Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-08-18

res It be afraid; We have heard hsw have
said unto you, GO away p
A mist passed before my own eyes: I
closed the book "My dear lad" said, I'm
neither clerk nor parson: more's the pity, if
it would be any help to you. But If you fol-
low my advice, you viii take the comfort Of
your text and sleep upon it for the next few
hours You'll be all the better man to-mor-
row morning for nights rest
He did not Immediately answer. He had
taken up the book and was letting his eyes
stray over the pages spoke again.
could you sleep, do you think, If I1eft
your said.
81 don't know-Fl try" he said rather
vaguely he closed the book and rose. rose
also, and stood irresoIute. hardly liked to
leave him alone, yet his chance of rest, 1
thought, might be greater 30 than if l re-
manned He understood my doubt appar-
emily
"Tn ell right now" he said II dare say I
shall sleep as you say. Thank you for COM
ing in; don't Inow what should have done
without you"
He smiled family and held out his hand;
there were tears in his eyes; his hand was
cold as ice l asked him few questions,
brief as l could make them, about the morn
ing's arrangements The meeting was to take
place, found. at spot l knew, in a wood
lust without the town walls, where the ruins
Of an old abbey stood on a grassy lawn. Il
shall see you in the morning. said, and
with the promise wrung his hand and left
him
went back tony own room, and, dressed AZ
/ was, threw myself on the bed. Not for .
moment did intend that this iniquitous duel
should go on. At earliest dawn proposed
to rouse the landlord, to stir up the city
guard, il needful; nay, to call out the town
garrison itself, rather than permit an act Of
criminal and unnecessary folly. All this,
say, intended. For while l lay wakeful
and attentive; heard chair pushed back
In the adjoining room, and footsteps moving
uncertainty to and fro; then deep silence.
The young fellow, concluded, had followed
my advice and betaken himself to bed for an
hour or two. The town clocks struck three,
and with the determination to rouse my
self At half-past 4, passed into profound
sleep Alas I was young; l was tired
out At half-past 5 / fell into uneasy
dreams. dreamed that l had risen, that
had dressed in haste, that l had made my
way to the poor lad in the adjoining room.
He was seated in his shirt sleeves ON the edge
Of the bed. "Surely it is not time to go yet"
he said, and began to cry like girl I
dreamed that l awoke, ard turned to dream
again This time it was the boy who came
in to me as 1 was dressing hastily. ''Its all
over" he cried joyously mot soul was
hurt. I start for home at once" "Thank
God" answered, and with the words woke
with a start; woke in truth this time, sitting
up on my bed bewildered for moment. It
was broad daylight looked at my watch;
it wanted but twenty minutes to 9. Icaught
up my hat and burst into the adjoining
room. 1t was empty. On my headlong way
down the stairs stumbled over my friend,
the old waiter In breath told him what
had happened, and rushed from the house.
I rushed from the house, across the steep
arched bridge, through the town gate and
out into the wood beyond Deep in the heart
of the wood stood the ruin; had not q mo-
ment to lose. The rain had ceased, but the
clouds were still low and threatening. re-
member still hardly noted at the time
the damp, gray morning air, thicb with
mist, the drenched weeds aud grass, the trees
weighed down with moisture, powerless to
rally in the dense atmosphere The road, a
grassy, cart rutted track, lay before me,
winding among the trees. 1t lay plain be-
fore me to follow, but 1 thought it would
never end; it seemed Unfortunately long;
/ thought that 1t never would end.
came upon the scene suddenly at last;
cleared space, some walls and high
springing arches on slender columns, grassy
level in front, stretching from tree to tree on
either hand I had visited it but yesterday
and found it empty Of human life. Today
scattered group of men occupied the fore
ground l saw my poor lad; I saw him
stand as he had been placed, and raise his
pistol with a shaking hand. uttered g cry;
he turned his face for second, q trembling
smile on his white lips. II am here, you see;
it's all right" he seemed to say. The next
moment there was report. The pistol
dropped from his hand; he turned and fell
face downward, dead.
The smile was still on bis hpa Poor lad,
poor lad!-Temple Bar.