Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1889-12-26
JUST BY CHANCE.

A day and the life of Isaac Rawson
we're drawing to a close together. The
avs of the setting sun stole into the
,oom where the dying man lay, and he
watched them intently until they faded
away. He knew he would never see
them again.
Death had confronted the old lawyer
suddenly. His energies, overtaxed
through long life devoted to ceaseless
money getting, had collapsed in an in
slant almost. and left that which we call
life without the support necessary for
its further continuance.
"He cannot live through the night:
probably the end is not more than a few
hours distant" the old family physician
had said but a few minutes before when
the son who now sat by his fathers bed
side asked what the chances were.
The son sat with bowed head. His
features were composed in an expression
of decorous grief: his hands were folded
upon his lap, and at almost regular inter-
walls he sighed. Had he raised his head,
it would have appeared that there was
not the suspicion of a tear in his eyes, and
that there fingered III their depths look
of quiet satisfaction which the lines of
sorrow that were set upon his face could
not entirely hide.
Perhaps the fact that ne knew himself
to be the sole heir to his fathers wealth
had something to do with shaping the
younger mans inner feelings. Some
hearts are ruled by the desire for personal
gain rather than by affection.
"Robert.
Scarcely above a whisper the single
word came from the colorless lips of the
| old man. The man at the bedside started
slightly, as one who is suddenly aroused
from thought that has carried him far
| away from present surroundings. Then
he turned and answered: Eyes. father.
what do you wish?''
81 have been thinking of your brother.
| Robert. l fear that after all 1 should
| not have treated him as l did,
The old man paused, exhausted by the
effort which the words had cost him.
Anexpression that was unpleasant to see
| fitted across the younger mans featul es.
| but in an instant it was gone again.
81 know that l have but short time
| to i've" resumed the old man, land
| things appear to me in a different light.
| 1t was heartless in me to disinherit and
| disown Jack because he married accord
| ing to his own wishes instead of my die
tates 1 shall change my will; there is
| enough for you BOTH Each shall have
half, and shall die happier"
Eyes, father" The words came gently
| from the sons lips, but the look on his
| face would have surprised the father
| could he have seen it. But the gloom
| was thickening and his half closed eyes
| did not see.
"Draw up the will as wish it, quickly,
| while l have yet the strength left me to
sign" directed the dying man.
Robert went to table near by, Lit a
| gas jet and began to write, not at all
| hastily.
"Why are you SO long about it? A few
words will certainly be enough" impa-
| tiently exclaimed the old man after the
son had been busy what seemedsto be a
very long time.
| ST shall be done directly. There,
am through" replied the son, as he rose
and handed what he had written to his
| father.
THAT is right" was all the latter said
after he had read the will. Then he took
the pen from his sons hand and with a
| great effort signed his name.
Now sign as witness, and call Han
nah; she will do as the other witness.
| Robert affixed his signature: then he
called the housekeeper and she also
signed her name.
"Now go to my desk and take the old
1 i 80 4,
little drawer to the right"
| Robert went to the desk, took folded
paper from the drawer indicated, held it
| in the gas fame until it was well ablaze
and threw it upon the open fireplace
where it lay moment later charred
mass.
| "There; it is not so hard to die now,'
whispered the dying man. 81 feel that
| cannot live until Jack could be sent for
but I want you, Robert, to go to him thls
very night and tell him that my heart
was not steeled against him to the end
| Tell him of the will which, q
Isaac Rawson ceased speaking an; Ylay
motionless. He was dead. IL
1t is not yet midnight when saobert
| sCepS aooaIu d Train that VIII lA9e hiIl
to the city where his brother, Jadk, lives
for has not his father wsth Is dying
breath told him to go to his br sther this
very night Who would fail to. respect
the.last wishes of one now dead? Surely
| not son.
/ The city where Jack lives is not ia.
| distant: but there is a river to crqss on
! the war. As the train rr1mbles 1lowly
across the bridge, Robert PAUSE in the