same powerless, dreamy way
as before, and an Observation-Disclosures for an
instant lit up the pale, handsome facc-hand-
some even then, but with unearthly beauty.
s'Godl'' the colorless lips muttered, ssGod
there is God!'' and smile, whose utter
serenity 1 have never seen equalled, flickered
around the mouth. Then the shadow deepen
ed, fell, and he expired. 1t seemed as though
the soul had been half freed, and, returning,
partially had entered!
y woman's voice, sobbing, at last broke the
dreary silence. The old man rose, and ap-
preaching his dead sons wife, said feebly:
esther, be coDforted; God is over all 20
She drew her hand from his clasp with ges-
ture of unequiyocal adherence.
''Comfort ," sheechoed, with great defiant
pf Iar Ilarl- 4,
to me of comfort! Hypocrite l''-she hissed
the word from between her closed breath, with
indignant energy. ssIt is all clear
to me now. Who was it plotted and schemed
to bring us together3 Who tempted him into
where there was no love on his side
none, none, o my God-but for money!
Answer me Mati''
Her dark hair had become disentangled of
and now fell, in wild, confused
grace, over her bare shoulders. Her white,
upraised arms glittered in the bright light of
the lamps, the scarlet ornaments floating from
he sleeves, falling over them in vivid con-
raSt. Never shall I forget the impression
created by that indignant appeal, and the tra-
5ic, excited beauty of this injured woman
all this was many years ago, yet never recall
hat Sabbath night without a shudder. Fre-
Iuent as are terrible or touching scenes in the
lie OF physician, l remember none that own
power so to unman me as the memory of this.
And the sequel was no less sad. Within
Tear another grave was made for the poor, de- |
,eived wife. On the death of her husband, |
the sank INTO a stupor from which nothing |
.ould arouse her. and which terminated at last |
n rapid consumption. 1t is strange that l
should recollect the day she died. 1t is as