The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1893-02-02
AT THE GATE.

silent, waiting. After an interval OF
rest hewould begin again with another,
where he had begun with this man, in
the struggle between life and death
Near the head OF the bed stood the
physician, O. sad look on his grave
face, for he was not only the inva-
lids physician-he was his friend.
And the man opposite him, he also
had been the dying man = friend. His
face was pale almost as the~white face
upon the pillow-hen ervously elasped
and unclasped his hands and tried to
moisten his lips with his dry tongue.
At a slight catching of the breath
from the sufferer this man started
forward-he dropped into a chair at
. the head of the bed and gazed eagerly
\ at the face OF the dying man until the
calm, regular breathing was resumed.
Then he spoke to the physician in a
low, trembling voice:
'He is not going now, doctor?"
"No, not yet.
care you sure you cannot save
him?"
"No earthly power can save him
now
will he live an hour?'
eyes, it is likely"
The other glanced at the bed, then
bracing his shoulders said with an ef-
fort: ''Will you leave me alone with
him. | have something I must tell"
The physician bowed, and, with the
nurse, withdrew. II will be within
CALL" he said at the door.
Then the other bent his face above
the bed. A face of kindness and
sweetness and dignity it was, but
marked with lines of suffering. About
the temples the hair was quite gray
';How peaceful he looks. If he
could but 60 like that! And I must
break that calm serenity Withhold,
that it might not bel"
He covered his face with his hands.
The other moved on his pillow lit
tie, then opened his eyes.
Henry" he said family, "is it
your"
Eyes. Arthur, it is l."
"Is it morning yet"
"No, not yet, dear friend"
"You are with me all alone, dear
Henry-you never leave me-my
brother"
He tried tt stroke the others hand
''Arthu', sent them away-the
doctor am he nurse-because there
is something I must tell you before
you 60. have-a Confession"
His friend smiled family. 1.-THE
same faithful, loving Henry-you stay
with me when the rest are sleeping.
You never sleep, Henry" He did not
seem to have heard.
his face was awful to look upon, sit is
for me, your loved and trusted friend,
to embitter your last earthly hour.
On, my friend, my brother, I must
slay your lifelong trust in me-"
The dying man turned his eyes up.
on him with the same affectionate
smile.
:'That is not right" he whispered;
you should rest, too
Henry held the hand OF his friend
tightly between his own; with every
muscle strained and great drops start
ing from his forehead. he slid from the
chair to his knees. Yet q great JOY
was quivering in his heart. His friend
wandering-he could not under
nd. Suddenly the great gray eyes
opened full upon him, shining with in
telligence.
f. Henry, he said in a. thrilling,
whisper, Il shall see her very soon
Tell me, dear Henry, you who loved
her too, shall know her at once?-
will she look as she did here with US?
Oh, if should not know her-cannot
find her. it will not be heaven for me,
Henry"
The other face had sunk upon the
rail of the bed now. "Oh, God! how
can I tell him with the light from hea-
ven shining upon his face, and her
name upon his lips!
"Henry, why do you not answer
me9 You do not look at me- Tell me
you believe shall see herr"
Eyes, yes, Arthur, I believe"
The dying man closed his eyes. In
few moments he opened them again
''lf am alive when morning comes,
raise me at the last so that 1 may
look from the window on her grave
-........... You will be lonely, poor Hen
ry, and sad; but do not grieve long
look always forward. 1t is not a bad
thing, this dying he smiled family,
II feel no PAIN. think what it is to
know-that forever and ever"
The voice faded away into stiffness,
and the faint color that had risen to
his face slowly ebbed away
arthur" cried the other, II must
speak now. Listen, Arthur, you shall
not-must not die until you have
heard me-until you have seen that
this heart, full as it is of love for you,
is too vile to hope ever to share the
10y of which you are worthy. 4
must tell you OF my wickedness,
not mine alone--that
easy, butch God! Arthur,
,+.ny you hear me? do you understand
what l say-that you must curse
me before you die? Arthur, Arthur"
lat the last terrible cry he flung
himself upon the body Of his friend.
From the parted lips no futter OF
breath came, and from the wide
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