The Warner weekly sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1885, 1885-05-29
DEATH AND THE SOLDIER.

uelOS VI LIS CoUhtAJ, Woo -
a gaunt stranger, clad all in black and
wearing on impenetrable mask.
"Who are you that you dare to block
my way?" demanded the soldier.
Then the stranger threw aside his
mask and the soldier knew that he was
Death.
Have you come for me?" asked the
soldier. IF so, 1 will not go with you
so go your way alone"
But Death held out his bony hand
and beckoned to the soldier.
mo" cried the soldier, resOlutely
my time is not come. See, here are
the histories ! am writing-no hand but
mine can finish rhem-I will not go IN
til they are done!"
"Ihave ridden by your side day and
night" said Death; II have lowered
about you on a hundred battlefelds,
but no sight of me could chill your
heart till now, and now 1 hold you in my
power. Comet"
And with these words Death seized
upon the soldier and strove to bear him
hence, but the soldier struggled so des-
perately that he prevailed against
Death, and the strange phantom de-
parted alone. Then when he had gone
the soldier found upon his throat the
imprint of Deaths cruel ingers-so
fierce had been the struggle. And
nothing could wash away the marks
nay, not all the skill in tie world could
wash them away, for they were disease,
lingering, agonizing, fatal disease. But
with quiet valor the soldier returned to
his histories, and for many days there
after he toiled upon them as the last
and best work OF his. noble life.
How pale and thin the soldier is
getting" said the people. His hair is
whitening and his eyes are weary. He
should not have undertaken the his
tories-the labor is killing him."
They did not know of his struggle
with Death, MOI had they seen the
marks upon the soldiers throat. But
the physicians who came to him, and
saw the marks of Deaths cruel fingers,
shook their heads and said the soldier
could not live to complete the work up
on which his whole heart was set. And
the soldier knew 1t, too, and many a
time he paused in his writing and laid
his pen aside and bowed his head upon
his hands and strove for consolation in
in the thought of the great fame he had
already won. But there was no conso-
lation In all this. So when Death came
a second time he found the soldier weak,
and trembling and emaciated.
ut would be vain of you to struggle
with me now" said Death. "My poi
son is in your veins, and, see, my dew
is on your brow. But you are o brave
man, and ] will not bear you with me
till you have asked one favor, which /
will grant"
ss"G Give me an hour to ask the favor, "
said the soldier. "There are 60 maaT
things-my histories and all-give me
an hour that / may decide what / shall
ask"
AID as Death tarried, the soldier
communed with himself. Before he
closed his eyes forever what should he
ask of Death? And the soldiers
thoughts sped back over the years, and
his whole life came TO him like q
lightning Hash-the companionship and
smiles of Kings, the glories of Govern
ment and political power, the honors of
peace, the joys of conquest, the din OF
battle, the sweets OF q quiet home life
upon q Western prairie, the gentle
devotion Of o wife, the clamor of noisy
boys and the face of q little girl--ah,
there his thoughts fingered and chung.
Time to complete our work-our
books-our histories" counseled Ambi-
ton. "Ask Death for time to do this
last and browning act of our great
life.n
But the soldiers ears were deaf to
the cries of Ambition; they heard an
other voice the voice of the soldiers
heart-and the voice whispered: mel
lie-Nellia-Nellie.n That was all
no other words but those, and the sol
dier struggled to his feet and stretched
forth his hands and called to Death;
and. hearing him calling, Death came
and stood before him.
II have made my choice" said the
soldier.
1.-The books" asked Death, with q
s~cornful smile.
sNo, not them,s said the soldier,
ssbut my little girl-my Nelliei Give
me q lease of life till / have her in
these arms, and than come for me and /
win gol"
Then Deaths hideors aspect was
chAnged; lxs stern features relaxed and
. look Of pity came upon them. And
Death said, ut shall be So" and say
ing this he went his way.
Now the soldiers child was far away
many, many leagues from where the
soldier lived, beyond q broad, tempes-
tuous ocean. She was not, as you
might suppose, q little child, although
the soldier spoke Of her as such. She
xuan : zz1fa ard % nan4hor !. xxnk o1ran u