The clarion., 1885-09-23
THE LAST CONTEST.

stranger clad all in black and wearing
IN impenetrable mask.
"Who are you that you dare to
block my way?" demanded the sol
der.
Then the stranger threw aside hls
mask and the soldier knew that he was
Death.
Have you come for me2n asked the
soldier III so. will not go with you;
SO go your way alone.
But Death held out his bony hand |
and beckoned to the soldier.
No." cried the soldier, resolutely;
my time is not come. See, here are
the histories | am writing-no hand
but mine can finish them-l will 90
when they are done.
Il have hidden by your side day and
night, said Death; Il have hoyered
about you on q hundred battle-tields,
but no sight of me could chill your
heart till now. and now | hold you in
my power. Conner
Aud with these words Death seized |
upon the soldier and strose TO bear
him hence. but the soldier struggled so
desperately 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 fingers-so /
fierce had been the struggle. And |
nothing 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 thereafter he toiled up
on them as the last and best work of
his noble life.
''How thin and pale the soldier is
getting" said the people. His hair
is whitening and his eyes are weary.
He should not 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 of Death cruel fingers.
shook their heads and said the soldier
could not live to complete his work
upon which his whole heart was set.
And the soldier knew it, 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 the thought of the great
fame he had already won. SO when
the soldier weak and trembling and
emaciated.
..It would be vain for you to strug-
gle 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
| l will grant.
Give me an hour TO ask the favor, p"
| said the soldier. There are so many
| things-my histories and all-give me
an hour that may decide what | shall
ask?"
And as Death tarried. the soldier
| communed with himself. Before ne
| closed his eyes forever what boon
should he ask of Death? And the sol
| dier's thoughts sped back over the year:
and his whole life came to him ike
lightning flash--the companionship anc
smiles of kings, the glCries OF govern
ment and political power, the honori
of peace, and joys of conquest, the dill
of battle, the sweets of quiet hom'
life upon a western prairie, the genti
devotion of wife. the clamor OF nols.
bows and the face of a little girl-ah
there his thoughts fingered and chung
Time to complete our work-ou
books-our histories, counseled am
.bitiou. ASK Death for time to d
this last and crowning act OF our grea
life"
Il But the soldiers ears were deaf I
the cries of ambition; they heard anotf
er voice-the voice of the soldier
heart-and the voice whispered NELL
-Nellie-Nellie." That was all-n
other words but those, and the soldlt
, struggled to his feet, and stretche
t | forth his hands and called to Deatl
| and hearing him calling, Death can
to him and stood before him.
81 have made my choice, said tt
= soldier.
s.The booksp" asked Death with
n scornful smile.
! .No. not them said the soldie
: ..but NV little girl-my Nellie! Gil
me lease of life till have held her
4 these arms, and then come for me al
o l will go!'
2 Then Deaths hideous aspect w
changed; his stern features relaxed al
a a look OF pity came upon them- Al
A Death said, at shall oe so, and sa
a ing this he went his way
Now the soldiers child was far awi
10 many, many leagues from where
4 soldier lived; beyond broad, tempei
uous ocean. She was not as you mig
suppose, a little child, although t
soldier spoke of her as such. She W
wife aud mother; yet even IN h
, womanhood she was to the soldle
a. heart the same little girl the soldl
oi had held upon his knee many a
IS many a time while his rough han
he weaved prairie flowers in her soft. 1;
n9 curls. And the soldier called for Mel
Al now, lust as he did then, when she :
"a on his knee and prattled of her dol
. This is the way of the human heart.
" Ii having been noised about that
as soldier was dying and that Nellie b
on been sent for across the sea, all
peopIe We'd with each other IN 500
ing the last moments of the famt
as man. for he was beloved by all, and
ne were bound to him by bonds of pa
otic gratitude, since he had been
in brave a soldier upon the battlefield:
20 his country. But the soldier did
les heed their words of sympathy;
IS voice of fame, which IN the past
'us stirred a fever in his blood and fal
A most pleasantly upon his ears, awak
OF. ed no emotion in his bosom now.
he soldier thought only of Nellie, and
GU awaited her coming.
ne, An old comrade came and pres
yht his hand, and talked of the times vi
nd they went to the wars together;
nd the old comrade told OF this battle
he of that. and how such a victory
ec- won and how such a city was tax
los But the soldiers ears heard no sol
of battle now, and his eyes could
the no flash of sabre or smoke OF war.
We So the people came and spoke VIC
We | of yeneration and love and hope.
pm so with quiet fortitude, but with a b
hu- gry heart, the soldier waited for Ne
ed. | mis- little girl
ng- She came across the broad, temp
it. uous ocean. The gulls flew far
h a from land and told the winds. and
. a winds blew further still and said to
uc- ship: speed on, oh shipl speed OF
We thy swift, straight course, for
ari- are bearing treasure to faith
re- heartt
, at Then the ship leaped forward in
,uld pathway, and the waves were
han still, and the wiEds kept Whisper
..Speed on, o ship" till at last the
a. was come to port and the little
isk, was ciaspeu IL .lo Soau'e. :. - g,
ad- quite himself again, and people $
ong HE will live. ana tnen prayeu
thin he might But their hopes anu
La ers were vain. Death seal vas On
ia a soldier and there was no reiease.
cted The last days OF the soiaier
9TH were the most Deautl.ui Oh az
ther what a mockery OF ampition anu la
,der and all the grand pretentious thing