The Arkansaw traveler., 1883-01-13

| walked TO the head OF the staircase
and waited there perhaps half an hour.
Then she came TO me-eame close up to
me, and laid her hand upon my arm.
The expression of the piteous eyes lifted
to mine told me there was no hope. With
caressing word, drew her to me. She
leant her forehead against my arm mo-
ment; then, .Nill wants TO see you !:
Will wants to thank YOU! she said in a
scarcely audible voice.
followed her into the room.
1 The full light OF small square window
was streaming on low couch where my
poor young school-fellow lay
! saw directly that lite with him was a
question OF no more than days, perhaps
OF only hours. Yet what a beautiful,
/ bright face il WAS still What a light
streamed from those radiant eyes, as he,
withou, rising-he was past that
stretched both hands toward me.
i Mary was crouching by him; one
hand soon clutched her again. the other
grasped mine as | sat down by him.
In this strange world how often are
simple deeds, that cost nothing to the
door. most richly rewarded. VIVA, had
done: What sacrifice had made !:
rAnd how they thanked and blessed me
he with his difficulty spoken, faint
words; she with her blessed eyes con-
| hrming his praises. A few words ex-
/ planned the case.
He had rallied after sending the first
telegram, and had thought it needless
that Mary should come. He had not
calculated on the possibility of her start
ing as Immediately as she had done /:
and the second message which bid her
not come had not reached her.
A few days af,er-two days since now
he had broken blood vessel. and had
been pronounced beyond hope
III only had known this sooner |
thought. as looked at the miserable
room. and thought of my idle hundreds
and thousands.
When, by-and-b y-May for a brief
while absent-a3 woman, living in the
rooms below who had been very kind to
Will, had taken her away to give her
some refreshments stammerinely ex-
pressed something of my regret. he ans
wered. 1T IS better IS i, is; for am
we'll content"
is your sweet sister free" asked.
free nom any engagement free
| heancd
spoke low and hastily. and felt in all
my being how much hung upon his
answer.
My little Mary? Oh, yes, as far as |
know And she has never had any Sc
ercts from me.
Il love her" responded. III she can
love me, will do what a man can do to
make woman happy as wife.
| lie Cid not Immediately answer. He
/ lay with closed eyes; bu, fell the tight
eHiHg pressure Of his hand.
Il may tell her by-and-by that | had
your good wishes"
You may tell her, the radiant eyes
unclosing on mc-"that III my las; hours
drank a full cup OF happiness, believing
that my darling, my little Mary. my eve
lamb, my pc, sister, would be happy
among happy women Is your wife
You have not lost your generous
hearted enthusiasm for very unworthy
! fellow, I answered.
Nothing ! have heard of my old
friend. my protector. my benetaotor, has
tended 10 lessen those feelings, he said.
One word of yours in your sister 5
ear will make me-
She came In that moment. was go
Ing to leave them together, but he begged
me not 10 60, and while he spoke, a
mortal iaintness surprised him.
II passed. however. He asked TO be
lifted up. The incumbent position was
painful TO him. He lay with his head on
Mays shoulder, bright hair mingling
with bright hair.
The doctor came and went. and the
woman who had nurscd him. They
both foreboded that the last hour was
near.
1t was an afternoon not to be forgot
ten.
He said he did not suffer much, and
every now and again he talked.
Mary did not shed a tear. She seemed
absorbed In him beyond consciousness OF
self or sorrow, She moistened his lips
or wiped his brow continually, and her
eyes seemed to cling to his.
The sunset entering the room, touched
those two. She was watching him in
ten,ly. HIS eyes only half-opened, seemed
TO look at her dreamily, like the eyes of
one who dozes of to sleep. The light
faded, the dusk gathered. We did not
stir, believing that he slept.
By-and-by. through the gloom, the
near hush and the distant noise of the
great city, Mays voice, low and awe
struck, reached me, asking for light. |
had fallen into profound thought. Life,
love, death, immortality. failure, success,
the worlds vanity do not know what
| did not think of as sat motionless in
that dusky room.
procured lamp. set it down on
the table, where the light fell on those
faces. found that Mary had sunk lower
and lower as the head on her shoulder
grew heavier. A glance told me the
truth. He was dead.
She saw it. She knew it, She sank
down lower yet, till his bright hair was on
the pillow, hers beside it. She moaned
softly, lying thus cheek to cheek. heard
few words-"Brother, take me-take
me with you, have none bu, you"
Then she lay quite still, half on the
couch, half on the floor, face to face with
the dead