The Portland daily press., 1875-02-13

l tossed him the siXpence. He stole eau
tiously TO the stile, making wide circuit
round me to do it, glanced at Van Rheyn,
and then made straight off in the right drec-
ton as fast as his legs would carry him, the
dog barking at his heels.
Van Rheyn was better when I got back to
him, his breathing easier, the mouth less
blue, and his arms no longer up, clutching
the tree-trunk. Nevertheless, there was that
in his face that gave me an awful fear, and
made my breath for moment nearly as short
as his. sat down beside him, letting him
lean against me, as well as the tree, for bet
ter support.
care you afraid CharleyP 1 hope they'll
not be long,"
81 am not afraid with this" he answered,
with happy smile. and, opening his hand,
saw the little cross clasped in it.
Well, that nearly did for me. 1t was as
though he meant to imply he knew he was
diving, and was not afraid to die. And he did
mean it.
"You not comprehensive he added. mis-
taking the look of my face-which no doubt
was desperate. 81 have kept the Saviour
with me here, and He will keepme with Him
there"
"Oh-but Charley! You can't think you
are going to die"
mOJD6r Sdlu ldSG l. llOU NC lOIS
after her. She drew me close to her, and
held my hand, and her tears were falling on
mine. 1t was then she said it." 80
"Oh, Charley, how can 1 help you?' I
cried out in my pain and dread. If could
but do something for YOU" +v
81 would like to give you thls," he said,
half opening his hand again, as it rested on
his breast, just to show me the cross. "My
mother has seen how good you always have
been for me; she said she should look down,
if permitted, to watch for me till came.
Would you please keep it to my memory?"
The hardest task I'd ever had in my life
was to sit there. To sit there quietly-help-
less. Dying! And could do nothing to
stay him! Oh, why did they not come! If
could but have run somewhere, or done
something! I,
In a case like this the minutes seemed as
long as hours. DR.. Frost was up sooner than
could have been hoped for by the watch, and
Mr.. Featherstone with him. Raddy did his
GRAND well. CHANGING to see the surgeon pass
down the road as he was delivering his mes
sage at the house, he ran and arrested him.
1 saw his Unlocking face over the stile, as
they came up, flung hin the other siXpence,
and thanked him too. The French master
came running; others came; hardly saw
who they were, for my eyes were troubled.
The first thing that Featberstone did was
to open Van Rheyn's things at the throat,
spread a coat on the ground, and put his
head fiat down upon it. But oh, there could
be no mistake. He was dying; nearly gone.
DIR. Frost knelt down, the better to get at
him, and said something we did not catch.
THANK you, Sir" answered Van Rheyn,
painting again and speaking with pain, but
smiling family his grateful smile. do not
be sorrowful. shall see my mother. Sir-if
you please-I wish to give my cross to john
ny Ludlow" fsre,-l
Dr. Frost only nodded in answer. / dare
say his heart was full. y--.-x
"Johnny Ludlow has always been good for
me-" he went on, in his translated French.
"He will guard it to my memory; the keep
sake. My mother would give i'll to Shim-she
has seen that Johnny stood byme ever since
that first day." ..YN EksroFTH
Monsieur Fontaine spoke TO him in French,
and Van Rheyn answered in the same Ian
guage. While giving fond message for his
father, his voice grew feeble, his face more
blue, and the lids slowly closed over his eyes.
Dr. Frost said something about removing him
to the house, but Featherstone shook his
head. presently, presently" 30JG5.
"Adeu, Sir" said Van Rheyn family to
DR.. Frost, partly opening his eyes again.
''Adieu, NJ. Fontaine. Adeu, all. Johnny
say my very best adieu to the boys; say to
them it has been very pleasant lately; say
they have been my very good comrades. VIII
you hold my hand" Taking his eft hand in
mine-the other had the gold cross in it,
sat on beside him. The dusk was increasing
so that we could no longer very well see his
features in the dark coppice. My tears were
dropping fast and thick, just as his tears had
dropped that evening when l found him
sitting at the foot of his bed. ~'H,is9 III
Well, it was over directly. He gave one
long, deep sigh, and then another after an in
terVal, and all was over. 1t seemed like a
dream then in the acting;it seems, looking
back, like dream now.
He had died running at Hare and Hounds.
The violent exercise had been too much for
the heart. We heard later that the French
family doctor had suspected the heart was
not quite sound; and that was the reason OF
Monsieur Van Rheyn's written restrictions
on the score of violent exercise. But, as DR..
Frost angrily observed, why did the father
not distinctly warn him against that special
danger; how was it to be suspected in lad
of hearty and healthy appearance? Mon
seur Van Rheyn came over, and took what
remained OF Charles back to Rouen. to be
laid beside his late wife. 1t was great blow
to him to lose his only son. And all the
property went away from the Van Rheyn
family to Mrs. Scott in India.
81 say, though" cried Parker, in a great
access of remorse, speaking up amid the gen.
eral CONSERVATION, when gave them Char
ley's message that plight, 1--WE would never
have worried him had we fOreseen this. Poor
Van Rheynp 80.
And have his gold cross by me TO this
day.-JOhnny Ludl0,c, in the Arg osy.
= = = : =