Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-05-24

Ravel vas greatly depressed by his
fathers Illness. For months after tnat
nioht IN. excitement of which had 30 has
tened the failure OF the old mans strength,
the silence Of the great house was rarely
broken BIZ the sound OF our voices. MY
uncle lay helpless In deep sleep most 81
the time. never able TO leave ms poa un.n,
summer he had strength enough 70 ST ~
An easy,chair by the window; some fatai
maIady the nature OF which he did not
d;sciose "a me. was evidently sapping ms
strenotb had urged him more than once
| 10 Ief me summon q physician, onh ne
would not permit me to do so. mnen
summer came Of last be grew s,r9 ,I, an. ~
was able 10 walk, supported py nnye,, ~
his chair in the open court-yafu "i"o"s VIC
! flowers aod =, ;ts
The lion, which had been confined IN us
| CAGE most OF the time since my uncle nan
grown feeble as to need Rayers Constant
| attention sickened and died in the warm
lavs az early June. Rayel was sorely
| oTieved nj the death of his pet, ana ~
| though he stood in the SHADOW OF ias
greater sorrow, he felt deeply ,n9 p rS
slowly. one day like another, casting on US
the same burden of anxiety ana snence. !;
spent much of the time In my uncle IL
| brary. pouring over his books, ana trylhg
! to shake Oh the melancholy thoughts sug-
gested by my daily life. -.
One dsy in early autumn Rsyell was sit
ting with me near an open WINDOW over
| looking the courtyard, where MS ia'nei
was enjoying the open ar. ,,u
"He will die to-day" said hayei caihiy'
"He told me he would die to-day" .,
| "He seems the same as usual" SAID.
1--WE cannot tell, he may live Tor months
] vet ,
Ravel shook his head incredulously and
sat for long time looking out OF the WIN
"And / will go with you then ?" he
asked, suddenly turning toward me.
Yes" j answered.
II was the first time he had ever asked
me a question squarely, for he could read
my mind like an open book, and TO him eli
questioning was unnecessary.
| While we were sitting there thinking
over our plans my uncle summoned US oy
rappine with his cane. Rayel turned pale;
and with whispered ejaculation hurried
out of the room and ran down the pain 70
his father, followed closely by myself MY
uncle was breathing heavily.
Count it." said be, feebly extending his
hand. Rayel counted his pulse-beats.
"NInety-four and growing. quicker: he
exclaimed, turning toward me with q
| frightened look.
! "It won't increase much" my uncle
whispered feebly. but with cool and pro;
fessional air. lit will go down soon and
then death will follow"
"Be calm. Rayel," he continued almost
sternly, as his son began weeping. he
calm, say. That music, do you hear IT.
child2 Do you see what is passing now
| Tell il. Let me hear you"
II cannot hear it." said Rayel, looking
earnestly into his fathers face.
Hallucination " he whispered. cropping
about until his hand rested on the head OF
his son, who was kneeling beside him.
seem TO see millions of forms around me.
seem 10 her them, but cannot see you
nor hear YOU" =,
AS if exhausted by the effort his head fell
back upon Rayels shoulder and he lay fol
a long time. his eyes closed, struggling FOL
breath. The diving mans faculties would
no longer obey the whip of his mighty will
| Indeed, they had done him their final, ser
vice, for in few moments he was dead
Tenderly and manfully, uttering no SOUND
of grief. Rayel lifted the liteless body oil
his father and bore it into the house.