The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1893-08-31

live to be centenarian; you may die
tomorrow"
But | have not the anticipation of
death before my eyes, excepting that,
and that is horrible
$50! The man who serves this
house with milk has consumption.
Poor devil l can hear him hawk and
strain block away, and he tells me
that for hours at time every breath
is like knife thrust. know another,
man who has Bright's disease IN its
aggravated stage and his sufferiugs
are something terrible. Yet he tells
me he has heard of some water which
is sovereign cure and the milkman
is talking of extending his business
next year Which is best-this blind
fatuity or your unreasoning fear?
Over these two men there hangs
weight-it impends, it must fall, and
unlike you they are certain to receive
the blow"
Your arguments fail to convince
me- cried Frank, desperately. lean
mott will not risk my lifep
But you are risking it-eating,
drinking, walking. This is but an
added danger, for only an hour each
day, and as l have pointed out, the
chances are 1000 to | that 1t will
never harm"
But for what purpose?" asked
Frank.
The old man drained glass of wine
before replying:
Il had thought to make you philo-
sopher," he sighed From you ac-
quaintance with my affairs you know
that my possessions are large, and
you may have guessed that they will
some day be yours. Who can spend
money wisely without the knowledge
of death as we'll as life? For more
years than you have known l have
schemed and toiled to amass wealth
which l cannot use. Your acquaint-
ance with wealth has been confined
to squanderingtit. would have you
spend it like man and not an idiot.
You consider this weight sorry jest;
it is lesson worth a million. The
feast and we called them pagans;
surely a nineteenth century Christian
may be as wise. You do not answer"
i have no answer said the young
man, huskily. My reason accepts,
my very soul loathes the lesson. |
cannot contemplate death IN any form
unmoved. 1t is useless to say [ should
do so. [ am what life has made me-
Not being fool l know that death is
ever present, but l have never been
in contact with it, and the very image
is repellent and abhorrent | would
put it out Of my sight
Can you do so?
I will do SOP
He started for the door and the old
man rose and caught him
You heard what [ said about your
future prospects, Can you afford for
whim to sacrifice the only means
you have of living the life you love?
In few years at the furthest you will
be free and a gentleman of fortune.
With wealth to which your former
store is but 1.-THE, who can estimate
your possibilities of pleasure! And
you would forfeit all for a whimr
"A thousand times-yesr cried
Frank, throwing off the old mans
arm. Il am penniless and almost
helpless, but I cling to life. Better
poverty than the spectre that you have
conjured up to terrify me. am
young and strong and 1 have learned
that life is worth living. Keep your
fortune-it would be too dearly earn
ed at such price He cast a last
loathing look at the grim black weight.
That is DEATH leave it behind me.
FAREWELL
The old man sat for some time mo
tionless in his chair and then arose
with a heavy sigh.
1T failed he said somewhat bitter
ly. 4 feared it would-and yet l had
hopes. Perhaps it was too severe a
test or one that was tried too soon. I
must find the boy and persuade him
to return
Taking his hat and coat he passed
out into the street and thence to Broad
way, where the chances were greatest
of meeting the runaway. Down the
street he walked slowly, sc1utinizing
every passing face until his attention
was attracted by a crowd on one of
the side streets, and thither he went
There will have to be an example
made of these careless builders,' a
portly man was saying. To have
wall fall without warning is as bad as
a bomb. Fortunately no one happen
ed
They've found a man under the
bricks cried another man at this june
ture.
Uncle Jacob pushed his way for
ward. Is he dead? he asked
Dead! echoed the policeman, with
official scorn. I'm thinking any man
would be dead with half ton of brick
on him. The ambulance will be here
directly, but they will have to take
him to the morgue.
Take him to my house, said the old
man quietly, as he knelt over the
body. 1t is my nephew