Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1886-04-18

In spite OF the throb my heart gave,
lpitied the lad.
~ viii come az once" said, nsinl
from my chair.
Then followed the boy to his home
fully assured that should leave It viii
my self-imposed mission accomplished.
CHAPTER XIII.
Mrs. Merton was lying partly propped
up in bed. / started as / first caught
sight Of her face. had seen death sey.
erai times, but the victims had been those
who had met the dread king without
preparation-men who had been drowned
and on one occasion man who had fallen
from the top Of a cliff. Never Is yet had
! seen human being killed, as IT were,
by pain. The change In Mrs Merton was
appalling. The cheeks fallen in, the tenn
pies and check bones prominent, the lips
drawn back from the teeth; In fact, the
whole appearance one of intense suffer.
ing. Had II not been for the large, in.
minous black eyes which shone rom the
ashen face should have believed that
was too late, and that death had fore
stalled me; but the look OF those eyes
was sufficient TO tell me that not only life
was with the sufferer, but consciousness
She did not waste her strength In max
ing any attempt at giving me q conven-
tional greeting. She whispered a word TO
the attendant at her side. The nurse at
once withdrew, and l was alone with the
dying woman. | placed chair by her
bedside so that could bend over and
catch her faintest whisper.
"Mr. Norris" she said faulty, 81 have
no right to ask favor Of you, but you
have been kind TO my boy and seemed to
like him"
Her eyes grew wonderfully soft and
human as she spoke of her son.
~ am dying" she continued. "There
will be nothing, absolutely nothing, left
for my children"
81 am sorry to hear you say so, Mrs.
Merton; surely 1t cannot be as bad as
thhtn
"There will be notbing. l have lived
on small annuity which dies with me
My boy and girl Will be thrown penniless
on the world Oh, that could have lived
five years longerl l could have seen
them both In the way Of making their liv-
ing"
She turned her head restlessly, and
with what force she could muster struck
her hand on the bed-clothes.
"Surely you must have friends who will
do something" said.
al have not a friend in the world, but
there is one man who may, IL you will
help me, do something for my children"
"Let me hear what can do"
81 want you to see this man and tell
llm am dead. want you to ask him II |
nc will pay for the children's living and
eyes, can do that"
81 want you TO do more. lie will not |
10 1t for love OF me. He IL not my friend. |
want you to say, 'She left a sealed pack |
Il with me; unless you lodge the proper
amount OF money with two honest per.
IONS as trustees, am instructed to break |
he seals and send the packet to the per-
on to whom it is Addressed 1t will |
Tot be much trouble, Mr.. Norris. He
VII be sure to pay the money, then YOU
an give him the packet Will you do
his for a dying woman?"
Her voice, II weak, was eager and
pleading. She little tho, sht that | knew
Xactly from whom the NJ ney was to be
Storted and pretty well guessed the con-
ents of the packet.
"Will you do this2" she asked again.
eeing that | hesitated.
was only pausing to consider what
curse to adopt. had only to promise
o comply with her request, and / felt
ertain that her confession would be
laced In my hands Once in my posses.
ion, could use it as | pleased. But |
cit that, come what might, / could not
eceive this dying wretch
81 will not do it," / said
She moaned, and her fingers picked
onyulsively at the bed clothes.
"Ohl" she said, would have cried had
trength enough been hers, "for Gods
AXE, for my children's fake, do this thing
'r me. 1t is very, very little to ask"
The critical moment had come. leant
yer her and looked into her wild be.
eeching eyes.
Mrs. Merton" | said, lean you, a
nful dying woman, call this little
ling? You would make me the instru
lent to wiring the money you want from
apt. Chesham, and, that money once
lven, are content TO die, knowing that
lie vile conspiracy you and he concocted
ventY years ago will never be revealed
larry Williams, now that you lie on your
cath bed, do the one good action of your
te and clear the innocent"
NHcNtSNS chSSi tAiEhb NOulu luNt CUT 4
tort the little life left her. Her large
'es dilated with horror and fear. In
'lte OF her weakness she half raised her
IL In the bed and stared at me. !
"What have you to do with Richard
hesham and his crimes now?n | contin
I'd. Chow will you fece the next world
It'll this last act on your soul2 AS YOU
'pe for mercy show mercyr"
WHO are your" she gasped. Glow
you know my nauieG You are Lady
son!" she aid suddenly. S
81 am not. | am whom told you I
as, nothing more, Her friend"
She closed her eyes and lay muttering 5
nc only words coild catch from her
rched, drawn lips ere, "My children
arvingl penniless!n
This love, this devotion to her children
is my cue.
"Mrs. Merton--Mary williams
Id, "listen to mel am rich. pledge
7 word as a man, my honor as gentle
IN, that If, OF your own free will and
cord, you place that CONF ssion In nv
nds l will do all, even more, for your
lldren than you wished to ask of
eshamn