The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1891-06-06
EDGAR r C DEATH.

III. winner was a mlddle-aged
bachelor, weil-to-do In the world
AID having a comfortable practice.
Lie had gone on comfortably enough
Tor him, with scarcely n break worth
recording He had no m~ournful MEM
orics OF the past, his affections had
never been blighted; his youth he had
epent in getting rich, and now he was
satisfied with his worldly accumula-
lions but in no haste to secure aid TO
dissipate them.
But the dead levels OF life get
strangely stirred now and then, and as
DR.. Winter unfolded his morning pm
per his eyes fell upon a paragraph
headed. Sudden Death-Our readers
will regret 20 learn OF the sudden de-
mise of the talented young artist Ed
gar Percy. He was found dead in his
apartment last evening. His disease
was probably some organic affection OF
the heart. We are as yet unable 10
give further particulars
Edgar Percy deadP Why. II was
only yesterday afternoon that / met
him In perfect health"
He took up his hat and gloves with
the intention OF visiting Percy's lodg-
ings. and was carelessly putting away
unopened the letters which the post
mar had just brought. when he sudden
" exclaimed. ''Percy's hand! Sealed
with black too! | wonder / did not
notice IL before. Can IL be possible
that he writes 10 tell me OF his own
deathP"
Dr.. Winter sat down again. and
opened the somber missive. IL was
dated the evening before. and, sure
enough. Edgar Percy's name was
signed TO IL DIR. Winter read:
my Dear Friend: IL Is now time for
US 10 part-for me 10 die, for you to live;
and which OF us meets the best fate, God
only knows. The world will raise uplifted
hands OF astonishment and then rush on
and forget us ere a single morn has waxed
and waned. And yet IL Is the fear OF this
same cold, indifferent world that compels
me 10 rush unbidden from It's haunts. My
lips shall never frame the confession my
pen never write II. My death alone ends
all. With me the secret dies. IL / lived,
IL must become known. Come and look at
me after you have read this. FAREWELL
EDGAR PERcr."
DIR. Winters establishment was too
vast TO find nm immediate utterance.
He put the letter carefully in his
pocket, and went forth 10 obey the
mans Come and look at
me after you have read this" Ay,
that he would!
Very pathetic was that dead face.
A mournful beauty yelled the chiseled
features, a sad smile wrcathed the ex-
ouisite mouth. The profile turned
slightly aside. gave the head a listen
ing look. Marvellous enough. doubt
less. were the sounds now ringing In
those ears! What was the mystery
upon which those lips had closed
forever? What the coming disaster
upon which those eyes so feared TO
look that they must needs put on the
veil OF deathP
No answer-no stirring OF those lips
no lifting Of those heavy lids with
death for coin weights!
A tear fell upon the marble brow OF
the dead; the doctors hand fell care
lessly upon the damp locks.
Poor boyi' he murmured.
But there came a time when the sad
beauty OF the face was hid away; when
the sad smile seemed like IA sheer
w~herewith the dead mock their W
decay. and Edgar Percy was forgotten
bv all save one.
IA was nj the close Ct the third year
TINT DR.. Winter made the acquaintance
of a young surgeon belonging TO one
OF the principal hospitals. Young
william Cunning took n great fancy 10
the middlc-sgcd. jolly practitioner. a
pcnchaut rcciprocated by the doctor,
and when of duty the two we're always
together.
One day DIR. Winter accompanied
Cunning 20 the hospital and went the
rounds with him.
Cunning stopped nj n OF the PAL
let's on which was stretched h eslcnder
form Of a man yet In his early youth.
whose pale, regular features and dusky
yes sent q thrill OF remembrance