The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-08-22
THE LAST CONTEST.
lAmarican Amarnnih. l

| fame on the bastle-6elds ot his countKy was confronted by gaunt stranger clad all in black and wearing an impenetrahle 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 mer asked the soldier. "lf so, 1 will not go with you i; so go your way alone"
 But Death held out his bony hand and beckoned to the soldier.
 "No," cried the soldier, resolutely i; my time is not come. See, here are the histories am writing no hand but mine can finish them-i will go when they are dope"
 "I have hidden by your side day and night" said Death;''i have lowered about you on a hundred battle. fields, but no sight of me could chill your heart till now and now hold you in my power. Come P
 Aud with these words Death seixed upon the soldier and strove to bear him hence. but the soldier struggled so des- perately that he prevailed against Death, and the str. nge phantom departed alone, Then when he had gone the soldier found upon his throat the imprint of Deaths cruel hngers-so fierce had been the struggle. And nothing could wash away the marks nay, not all the skill in the world could wash them away. for they were disease, lingering, agon,alng, fatal disease. But with quiet valor the sol dier returned to his histories. and for many days thereafter he toiled upon them as the last aud best work ot hts noble life.
 How thin and pale the soldier is get ting" said the people. |" His hair Is whitening and his eyes are weary. He should nc. have undertaken the histories the labor is killing him."
 They did not know of this struggle with Death, nor had they seen the marks upon the soldiers throat. But the physicians who came to him and saw the marks oi Deaths cruel fingers, shook their heads and said the soldier could not live to com plete his work upon which his whole heart was set. And the soldier knew 1t, too, and many time he paused in his writing and lad his pen aside and bowed his head upon his hands, and s,rove for consolation in the thought of the great fame he had already won. So when Death came a second time he found the soldier weak and trembling and ema- ciated
 " It would be vain for you to struggle with me now" said Death. My poison is in your veins and see, my dew is on your brow But you are a brave man and will not bear you with me till you have asked one favor, which will grant"
 "Give me an hour to ask the favor" said the soldier. There arc SO many things-my histories aud all-give me an hour that may decide what sh all ask 2" And as Death tarTied, the soldier com muned with himself Before he closed his eyes forever what boon should he ask of Death And the soldiers thoughts sped back over the years and his whole life came to him like lightning Aash-the comp anionship and smiles of kings, the glones of government and political power. the honors of peace. and joys Of conquest, the din of battle, the sweets of qulet home life upon a western prairie, the gentle devotion of wife, the clamor of noisy boys and the face of a little girl-ah, there his thoughts fingered and clung.
 Time to complete our work our books-our histories" counseled ambl- tion. Ask Death for time to do this last and crowning act ot our great life"
 But the soldiers ear, were deaf to the cries of ambition they heard another voice the voice of the soldiers heart and the voice whispered '' Nellie Nellie Nellie" That w.s all-no other word, but those, and the soldier struggled to his feet, and stretched forth hls hands and called to De.th, and hearing him calling, death came to him and stood before him.
 have made my choice" said the soldier.
 "The books5" asked Death with a scornful smile.
 No, not them" said the soldier, "but my little girl my Nellie Give me a lease of life till have held her in these arms, and then come for me and 1 will go
 Then Deaths hideous aspect was changed I; his stern features relaxed and look of pity came upon the n. And Death said, " It shall be so," and saying this he went his way
 Now the soldiers child was far away many, many leagues from where the sOiulet HVco Uctonu UIoAoI tcUpCStu ous ocean. She was not as you might suppose, a liule child. although the soldier spoke of her as such She was A wife and a mother; yet even in her lmanhJod she was 10 the soldiers heart the same little girl the sol Her had held upon his knee many and many time while his rough hands weaved prairie flowers in her soft, far curls. And the soldier called for Nellie no~, jua as he did then, when she sat on his knee and praitle Of her dolls. This is the way of the human heart.
 It having been noised about that the soldier was dying and that Nellie had been sen, for across the sea, all the peo- pie vied with each other in soothing the last moments of the famous man, for he was beloved by all, and ali were bound to him by boads of paiuotic gratitude,