The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1891-07-02

Anne Royal was engaged. | wonder il
this young man could be Phil Royals
son! You must find ont. John, because
IL he should be he is doubly related TO
You two. and also q close connection os
my own How strange and romantic it
would be, just think OF it, Phyllis.
The nephew Of your aunt's old lover,
and for John to have met-nay, more.
10 have befriended-hin. on his way to
be married to you on the fiftieth ami
versary of that which was 70 have been
Anne's own wedding day to John Hart.
never in my life heard anything like
itr B
Nor had Royal. He had wondered
why such stress had been put ON the esth
OF December. He understood it now for
wornan's sentiment about the day
which was to have crowned her own
love story with fruition. Asmuch trou-
BILE as this sentiment had already caused
him, and was likely TO cause him in the
future, he had no impulse to mock at 1t.
He was too real a man to be devoid of
reverence for romance.
= When they piled him still with ques-
tons he said that he did not believe that
the sick man came from the west; he
was convinced that he must be native
born Virginian. A whimsical thought
would obtrude itself relative to the
greatness of their bewilderment when
they should be confronted with the ne
cessity for Transporting his identity with
that of the other John Royal, He him.
self was the son of Philip Royal and
Pauline Hart.
When they reached their destination
Royal hurried them to the hotel, secured
rooms and established them comforta-
bly,. Then he left them to see after his
patient, he said, and to attend to other
matters. Mrs. Hart followed him into
the corridor to say that if there should
be any service for the sick man which
she could perform, he must not fail to
let her know, and both ladies babe him
send them news of the poor fellows con-
dition.
Royal walked down the corridor with
. step quickened by anxiety. He had
hurried the ladies in. not daring to make
inquiries in the Office nor to interrogate
the servant. The hotel people were
aware that he had gone for the sick
mans friends. He had himself informed
the proprietor of his intention, explain
ing the impossibility of immediate COM
munication with them by telegraph.
The ladies under his charge would be
received as appertaining to John Royal.
At the door of the sick room he paused
to compose his countenance, and to shake
off, if possible, the WEAKNESS which op-
pressed him. Then he opened it and en-
tered.
The shutters Lad been closed and
there was no fire in the CRATE. The out
side air entered freely, but it could not
dispel the strange odors in the room;
about the place there was a look OF neat
ness that was unmistakable; every chair
was in place, and the white covering of
the bed hung straight and smooth over
the sharp outlines of that which lay be-
meath.
Royal crossed the room and folded
back the sheet from the dead mans face.
1t was very peaceful, with all the lines of
care and pain smoothed out, and that
strange reflection of a light that never
was ON land or sea touching and bright
ening the still features into look of
/ youth, look of hope. Royal replaced
the covering with pain at his heart
which his brief acquaintance with the
dead man would hardly justify. 1t was
as though a part of his OWE life had
been suddenly swept into the infinite.
That silent form would be a barrier for
ever separating his future from his past.
He touched the bell.
h. It was answered almost Immediately
by colored man. one of the hotel wait
ers, whom he in the urgency of the
case had installed as nurse that very
morning. How long ago it seemed look
ing backward through the full hours
the hours SO few in number, so plethoric
with events, so pregnant with change
which would affect his whole life! It
almost seemed as though an ordinary
lifetime must have interviewed since he
had given his hurried directions to the
man now standing before him. He
pointed toward the bed.
WHEN did it happen? he inquired.
The man, civil and intelligent fell
low, stepped to the bureau and brought
the dead mans watch. Twas mighty
easy an peaceful aide las, sar," he said,
as he handed it. HE suffered nightly
arter you lief, an t'other doctor he look
like he couldn't give him no res. 'Twan't
in his limbs, sar-all feelin' had gone
out'n dem; twas in his body an back.
Den de inside hemo'ages come on an he
sunk rapid. an at las jus' drapp'd of
like chile gwine to sleep. De doctor
had got feared an gone for mother doc
tor or somebody, SO t'wa'nt nobody wild
HIM 'ceptin' me an Lucy, the CONAN what
waits on dis passage. Flowed you mout
be partic' lar bout de time. bein' doc
tor yo'se'f, an my mem'ry amt good like
it used to be,,soI JUS stopped his watch
arter breath had lef him good"
Royal opened the watch In his hand.
It bad been stopped at ten minutes to -.
He replaced It on the bureau, and
signed to the negro to leave the room.
Then he sat himself down beside the
dead man and tried to think.