Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1866-02-03

up. At last we reached q floor on whiC
! the poor fellows card was nailed.
She seemed to gather courage now. ST
led the way, through a small, dark ant,
room, in which | paused.
/ listened.
l heard a smothered exclamation fror
her; from him a erys 20 shrili as to be d
most a screaal,-"Ruthr
l walked to the head of the s~tairoas
and waited there, perhaps half an hour
then she came to me; came close upto m
and laid her hand on my arm,-the ex
preston of the piteous eyes lifted to min
told me there was nc hope.
With n caressing word 1 drew her T.
mo; she leant her forehead against N,
arm moment, then
'Harold wants to see you Harold want
to thank you" she said, in a scarcely au
dible voice.
l followed her into the room.
The fall light of a small square window
from which one could see the TIber, th,
Castle of st. Angelo, and the line of Mon:
Jsniculus, was streaming on a low couch
where my poor young schoolfellow LAY.
1 saw directly that life with him was
a question Of only days, perhaps of only
hop-s.
Yet what q beautiful bright face it was
still what a light streamed from those
radiant eyes as he, without rising,-he
was past that,-stretched both hands to-
wards me.
Ruth was crouching BY him one hand
soon clutched her again, the other grasped
mine as l sat down by him.
I l. 4b;s c4ro1-o would H., r.. 49,.
simple deeds, that cost nothingto the doer,
most richly rewarded What had l done?
What sacrifice had l made? And how
they thanked and blessed mel He with
his difficulty spoken, faint words; she
with her blessed eyes confirming his
praises.
eA few words explained tho ease.
He had rallied after sending the first
telegram, and had thought it needless that
Ruth should come; he had not calculated
on the possibility of her starting as imme-
diatcly us she had done, and the second
message which bid her not come had not
reached her.
A few days after-two days since now
he had broken a blood-vessel, and had
been pronounced beyond hope.
"If only L had known all this s~ooneri'
| thought, as l looked at the miserable
room, and thought of my Idle hundreds
and thousands.
When, by and by, Ruth for a brief while
absent,-a woman living in the rooms be-
low, who had been very kind to Harold,
had taken her away to give her some re-
freshment,-L stammeringly expressed
something Of my regret, he answered, sit
is better as it is; for myself l am we'll
content. l believe in another working
world, where there will be a better light,
a truer sight, more beauty to perceive, and
purer senses to receive it."
us your sweet sister free ~ 1 asked
free from any engagement-free-heart
ed 2 | spoke low and hastily, and felt in
all my being how much hung upon his
answer.
any little Ruth 20 yes; AS far as 1
know; and she has never had any secrets
from me"
"Ilove her" I responded. AFT she can
love me, l will do what q man can to
make a woman happy as a wife"
He did not Immediately answer; he lay
with closed eyes; but l felt thetightening
pressure of his hand. m"
Il may tell her by and by that I had
your good wishes p
"You may tell her." the radiant eyes
enclosing on me, "that in my last hours l
drank n full cup iof happiness, believing
that my darling, my little Ruth, my ave-
lamb, my pet sister, would be happy
among happy as your wife
"You have not lost your generous
hearted enthusiasm for a very unworthy
L answered.
"Nothing 1 have heard of my old friend,
MY protector, my b~enefactor, has tended
to essen those feelings" he said.
'"One word Of yours in my sisters ear
will make me-
She came in at that moment. I was
to leave them together, bnt
he begged me not to go; and while
he spoke n mortal f~aintness surprised him.
1t passed, however. He asked to be
lifted up the recumbent position was
to him he lay with his head on
shoulder, briShthair mingling with
hair.
The doctor came and went, and the wo-
nan who had nursed him they both fore
that the last hour WIS near.
1t was an afternoon not to be forgotten.
He said he did not suffer much: now and
lgain he talked; and when he talked, wis.,
not of this world was in his words.
Ruth did not shed q tear; she seemed
absorbed in him beyond consciousness Of
elf or sorrow; she moistened his lips or
his brow continually, and her eyes
eemed to cling TO his.
The sunset entering the room touched
hose two. She was Watching him in
emily: his eyes closed, half opened,
eemed to look at her dreamily, like the
yes Of one who dozes off to sleep. The
light faded; the dusk gathered; we did
rot stir, believing that he slept.
By and by through the gloom, the near
lush and the distant noise of the great
ity, Ruth's voice, low and awe-struek,
cached me, asking for light. 1 had fallen
ntO profound thought,-life, love, death
md Immortality, failure, success, the
worlds vanity,-I do not know what l
lid not think of as l sat motionloss in that
husky room.
able, where the light fell On those faces.
found that Ruth had sunk lower and
as the head on her shoulder grew
A glance told me the truth; he
vas dead.
She saw it; she knew il. She sank
lower yet, till his bright head was
N the pillow, hers beside it. She moaned
lying thus cheek to cheek. ! heard
few words: brother, take me, take me
With you; l have none but you"
Then she lay quite still, half on the
ouch, half on the floor, face TO face with Z
he dead.
What did I do2
l stood and looked at them.
AS | stood and looked at them, l went
through one of those experiences that it is
10 use to try and record; that are written
n the life of life, upon the heart Of hear,
By and by 1 found that she was lying in
dead faint.
l di~sentangled them then, and laid her
the floor on as good a couch as l could
make of my wrapper and Of the cushions
# an old chair.
l had told her the truth when l told her
was a sort of doctor. That had been
he profession l had not loved well enough
o follow, after a large fortune left me had
naGe the pursuit of a profession needless.
could treat her as well us another. l
lid what l could for her, and saw her re-
i've. My %entreaties prevailed or her, (
lfLer Il time, to leave the room for a few
lours, going with the woman of the rooms
but before the night had half
she was back again.
ADO not be angry with me. I want to
81 opd look ot him wont crv Som Z