The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1881-05-28

OAKLAND, Md, SA
claiming her, she gives him the de-
sired promise.
n
A hushed and darkened chamber !;
the freight Pickering as though in
sympathy with the human flame so
near its expiring; the furniture hand
some and costly, and the heavy, bro
caded bed-hangings drawn back, for
there, propped up on many pillows,
the master of the stately mansion
lies dying.
Listen! There is the mutf1ed hustle
of an arrival below, and on the stairs
sound hasty, approaching footsteps.
The dim, sunken eyes, that for lons
hours have never ceased their weary
watch of the door. lose their terribly
strained expression, and from the
parched lips comes a murmered
Thank Heaven ps.usss.sAsssa z
N her
MY boy-my boy !!
The doctors and the h0usekeeper
have retired, and those two are left
together. The ia her but yesterday
hale and hearty, and bearing hi
years with a dignity of health and
strength. to-day stricken into deaf h !;
aud the son summoned with all
speed from a scene of festivity and
mirth, worn with travelling and sus-
pense.
The old man turns his head with a
look of unspeakable anguish.
"Do you know all, Ralph" he asks,
almost in whistler.
yes SIR is the concise reply. Are
not the papers full of the failure OF
Grantly & Coz
Il have been so blind and credu
lOus. l trusted Curtis implicitly, and
he deceived me. He has absconded,
and I'-bitterly walls the week voice
Il am dying, leaving the stain of
ruin and disgrace on our name our
name that has never been suited be-
fore! Oh f! if | might have lived to
wipe it aWay-to restore it to its un
tarnished integrity. But you are
young. Ralph you have years of life
before you. Oh! my sonny son,
will yeu do this for me: Will you
make reparation in my stead? 1t is a
hard heritage to leave you; but /
cannot die happy unless you under
take it. | have been so proud of the
honor of my nime, and I-oh! woe
is me IL have been the one to drag
it down from its high place. T.
In his excitement he has raised
himself his hands grasping his sons
arm, his voice gathering power from
intense enation, and his face convuls-
ed with wild entreaty. Suddenly
the Elusive strength deserts him, and
he falls back painting and breathless.
In dire alarm Ralph summons as
sistance, and restoratives are prompt
ly administered. They have the
effect of rest( ring consciousness for a
short time longer, and Ralph resumes
his former place.
In obedience to a beseeching ges
ture he lowers his head to the level of
the poor, quivering mouth.
will you give me this promise
Ralph: Will you-pay-all claims
i cannot-prepare to die--till my
minds at rest
With infinite effort, and in short
choking gaspS, comes this last appeal.
1t is a solemn responsibility TO un-
dertake, and Ralph knows it. Time
and opportunity may fail, or at least
he must devote the choicest years Of
his manhood to thankluss task. For
it he must relinqnish many golden
dream, many fair hope.
With the quick perception of a
clear, decided brain he has counted
the cost; but hard must the heart be
that can deny death-bed request.
Father, Heaven helping me, will
do as you wish
An expression of compile content
and easement steals over the haggard
features, and the f1uttering clasp of
the thin fingers speaks the thanks
which speech is powerless now to do.
-Four hours later and George Grant
ley has played out his part on this
worlds stage, and 'finis' may be writ
ten at the end of life's drama. He
has journeyed to
"The undiscovered country from whose
No traveller ever returns"
n
Eleven years haye passed away.
II IL warm huInnv nvpuinr in tho