San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1890-07-09

a Pole who had died in exile, aided Nadege
in her domestic tolls. Thanks to his ingenu.
Gus and charming character, the little or
phan succeeded in softening the sad lot of
those who had adopted him.
M. Nadeieff had returned to Irkoutsk, and
Yegor had worked for several weeks under
his direction. The grantee of the Merit
chinsk mines was greatly pleased with his
secretary and allowed him the utmost liber-
ty. Not day passed that Yegor did not
visit his venerable friend and his family.
Unhappily, Davidoffs strength failed visibly,
they saw him dying, as dies the flame Of q
lamp that has no more oil.
One evening. Yegor found Nadege and
Ladislas in tears; the Oh :lan, stretched
upon his bed, could scarcely breathe They
made him swallow few drops of brandy;
a salutary effort seemed to be produced, but
It was only momentary. His pulse dimin.
isbed, black circles surrounded his eyes and
lis lips grew white.
We'll. father." said Ye~3r. ing a seat
beside him
Davidoff slowly turned his pale, thin
face, strove IN open his eyelids, as il he
could Still so. and uttered few incompre-
hensibln w0r's.
Aided by Nadege, Yegor endeavored to
lit up the old man, whose body was already
stiff,
His lips moved anew; he had recognized
Yegor's voice talking to Nadege and direct
ing little Ladislas to run for physician.
This is better, thank YOU" muttered he.
1--WE have arrived at Kieff, have we mott
Obi how long the journey has been"
He was delirious
He delivered an address to his former pu-
pills, speaking to them of Russia's future and
the triumph Of pity.
Yegor and Nadege held each others hands
and wept.
At last, the physician arrived. He was
also an exile-a resident doctor in military
hospital of st. Petersburg, banished for
having circulated prohibited pamphlets.
The dying man had sunk into lethargy
of bad omen. His respiration growing short
or and more painful, produced sound SINH
lar to a stified Kissing
The physician felt his pulse and listened
to the beating of his heart; then he departed
whispering in Yegor's ear:
He will not last through the night"
About eleven o'clock, Davidoff recovered
from the lethargy into which he had again
fallen. Yegor raised him and gave him Q
! little brandy, saying
Drink this, father, it will do you good"
The old man drank it as obediently as
| child.
Then, his hands came out from under the
| coverings and began to search for something
in space. They encountered Yegor's hand.
| The old man seized it eagerly. and held it
| Then he said, in low voice: ~
"Nadege, your hand!" And having taken
| 1t, he placed it in that of the young man and
| added: "Yegor, I confide Nadege to you.
Be father and protector to her. Swear
| to me that you will never abandon her"
II swear it," said Yegor, in a voice choked
with tears.
Twill you marry herl' asked the dying
| man.
| Il will !" answered Yegor.
"Ah! my daughter! your father can now
| die TRANQUILITY"
He fell back heavily upon his pillow, as II
| this last effort had killed him.
Nadege uttered a heart-rending cry and
threw herself upon her father. She kissed
him, amid flow of endearing language, and
smiled at him through her tears, as if he
could see her.
Davidoff was dead But the expression
Of his face was so calm and peaceful that he
appeared to have fallen asleep, solaced.
The exiles sutferings were over!