Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1897-04-08
THURM0NT Frederick County, Maryland, Thursday, April g. 1897

War0 at Colonel IalDots elbow. tie
rode still as light and straight as in his
soldier days. Two lantern bearers bore
them company, and no word was spo-
ken, save once, when he said, gently
touching her arm, "Dear child, we will
surely be in time"
Then silence until they came to the
Payne gate. 1t flew wide before they
reached it. A kind voice cried through
the darkness:
"Thank God, you is in time, Miss
Rob! l here um say your pappy amt
gwine stay much longer way frum heab.
ell. "
Rob leaned far over her horses neck
The house was still half n mile away.
She whispered low to the straining
beast: "Gol Go! My daddy is dying!"
As though the good creature compre-
tcndcd, it stretched itself in long leaps
that left other company behind. Wrath
like she crossed the fields, sped up the
avenue, sprang down and ran to the
wide front chamber, where lights and
moving figures told her she would find
her precious charge
He lay easily, propped with pillows
no whittier than his face. Cerintha sat
beside him, holding his chill hand. A
little way off Brother Walton read the
Twenty-third Psalm in the voice Of one
who knows himself in holy place.
The blind mans face WAS transtig.
ured with soft, tender SMILE AS the
minister's voice died away he began to
repeat in a clear, happy tone: "There
shall be no more night there, neither
any weeping, for the Lamb Of God,
which taketh away the sins Of the
world, shall wipe all tears from thoir
eyes.
Rob ran to him and began to say In
her old, merry voice, Here l am, dad
dy, home with news to-
She could not 60 on. He had caught
the shake in her voice and put out his
arms to her. with luminous smile.
Little daughter, it has come at last
tho light, the beautiful lightl' he
said, stroking her hair, as her head fell
on his breast. After q minute he went
on: "That is my brave darling! She is
sorry-ah, so sorry-to lose her daddy,
but she will not let her sobs break up
this everlasting peace. Littlo comrade,
it is hard to leave you, even for heaven.
But, darling. your mother is there. You
will not think grew cowardly and did
not want to stay?'
"No, daddy. You have been brave,
the very bravcst man in the world"
Rob said, forcing her words to be steady.
Life has not been too easy for either
of us. 1t seems q little bit selfish, your
leaving me alone, but | can go, too,
some day"
"But not for long time he said,
patting her hand "You have Roscoe.
Promise mo you will keep and cherish
it always. For awhile you will be lone
ly. But, daughter, the light has come,
and in it sec clearly many, many
things Call the Talbots-thc colonel
and Jack ! want them. There is some
thing must say
Here, old friend. just beside you"
Colonel Talbot said, taking the dying
hand in close, brotherly grasp. Rob
knelt still at the bedside. Jack bent
ABOVE EtT as He, 'Oo, uHoNciSu VIC 9"Aii
mons Her father motioned her to rise
and stand beside the young man.
"Jack,' he said, the words coming
hard, "answer me now, US though you
stood facing tho Judgment bar, do you
love my child:"
Better than MY life, my soul. Jack
said huskily.
The blind man softly smiled. "She
has loved you all her life,' he said.
"Into your hands l commit her. May
the Lord God keep and bless you both!'
"Amen, amen!" said Brother Walton
and Colonel Talbot in one breath. Ce.
rintha Payne sobbed aloud. and Jack
drew his sweetheart within his arms,
saying brokenly:
"And have loved her all her lifel"
With a last flicker of strength the
blind man drew their hands together
and held them minute. Then his fill
gers loosed their hold, his head dropped,
and those watching saw that his dark
ness had ended in the perfect day.
THE END