The conservator., 1886-12-18
A TRUE FRIEND.
BY WILL NJ. MURRAY.


BY WILL NJ. MURRAY
IL was bad place for sick man. TIL
iooIn was large, too large for any attemn
= 1oslless or snugness to be successful
W surroundings were most inappro
pirate. Here lay figure, grotesoue in il,
oFapeN, carelessly flung on to Get the oar.
ments out OF the way; there an easel. wifi
Whlte sheet thrown over the unfinished
picture upon it, and locking weird and
ghos'like when the light was dim. in cor.
ners' piles Of pictures, framed and un-
framed sketches. portfolios, drawing
poarus-all the surroundings of an artist
scattered about, pushed aside, heaped on
chairs or tables; but all bearing the INNS U--
- 8 G as1as ar Of long neglect In one corner.
4 cot bed; beside it, a small
son the bed Frank
G., sAssssS.ssliug. '''
,,aAs Anr rr:yious ID a. and ont for tsn
seen, excepting that Ethe invalid had ,e,
slept, bnt tossed and raved in widest de-
lirlum. The time was summer-early June
the hour between sunset and dark
Everything that could be open was
open, and the hum of the city streets came,
softcned and subdued, up to the fourth
story Of the tall house, the studio of Frank
Ma on, artist.
The watcher. weary with his long strain
Of nursing, was wondering Jf9TSbiig Ally il 5t Mtdhas t:hs
night venture to,l'f pair of large 1, monru "run
ri umk eyes, and looked into his face.
,Lroh "a om heart gave a quick, strong
- .hfoD oI delight as he recognized the re-
turn OF reason in the wasted face and
questioning expression.
How long have | been ill?" the faint
voice asked. 'A'
Only ten days; and you will do famously
now was TOMS reply, in a CHEEKY tone:
only You must not talk, and You must
take this, hohling tiny glass TO Franl,'s
lips rs he tenderly lifted his head
Thanks" drinking obedientlv the for
from tempting mxtuie. "I-havo talked
mucb?"
"A great deal Of nonsense. Nobody pavs
any attention 70 fever fancies, old fellow.
80 don't worry about that"
Did any one hear me but yon?"
No one else, unless Tie doctor caught |
lew words. Now don't fook SO troubled. |
1eu aro too weak to talk now"
did rave ahout him-my father?p
The last two words came in a chokad |
gasping whisper, and on the pale face the
persplratlon started IN heavy drops.
dear cd boy" Tom said, caressinolr.
while, tenderly as a woman, he wiped The
ciammy moisture from his friends face
you must not talk of it now You need
rest, sleep; and this agitation is very bad
Tor you What you said is as if it were
never spoken"
"A true friend" Frank murmured. 10
good friend for nearly three wears. and T
decelying him all the time! Why do YOU
not shrink away, as every friend did when {
my father was hanged?-hanged for mur
der" and his voice grew thick and hoarse. {
MY father! my dear fatherl You must
listen! must tell you" he said, as Tom t
valnly urged quiet. 1T was one mad fit of c
anger, not intentional murder." And he [
shlvered at the word. "But it was fatal n
blow he struck-only one blow-and his e
friend, the friend he had loved and trusted. O
and WHO was false to him, fell striking his S
mead upon the corner of book case Even il
then my father might have denied the blow n
1or not one knew Of the quarrel, the first rt
he last they ever had; but he gave himself
up, And We were not popular in Miliburn. q
wnIle Inc murdered man was the idol of the W
place. 80 the jury convicted the man who e,
made no defense" A
Frank! Frank, dear old fellow Stop. W.
Deg Of youi You are killing yourselfin W,
lom pleaded. Il gathered it all from yonr Of
ever talk. and you do not need to tell me.n ur
But the sick man never needed him.
My mother would not leave Millburn he
nd we endured all man can endure Of a
corn, contempt, dislike for two weary
ears, while her heart broke slowly, till
he died. Did rave of Laura?"
"Hush. hnsh, now, have told you that
4 you said is already forgotten" ov
I'VE were engaged to be married. All, ia
DIV loved heri / would have released thi
ar, but had no chance to speak or write gu
Il the day my father was arrested, her IL
lcle took her away. They said in the mo-
llage he went abroad. / do not know. aao1
my misery | was half mad. and nv I''i "a.
other needed me day and night. Before ar
ought her she was gone When INV for
other died, came here to try TO forget str
= wretchcdness in my art. But prayed poi
die. Shall die now?" ma
"No,"-Gnd Toms voice was clear and sta1
m. Yen must live. Live to prove that mo,
nan can make or mar his life only by his s1,o
n acts You are already known as an on 1,.e
ist md you will live to be famous" oF
a true friend! A good friend!" Frank ana
a again. Mrs
md then. utterly weary, and yet in some ma,
sterious way quieted by his confession, me1
slept In
The darkness had gathered in the room, sbo,
lie he had been speaking: and, when ne not,
pt, Tom Gwynne rose scttly and lighted - !;
large lamp Gron the center-table, care "ti !"
ly screening the rays from the conner iii'e
ere the invalid lay. Wer'
true friendl A coed friend" as Frank addt
called him. he felt no shrinking from Stat
ccmr;de. Long before he had Eeen and
9 there was some sad secret in Frank Iarp
sons life, some sorrow too deep for ,b;rt
Gdence. There was no sign of poverty. Trr;r
the contrary, the young artist was -. -,
Sd III his expenditure, and more than 70 u
erous when lis srmpathjes were bas
ised star