The record-union., 1896-10-11

wards me. Then he laid a finger on the
upward line that marked q rising body
temperature, and returned to Macintosh
again.
Partly this notion of his, think, sir"
Macintosh said softly. He's worry
ing over it tremendously, or l shouldn't
have troubled you. He slept very little
last night, you know
What on earth does he want to con-
fess a man for?" asked the chief impa-
tiently: but that was beyond Macintosh.
and he shook his head.
If things go on like this" said the
chief, with his finger on the chart, Il
shall operate tomorrow morning."
What do you think of letting him
have his way in this?" asked Macin-
tosh; but the chief was quite indignant,
and they went down the shadowy ward
it was growing very late-with their
heads together, talking softly, while
Father Munro lay and watched, peer
ing anxiously after them all the time.
What Macintosh said further do not
know, but they came back to the bed
What Father Munro said further l don't
know either, but at last the chief called
me, and at once began to relieve his
mind.
What are you doing here at this
time of night, Mr.. Tregenna?"
Taking case SIR
You've no right to be here none at
all. There's no discipline here We
can't have this sort of thing, DR.. Mac
ntcSh! There! there" Gas Macintosh
tried to speak,; that will do! it must be
seen to-" Then he turned and bent over
Father Munro again.
You'll be satisfied if you see this man
tonight" And Father Munro smiled
ON him. Ten minutes are all you want.
and you promise to sleep after?"
Il shall sleep" he promised; and then
l got my instructions
l was to fetch Young Tim to Father
Munro's bedside, and was to leave him
there ten minutes. / was to warn him
nrst as to his behavior, and / was to
take him away when time was up
Then we all three left the ward-Macin-
tosh to get a little sleep, for he.wa to
come round again later, the chief to go
home, and to do my errand
l found Young Tim sitting in his one
room, at the top of a seven-s story house.
staring out at cloudless sky, in which
stars were beginning to show His
wife and the baby were sound asleep,
but Tim looked as though he had never
known what sleep meant. He heard my
errand in silence, and in silence he
walked by me until-in the darkened
ward, where only here and there a glim-
mer of gas was shown, and where the
only other moving thing was the ghost
like shape Of the night nurse-we stood
by Father Munro.
Ten minutes, my son." was all that
the priest said to me; and then, draw
ing away to a window seat, watch in
hand, left them. Screens fenced the
corner in which the bed lay the last on
that side of the ward. l could not see,
1 could not hear what was going on.
Once or twice / heard a stified sob,
hushed at once by the voice of the Little
General. The minutes dragged like
hours. The night nurse, moving like a
shadow here and there down the glim-
mering length of the place. the silent
forms dimly outlined in the nearer beds,
were no company to me. Once / raised
my watch until 1 could see the second
hand moving, and hear the sound.
I gave them the ten minutes and few
seconds over. Then / went and tapped
and when l went round at the Little
Generals word, he lay and smiled peace
fully at me, his hand laid upon Young
Tins head, while Tins face was buried
in the bed-clothes.
Tim and 1 have settled our affairs, y
said the Little General, "and you are a
witness to it, my son, if ever witness is
needed"
Tell him, father" Tim begged.
Would we doubt my authority, Tim
Mccarthy? I've confessed you, and alb
solved you, with a penance and a prom
ise. Fare We WE'LL"
The thin fingers were extended in ben
ediction and then Tim. the tears stream
ing down his face, crept away into the
darkness, and l knelt in his place.
Can 1 do anything for you, sir?"
His hand trembled in the air once
more, whether for me or for the van
ished man 1 do not know.
AN innocent wife and BARN." said
Father Munro, "Nunc dimittis,' and
turning his face to the wall slowly, slip
ped into dreams from which he never
rallied.
The Little General was carried to his
grave with more pomp than ever he had
encouraged while alive; and many
masses were said for his soul before I
met Young Tim again. Though the use
av masses to a holy saint in Paradise" !"
as Bridget McClosky said to me, lis un-
beknown."
I had thought of Young Tim often,
having an uneasy doubt concerning him,
and passing up the Grassmarket one
night, had him in my mind again, when
he stood before me.
Think of the devili" I misQuoted
and then stopped, for there was light
enough to see the words didn't apply.
It was Saturday night. but Young
Tim was sober, though excited and when
he asked me for a moments chat, in
vited him to my room. We passed up
in silence, I wondering a great deal, but
determined to ask no questions. l
pointed to a chair and looked dubiously
at my shelves. Hospitality suggested
an offer of whisky and a fill of 'baccy.
but restrained my instincts and faced
him in silence.
Il was thinkin', docthor,' he said at
last, that as you were friends with the
holy father" and he stopped again.
What holy father?" I asked. Il
know none"
There's but wan for me-" said Tim,
and then stopped again. If you mean
poor Father Munro" answered, what
Of him?"
He laid a penance on me-" Young
Tim said softly, "an' I'm doin' it, an
will till I die. He Civ me absolution,
tco, an / Civ him promise"
Keep it, them" I said sourly. but
Tim went on.
There's no justice in it. The holy