The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1891-05-01

When they reached their destination
ROYAL hurried them to the hotel, secured
rooms and esta blished them een1forta-
bly,. Then he left them to see after his
patient, ne saids and to attend to other
matters. Mrs. Fart followed him into
the corridor to say that If there should
be any service for the sick man which
she could perform, ne 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 countsnance, and to shake
of. if possible, the WEAKNESS which op-
pressed him. Then he opened Ii and en-
tered.
TIE shutters had been closed and
there was no fire in the CRATE The out
side air entered freely, but it could not
6spel the strange doors IN the room;
about the place there was 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 a 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. It was
as though a part Of his own life had
been Suddenly swept into the infinite.
That silent form would be barrier for
ever separating his future from his past.
He touched the bell.
II was answered almost Immediately
by a 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! 1t
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 il 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 at de las, sar," he said,
as he handed it. He suffered nightly
arter you lef, an t'other doctor he look
like he couldn' t give him no res. Twain
in his limbs, sar-al 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 off
like a chile gwine TO sleep. De doctor
had got feared an gone for mother doc
tor or somebody, SO t'wa'nt nobody wild
hum '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, SO l JUS stopped his watch
arter breath had lef him good
Royal opened the watch In his hand.
1t had been stopped at ten minutes to y.
He replaced 1t 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