The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-10-25

1
/ nurses, and respected by all.
For three days we hoped, and then a
| from side to side. and murruring to him
| self. AS 1 stood watching him from Craig's
Wife tha and h bar he sed @ wife and
| BARN." and was silent again.
| was reading the chart that hung at his
bed head. when the chief and the resident
came in together and looked at him. at
WHICH he turned over little, and looked
| quite so bright as usual.
Whats this you want. sir?' asked the
fhe see at Spd g Fay5g in
! grew brighter. Tut, tut" the chief went
on testify: g you're off duty. man; Some
| Father Munro laid an entreating hand upon
| his sleeve, and reckoning him to stoop.
| Cant be done the chief snapped at him
| when he finished. i m responsible for
| you, you know.
And l for him." pleaded Father Munro.
The chief frowned down with the frown
that awed so many students before they
Man, it's fair ridiculous," he said; quite
unprecedented: | certify that you're not fit
| for any duty" But Father Munro pleaded
When he finished. Macintosh, standing
with the chart in his hand, held it out for
the chief, who, with a snort of impatience,
LOOK It, and stepped away towards me.
t Then he laid finger on the upward line
that marked rising body temperature, and
turned TO Macintosh again.
NEATLY Early this Is notion notion Of his think sir"
it tremendously, or 1 shouldn't have trou-
you know
What on earth does he want to confess
man for?' asked the chief impatienty:
put that was beyond Macintosh, and he
shook his head.
II things go on like this" said the chief.
with his finger on the chart, Il shall OPP
crate tomorrow morning"
What do you think of letting him have
ms way in thls" asked Macintosh; but
the chief was quite indignant and they
growing very late-with their heads to-
gether, talking softly, while Father Munro
lay "a and watched. peering anxiously after
What Macintosh said further do not
NOV NOV p, put they came back to the bed.
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
taking a case, sir.
You've no right to be here, none at all.
this sort of thing, DR.. Macintosh! There!
there, Gas Macintosh tried to speak; that
turned and bent over Father Munro again
You'll be satisfied if you see this man
him Ten minutes are all u You W Slso an nd
you promise to sleep after?"
Il shall sleep he promised; and then I
was to fetch Young Tim to Father
Munro's bedside, and L was to leave him
as to his behavior, and L was to take him
away when time up. Then we all three
left the ward-Macintosh to get a little
sleep, for he was to come round again
later. the chief to go home and to do my
errand.
room. at the top of seven-storied house,
staring out at a cloudless sky, in which
stars We're beginning to show. His wife
looked as though he had never known
what sleep meant. He heard my errand i
silence, and in silence he walked by me
until-in the darkened ward, where only
here and there a glimmer of gas was
thing was the ghost-like shape of the night
nurse-we stood by Father Munro.
Ten minutes my son." was all that the
to window seat, watch in hand, 1 left
them. Screens fenced the corner in which
ward. 1 could not see, I could not hear,
what going Once twice I heard
a stified sob. hushed at once by the voice
ike hours The night nurse, moving like
a shadow here and there down the glm-
mering length of the place, the silent forms
dimly outlined in the nearer beds, were no
company to me. Once ] raised my watch
until could see the second hand moving,
1 gave them the ten minutes and few
seconds over. Then 1 went and tapped at
when L went round at the Little Generals
word, he lay and smiled peacefully at me.
his hand laid upon Young Tins head,
while Tins face was buried in the bed
clothes
said the Little General, land you are a
witness to it, my son, If ever witness is
needed"
Would ye doubt my authority, Tim M
Carthy? I've confessed you, and absolved
you with penance and promise. Fare
The thin fingers were extended in bene-
diction, and then Tim, the tears streaming
down his face, ,crept away into the dark
ness, and l knelt in his place.
Can 1 do anything for you, sir?"
His hand trembed in the air once more,
whether for me or for the vanished man L
IAN innocent wife and BARN. said
Father Munro, "Nunc dimittis,'' and turn
iEg his face to the wall slowly, slipped
into dreams from which he never rallied.
The Little General was carried to his
grave with more pomp than ever he had en-
couraged while alive; and many masses
were said for .,hi his soul before l met Young
holy saint in paradise as Bridget Nc
Closky said to me. lis nnbeknown."
ing an uneasy doubt concerning him, and
passing up the Grassmarket one night had
him in my mind again, when he stood be-
think of the devil" I misquoted and
then stopped, for there was light enough to
the words didn't apply.
1t was Saturday night. but Young Tim
was sober, though excited, and when he
asked me for u moments chat 1 invited
him to my roopE We passed up in silence,
l wondering great deal, but determined to
ask questions. [ pointed to chair and
looked obviously at my shelves. Hospital
ity suggested an offer of whisky and fill
of 'baccy, but / restrained my instincts |
and faced him in silence.
II was thinkin', docthor." he said at last,
that as you were friends with the holy
father" and he stopped again.
What holy father" l asked. II know
none"
There's but wan for me-" said Tim, and
then stopped again. IF you mean poor |
Father Munro 1 answered, what of
him %
He laid a penance on me-" Young Tim
said softly, IAN I'm dom it an will till / |
die He Civ me absolution, too. an 1 Civ |
him promise
Keep it then" said sourly, but Tim |
went on.
There's no justice in it, Tie holy father |
was always just
Shame 1 said. would you break your
promise to a dead MANI
Sure an l viii If need be-" said Tim |
fervently. You were there, an what / |
must know, had he his sinses?"
LAS much as you or l." / said angrily
eff not more You can't get out of it that |
way"
Tim rose from his chair and faced me
froWning.
'Ye don't know" he cried 'Ive all to |
lose if | break me promise. But. if I made |
it to a sinseless saint who couldn't judge |
be Judged by harder man."
| sat and puzzled it out. while the voices
of the children came up from the reeking
court. and Tim leaned against the mantel- |
piece, breathing hard, but watching me |
He was better and wiser man than
either of u.s. | said at last "Tne secret