The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1857-08-13
"Do YOU know" said l, al begin to sus-

pect-"
"What-what 60 he cried.
THAT you are not so poor as you affect te
be. Have you not some secret hoard, now
that freely used, would make the remainder
of your life comfortable 2"
"What, gold !" he shrieked, you do not
think have gold|
"Yes / do. You are a miser."
"a miser 2"
Eyes"
He fell back on the bed with a gasp; then,
suddenly springing up, he screamed
Thieves I, thieves help, help, help, rob-
bers
al shall cave you" said 1, if you make
such a noise"
The door now opened and a coarse man
put his head into the room, with the polite
inquiry Of" What's the row
Nothing" said /, " the old man is i'll, and
raves"
"Oh, that's the ticket, is it2 He's going
all for to assault the bucket at last, is he Z
Therell be a nut for old Nick"
Having delivered himself of this elegant
opinion, the man withdrew his head, and shut
the door. When l turned again to the old
man, he lay in a swoon on his miserable bed.
| am never without restoratives about me,
and I very soon succeeded in restoring my pa
tent to his former state. With a long drawn
sigh he opened his eyes, and fixed them upon
my face with an expression of mournful In
tensity.
How are you now 2" said l.
"Better-better, he muttered."
| saw that it was not so, for a change had
come across his face, and there was a pecu-
liar gaze about his eyes, that told me he was
diving. Impressed as | was with the convic-
ton that he had money secreted, which
might be of service to some one claiming
kindred with him, | did not hesitate to tell
him his real condition.
do not deceive yourself" said |, "you
are dying"
He sprung up in bed with a shrek, as if
he had been galvanized.
"Dying 2" he cried, "no, no, not dying !
Let me Twelve on, though it be In want.
Why should l die2 No, no, l cannot-will
not die ~
1t was dreadful to see the agitation of his
features. Hot, scalding tears poured down his
cheeks; he clutched the scanty covering which
upon him till the blood started, and still
he shrieked-
81 cannot-dare not die
"Then he suddenly turned to me, and
clutching my arm, he cried in the most sup
~plicating tones
Save me save me for the love of Heav-
en-, save me. Hold me to the world. You are
skillful-save me by your art. Look at ne,
a miserable old man. | will kpeel to you
bless you-be your slave, but give me life
life-life,r'
knew that a few hours must end the scene,
and | seized the opportunity of leaving the
room, and getting somebody in the house to
fetch some wine and brandy, for | knew that
by stimulants alone could the Pickering fame
of life be kept alive for the next few hours.
When | returned, | started, for he had ris-
en- from his pallet, and was kneeling before
the wretched little skeleton CRATE, which, by
Its rust, had evidently not seen a fire for
wears. He did not hear me, and | paused to
observe him.
With feeble effort he w-enched from its
place the little CRATE, and then | saw him ca
gerly clueh at something. With a scream,
he sprang to his feet, and, as he did so, a bag
fell from his relaxed hold with a loud clash,
upon the floor.
Z" Wretched man! !" l said, pointing to the
bag, " is it for this you cling to life 2"
He tried to speak, but could not. His
hand clutched the air wildly. Inarticulate
sounds came from his throat, and had just
time to catch him when he again tainted. /
carried him to the bed, if bed it could be
called, and then carefully replacing the CRATE,
/ lifted the bag he had dropped, and concealed
it under some musty apparel which lay in a
rotting heap in one corner of the room.
/ was most anxious that he should live to
make some bequest OF his money to some
good purpose, and l, with some anxiety, felt
his pulse it was beating freely, but there
was a tolerably regular action. l left the
room again, and was glad to meet on the stair
case a girl with the wine and brandy. / took
them from her, and returning, poured a little
of the former into the miser's mouth.
In a few moments, returning animation be-
gan to show itself, but | feared he was deliri-
Gus, for he talked strangely.
"They are all dead now" he muttered-
e" dead, | tell you they don't want my gold /;
it's twelve years ago. They are dead
dead :"
"Who are dead 2" said [.
Her he cried. "Who speaks to me in
the dark ?'
1.-THE dark said |.
ayes, the night is very dark, SO very dark"
looked at his eyes and perceived that the
sight was gone. He was stone blind. 1
feared tina. the other perceptive faculties
would quickly follow, and | said
"Tell me truly, have you any kindred 2"
kindred z' he repeated.
Yes have you a child, or a child's child ~
"A child-child !" he said, ~falteringly,
Z. have | a child's child Did my own little
b~lue-eyed Emma ever fondle a darling of her
own, because-because, have mercy upon me
that would be my child's child"
/ never shall forget the burst of frantic grief
which followed the words. His sobs were
terrible. Such agony of sorrow | never be-
fore saw, and hope never to see again. | was
deeply affected. Grief in the young is dis
tressing. but there was something awful in the
heartfelt anguish of that white haired old
man.
"Calm yourself" l said, though my own
voice was broken with emotion - there NAV