Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1882-08-18
OLYMPIA WASHINGTON TERRITORY FRIDAY AUGUST Is 1899

"Crra:ia." ! replied He drew
! from beneath his pillow Il piec. of paper
that proved TO bc WILL very short, but
/ 10 the point.
"Wilnesses quick" he whispered.
hoarSclv.
| turned quickly toward his wife, but
he seized my arm and said: don't
frighten her. Let me - die - in
peace"
excused myself for a moment to
Mrs. Marston, who was reading the
evening paper, and hurried down stairs
tor witnesses, returning almost al once
with grocer, from the nearest corner,
and policeman. whom | prr4,adcd to
leave his beat. Then Mrs. Mar,lon was
alarmed, but stood helples>ly in the
background as the dying man signed
! his will and the two men affixed their
signatures.
When the witnesses departed. Mrs.
Marston asked me what was the mat
ier. and when | told her that her h,ls-
! band had thought it only proper to
make Il will, rs he should have done
before falling sick. she calculated ''Oh"
| in Il rcasSured tone. and said that the
scene had reminded her of one that she
| had seen in some play.
resumed my position at the bedside,
| kneelinr to catch the words that Mars
ton found hard to utter. The boy, on
returning, knelt also and took his faith
er hand
The stock-and-good will of-the
shop ought to give enough to
bury me and her back -to-her
family. Advise hcr--to go-to them.
She's good woman-a good woman
but New York's-no place i"r her.
| My boy -"
just here MarstOn's voice fai., &! Kim;
he struggled. thrust one arm tow i II
chair near the bed. and took u all il
bottle. took it from him, saw ''i;laa-
dy'' on the label. poured its entire con-
tents into glass and helped him to
raise his heaG so as to drink it. As soon
As his head touched the pillow again, he
whispered:
MY boy-he is a noble fellow What
will become of him, God--God only
knows. His mother knows nothing
about bovs-and she can't seem to learn
Would you watch him-a little. and save
him if yOu-can? He's worth al that
can be done for him."
did not know what could do in the
future; but looked into Marston's eyes
and then int o the boys. and put ono
arm around the little fellow. and drew
him close to my side; his father
seemed TO understand. and the look he
gave me was full payment in advance
for all l have done or can do for the
child.
Mrs. Marston could not have heard
any of our conversation, for her hus-
band could barely whisper; besides, she
was deeply interested in whatever she
was reading. Marston put forth both
hands. taking one of mine. and laying
the other upon his boy'sshead. =.
There was a moment of :Arnce, in
which he looked earnestly ut me and
pressed my hand very hard. Suddenly
he started. raised himself on one elbow.
and almost shouted:
"Flora!"
"One moment" replied his wife.
still reading. as the boy and regained
our feet AMI made room for her. Again
Marston exclaimed, extending an arm
as he did so:
"Floran'
Goodness! How impatient you
are"' replied the lady. crumpling her
newspaper in her hand and turning
toward the bed.
But her son sprang quickly in front Of
his father, Marstons arm encircled him.
and the boy, with quick embrace,
screamed:
Papa"
Mrs. Marston had by this time reached
the bedside, saying. Jelly:
''Mr. MarStOn, allow me to suggest"
Excuse me, madame" said |, "but
he cannot hear you. He is in another
world now"
Then Mrs. MarstOn broke into tears
and pitiful eXclamations, for although
her heart was very small, it was not
bad. For almost five minutes 1 was
compelled to respect her; after that.
however. her lamentations were all for
herself, SO, after promising to arrange
the details of the funeral, and saying a
few words to the boy, with the hope
that he would understand that l would
always try to be father to him, de-
parted.
A day or two after Mrs MarSton gave
me a sealed envelope. addressed to me,
that she found under her husbands pill
low.
1t contained number of pawn-tickets
and note, written day or two before
Marston's death, asking me if would
redeem the articles and save them for
| hsc fhn,, hoI hoap ox-nn1 for
ey that his wife wanted when he could
not take a penny out of his business
without running himself.
Among them / found watch, an Op-
era-glass, two meerschaum pipes, some
club badges, a silver cup with an in-
scription that showed it had been given
Marston when he was baby. Il hand
some copy of Shakespeare, a velvet
dressinggown, sword. that its owner
had worn during the war; q gold-headed
cane, and many small articles of jewel
ry, including the dead mans wedding
ring.
Mrs. Marston became resigned to the
will of Providence when told her that
the good will and stock of the shop
would bring a thousand dollars. Her
mourning garments became her peculiar
style of beauty so well that she found
great comfort in them. but soon put
them off at the solicitation of dashing
young broker, who, hope. will marry
her, for she has fully as much heart as a
man of his kind will appreciate, and
will relieve him of any anxiety as to
what to do with his money. Her son
promises to become fine fellow, and
has friend who will see that he never
repeats his fathers blunder of marrying
girl merely tor her beauty.-John Had-
| JcrtOn.
Miss Emma Jones, one of the lead
ing young ladies of Lockport, N. Y,
had her trunks marked Mrs. j. +.
Bachman, Pueblo, Col.," the other day,
preparatory to starting for that place;
4