The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1894-06-29

were round the bed where the poor fcl-
low lay In the last extremity of delir-
louS helplessness, soaked in prespira-
ton. Near him stood my friend Free
man. At the head Of the bed hung two
watches; on the whtewashed wall tick
ed loud Dutch clock. Over the bot
tom rail OF the bed leaned the wife in
despair, moaning at intervals in low
voice her husbands name Behind her
was the mans sister preparing poul-
tice over the fire.
/ learned in a few fords from Free
man that the poor fellow had been
employed for years at the chemical
works, where he had contracted ulcera-
tion of the lungs; on Sunday night he
had stood in the doorway Of the crowd
ed church, and caught cold, and had
come home to the bed from which he
would never rise again.
While we spoke he was seized with
a fit Of violent delirium, in which he
had to be restrained from getting out
of bed. The women began to weep and
wall. and the old mother ascended from
the kitchen and adjured him Pray,
Dick, pray" and then turned to us
with will noe O. yo parsons pray for
my ladY' Soon he calmed down again
into a more lucid interval While he
lay speechless. and a neighhor by the
bed kept moistening his dry, cracked
lips with rag soaked in brandy and
water, he gazed around him, and at last
fixed his eyes on me- and essayed to
speak-but no words came. This pros
tration and silence continued for some
time. Now and again the head Of the
family would ascend from the kitchen
lin his stockings lest he should make
noise,) and stand In solemn silence
with inquiring eyes on his son; he
would stand so still and retired that his
presence was forgotten till the gulp OF
a big sob was heard, and the loose
back Of his waistcoat was seen disap-
pearing round the door. AT length the
son found speech.
Father" he said, when the old man
was about again to withdraw, "blde.
He then signified that all the others
should leave the room except Freeman
and myself When they were gone he
motioned his father to his pillow. The
old man went
Haze you summat to say. Dickf'
He nodded "Mun | raise you up:'
He was raised and propped up with
pillows. He asked for drink. and
was given some whisky and milk.
I'm a dying mon,' he began: II
know l am His eyes glazed with
disease and want Of sleep, turned Wild
" about: his head dropped, and his
damn. thin fingers (still discolored with
dyel clawed the bedclothes He re-
sumed fixing his eyes on me: I must
confess summat: hope Godll forgive
me. | had nought to do wi it; wha for
should /? He was aye good to me.
| had nourht to do wi it. l tell you.
No. lad" said the father, TO soothe
him; ''thoo hadna.
"Weel." said he "dunnot say ! had.
because | had ma. Wasna | on the nlgnt
shift. That was all. | took JIM
| place. he wanted to 90 Whoam 70 VIE
I'm bed wi babby. That was It.. lie
muttered on some other phrases. Whlle
no turned his eyes about as II lost;
his recollection was wandering ne
resumed with energy "They come
| right in. speaking loud and angry lie
| walks IN to thing and lifts hd.
| knowed it,' says he. But yo' MEDINA
let a. tn world know It. says IN lther.
This shannot be-" says he.
The poor fellow was growing terri,
hly excited; every word was uttered
with fierce emphasis and wild gesture
his ewes were fixed on vacancy. ana III
nv reflex excitement, | fancled saw
the interior of the color-shed, with lts
vague tinted yapors. through "l,!cn
lonmed the figures Of two quarrellnS :
men whom / tremblingly Watched u,
nacination by the side OF this dyeu
Demon Of the vat. The man grew 90
axo;tnd and we were so engrossed WIN
hts revelation that he had risen TO MS
,.naes in bed before we could prevent
h;r, He continued his fierce d1sJolnt-
ed utterances. 80. rs.
he. He leans over. An, Aoiu. ~
wants to spill 1t! A-ll-h.'
With wild leap he was stana,ns Nv W
IN he'd and fiercely initiating 'le ~.
tinn Of a man STOPPING ana 'lpp'n- =
throwing some heavy body. We W..
50 transfixed with surprise ana nol
ror that we could not stir 2 hailu ~ =.
strain him. He looked IKE W.il
cornse suddenly raised from 'he usa.l
10 : grotesque galvanic hIe WIZ.
=. oh;aav q seized my attention was ,ne
,,aoE shadow on the wall OF this deilr,
% inns figure thus STOPPING with head
and hands outstretched. In me .han lnrl'tns the
lasted but a moment. ana .nen .;.s sns
noor man fell back on his Pillows WIN
distracted cries ~,
''a, anfnrder, Oh. my God! murder: An
couldna speak! Nay. ! coulnh4. ,.,,4., Du'
rd nought to do wi it;-nonsha. ., -. ro,,-
Again he lay exhausted. ana a,s n,s 1u,r h,,r
tives and neighbors came pa.n . hin, nr,
riedly to his bedside 70 wa,l wal o,.i =, tham ,,'
He looked sadly but caill,ls MIL on of , M. M.
gaspins in the ,1,aian last ram, s'.uss And
~ .aiI ia lied and the wailing broke out
redoubled. ,.;ar, cr;ad tho old
S.,,,;no to her husband.