Los Angeles herald., 1892-04-13
fast going He looked almost pitifully

There Is my Shakespeare-there, on that
table by the window. 1t was my moth
er's gift. Bring it to me carefully"
The doctor silently did as he was bid.
He knew that he was obeying the wishes
of one for whom he could not do much
more. When he turned his head he saw
that the dying man had raised himself
in the bed.
"Turn to the Third Act--the First
Scene. enter. Listen now, and tell
me what effect this has upon you. Lis.
ten!
"To be or not to be-tbat is the question
Whether 'tis nobler in the mind, to suffer
Tho sings and arrows of outrageous fortune:
Or TO take arms against a sea of troubles,
And, by opposing. end them? To die-tO
sleep
No more-and, By sleep, to say we end
The heartache. and the thousand natural
shocks
That flesh is heir to tits consuinmaton
Devoutly to be wished. To de-to sleep
To sleepl perchance TO dream: aye, there's the
rub
For in that sleep of death what dreams may
come.
"Why do you stare at me? Keep your
eyes on the book and not on me.
come"
Then the man stopped. He MUIR
INJURED these words yet again and again
then, turning to the doctor, he told him
what he we'll knew-that he was dying.
'Do you know what would be my
dream in that long sleep?" he asked
wildly and yet plaintively. II will tell
you. My brother! He would mock at
me that l was snapped off in the very
moment of my triumph. He would
point at me and laugh. l, who had re-
fused to hold out helping hand to him
and exert my influence to better his po-
sition. Oh, Icouldn't bear that! Harry,
Harry, old fellow, if l could only see
you again; if l could only ask you to
forgive me before it is too late; if L
Doctor" he cried suddenly, 81 must see
my brother Harry! l must see him!
You'll find his address in that desk
send for him. Tell him his brother
Glen wants to speak to him and do at
last what he has always refused. There,
in that desk"
The doctor quietly laid the patients
head upon the pillow. Then he told him
that which brought wild smile of glad
ness to his pallid face. He laughed at
the news. His brother Harry was be-
low waiting even then. When the doc
tor saw that the man was dying, he
asked the servants if their master had
any relations living. They only knew
of one-a brother he never saw, a BROTH
er who a few days before had knocked
at the door and had gone away unseen.
They knew his address, for he had left
it, He had come up to London, hoping
against hope that still the great actor
would endeavor to get him an engage
ment. So the doctor telegraphed to him,
and he had only just that moment come
"Setd him to me-now-at once" the
dying man said in voice now weak.
"Tell him, before he comes up, that his
brother Glen is longing to see him."
The doctor went to the door and called,
and when he saw Henry Walford as
cending the stairs he started in surprise.
How like these two men We're; how Won
derfully like. But one, though poverty
had lined her story upon his face, looked
strong and well, the other man was dy-
ing fast. Quietly he entered.
"Harry, old fellow" one said, lifting
hand out of bed with last strength.
"Clem! Clem!' the other cried, TAX
ing the proffered hand and putting the
other arm around his neck and lifting
his head up. Then the two men kissed
each other.
"Harry, old boy, I'm dying! know
7 shall bouo ypiccoI forinbf cbon,f
I? But I've found you. Come nearer
to me and listen! Harry, I've been cruel
to you-you forgive me?'
The other clasped his hand.
"No, no; say it! Say 4 forgive your"
"Clem, my brother; l forgive you.
Clem," Henry Walford said, through
his tears.
II shan't be able to talk much, so !
must say it quickly. A little water
Just wet my lips. Thank you-thank
you, old fellow. Now, listen earnestly
to me. Come very near. Harry, your
chance has come at last-and tonight.
You can take it in my stead, for shan't
be here. You know the part? Ahl ]
thought so-you have played it many
times. But mine-mine is daring plot.
There is my fur coat on the back Of that
chair-put it on. Yes; never mind about
letting go my hand-put it on, Harry"
Henry Walford did so.
"Yes-yes-it is myself. Go down to
the theater tonight. Walk in at the
stage door without saying a word. They
will touch their hats to you and let you
pass. Go to my room-it is the first on
the left. Make up-dress-e everything is
there. Be in readiness-the orchestra
will commence, the curtain will rise,
and-and-as-you-s on the stage
the house will ring with applause. Your
chance-has-come- at-1ast. Thank
God-I-your brother, Clem-can give
it to you. Harry-Harry, old fellow
Harry-hold my hand-Pm-goodb
put your arms-round me-Harry-
Harry
The man fell back in his brothers
arms-dead!
That night the theater was packed.
The stage doorkeeper touched his hat to
the great actor as he passed through
without word. The prompter's bell
rang and the curtain rose. Hamlet en-
tered and the noise was deafening, and
when the curtain fell he who played the
Prince was called again and again. On
the morrow the newspapers devoted col
umn after column in eulogizing re-
markable performance, zone that would
live in the memory of all who had seen
it," Then, when the truth came out,
the excitement and curiosity were in
creased twofold- Clement Walford was