Weekly commercial herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1884-18??, 1886-03-05

iriondshiR The proceedings we're stopped
at once, and they went gravsly back 10 bar
racks, those wno bad ridden 10 got into
morning clothes, aud oil Of them 70 hang
about waiting for news.
But there was no hops, absolutely no hope
whatever. With all his faults, f~ailings and
peculiarities, Gavor Gilchrist was passing
away from their midst by exchange, as Har-
toy had once wighed-the exchange, not Of
one regiment for another, but Of this world
for the nex&
1t was about s o'clock that the senior Of
the two surgeons in attendance on Glchrist
entered the anteroom, and, looking around,
beckoned for Bottles.
"What newsF' asked several voices.
'He won't last the night. Bottles, be
wants you"
9Th come" said Bottles, rising.
"Sure to want Bottles observed Preston.
"On, yes; l should MYSELF returned
another.
won't last the night" remarked a third.
swell, l never did like Gilchrist-neyer;
but, all the same, I'm deuced sorry for him
now, poor chap. For oh, by Jovel it's a
fearful thing when you come to that"
And then they fell into silence again, wait
ing for Bottles to come back. Half an
hour neutrality-suspicious. then Boobies
did not come. An hour; then Bottles an
peared-came with a white face and a
scared look in his blue eyes, followed BY the
doctor who had fetched him. Every man
in the room was roussd from q lounging
attitude to one of expectation and surpris5.
''BootIes," said Lacy, moving towards
him.
But Boobies did not even look at him. He
turned to the doctor and uttered words the
like of which none Of his hearers had ever
heard from him before.
81 kept my temper, doctor-you think I
did, know the mans dying. Yes, | know.
and 1 shouldn't like to think 1 lost my tenn
per with'a poor chap who was dying, but
but No; l won't say a WORD. I'll 90
away and keep 70 myself until I've got over
it little. II | stop here l shall say some
thing l shall be sorry for all the rest Of my
life,5
"What is it, Bootlesp broke in Lacy, in
his soft voice.
But Boobies did not reply for a moment
He stood still, trying hard to control him
oO4A DuV lazy VIII Lldi 1dlu HIS udilu upon
his sleeve, felt that he was shaking from
head to foot, and his very lips were trem-
bling.
Tell us" said Lacy persuasively. "What
is it,"
He is Mignon'5 fatherw Bottles an
swered. And then he broke from Lacy's
grasp and fled.
'Impossibler Lacy cried.
"Not at all it is true, " the doctor answered.
she is making his will now, leaving Bootle;
sold guardian and trustee to the child.n
1.-The brute!' burst out Preston, indig-
nantly, remembering Gilchrists words, not
so long ago.
Hush, hush! The man is dying, and
death alters everything the doctor cried.
'And Boobies kept his tempora Said moth
Not one word-of reproach.n
HAS he seen her2'
"No. He would not, though Bottles
asked him."
ellis own chid-and she Miss Mignony'
'All the better. Sne cannot endure
"BJ Jovel But what a blow for Bootlesr'
''How will he take itl Viii it make any
differenceY'
Gas. wregards Miss Mignon7 What wrot
you talk. As If Bcotles-' But there
Lacy broke off in disgust, and the babel Of
surmises, questions aud answers went on.
And that night Gavor GilchriSS died.