The Red Cloud chief., 1881-03-10

who said the letter confessed that The
mother tainted for q long time. but
when she knew herself again drove us
all away. There are many in the house
would be glad TO be kind 10 her. but
she will not speak TO any. or let any
one in"
Thanking the woman, we mounted
the narrow staircase to the room she
indicated. At the threshold we pauscI.
You have the money! Herman
said to me in a low tone.
"Yes; but will you claim the corpse
now"
"Neverr' was the quick reply.
"Ah. such devotion! He should have
told us. We will give him 4 Christian
burial. will we not?"
Yes said our companion, land
the mother shall go 10 Fritz in London
Again and again we knocked. meet
ing a profound silence in the chamber
of death.
Finally, very slowly and reyerently.
Herman opened the door.
We lifted our caps, and followed
him!
Never have / seen such bare poverty
as | saw represented in that room. Every
article of furniture was gone, except
ing a wretched mattress in one corner.
over which was spread n coarse white
sheet. Extended upon this, in tho
rigid sleep that knows no waking.
was the man who had stood in our
doorway but a few hours before.
Save that his eyes were closed, h.
was scarcely more corpse-like in APP
pearance in the actual clutch of death
than he had been when he made his
despairing bargain with US. The same
ragged garments still covered his
limbs, and one wasted hand was crossed
over his breast.
The room was dimly lighted, the
shutters Of the window being closely
drawn. but We could see an open door
facing the one by which we had en-
tered, and beside a chair there \ wom-
an was kneeling.
Over her shoulders her gray hair fell.
a. if she had left it untouched after her
nights repose. Her dress. of coarse.
blue wooden, covered her feet as she
knelt, and her face wa hidden in the
clasped hands resting on the chair be-
fore her.
Leaving my companions still stand
ing beside the suicide, | entered the
room TO offer what poor comfort was
in my power. At least / could dis
sipatc some of the awful poverty, and
send the Borrowing mother to her sur
yiving son.
spoke to her gently twice. Then
my heart filled with horror. / lifted
the gray head, tenderly, reycrently.
Upon the staring blue eyes, the dropped
jaw, the drawn features. the same seal
was set as i'm the room beyond upon
her sons face. His last sacrifice, his
act of devotion beyond the grave, both
broken, and she followed to death the
son to wlNm. through poverty and suf-
fering, she had chung in life.
We gave them Christian burial, and
in the mothers coffin | put the farewell
letter of her son. Ii was rs follows:
81 cannot endure the sight of your misery
another day. Every avenue seems closed TO
me by that crime which separated me from my
brother. Every resource Is gone, and stnrva-
ton is inevitable. cannot get work, l dare
not beg, for | may be recognized and arrested.
Tomorrow, after l take the poison that stands
before me, you will receive a sufficient sum To
take you To FritZ-the price of nv body which
! have soil to-nignt To the medical college. |
have nothing else TO sell! May Fritz prove a
better son than 4 have been. 1 dare not ask "A
blessing for you: my lips are scaled 10y my
sins, and a blessing from them would prove a
curse. But forgive me-for In death, as I'm life,
l love You. KARL"
We told no more stories that night,
for the doctor rose soon after, and his
departure broke up our party, none of
us feeling any inclination for IL former
merry talk. after the dismal tragedy the
doctor offered as his contribution to our
budget of stories.