The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1897-05-05
SELECTED STORY.
Death and the Soldier.

was confronted by gaHnt stranger
clad all in black and wearing an impen
etrable mask.
"Who are you that you dare to blocl
my way?" demanded the soldier.
Then the stranger drew aside hi
mask, and the soldier knew that he wat
Death.
"Have you come for me2" asked The
soldier " If 80, will not go with you
so go your way alone"
But Death held out his bony hant
and beckoned to the soldier.
"No," cried the soldier, resolutely
"My time is not yet come. See, here
are the histories l am writing-nC
hand but mine can finish them-I will
not 60 until they are doneT
81 have ridden by your side day and
night" said Death; {" have lowered
about you on hundred battlefields,
but no sight of me could chill your
heart till now, and now l hold you in
my power. ComeP
And with these words Death seized
upon the soldier and strove to bear him
hence, but the soldier struggled SO des-
perately that he prevailed against
Death, and the strange phantom de-
parted alone. Then when he had
gone the soldier found upon his throat
the imprint of Deaths cruel fingers
80 fierce had been the struggle. And
nothing could wash away the marks
nay, not all the skill of the world could
wash them away, for they were disease,
lingering, agonizing, fatal disease.
But with quiet valor the soldier re-
turned to his histories, and for many
days thereafter he toiled upon them as
the last and best work of his noble
life.
"How pale and thin the soldier is
getting" said the people. ellis hair is
whitening and his eyes are weary. He
should not have undertaken the his
tories-labor is killing him."
They did not know of his struggle
with Death, nor had they seen ~the
marks upon the soldiers throat. But
the physicians that came to him, and
saw the marks of Deaths cruel fingers,
shook their heads and said the soldier
could not live to complete the work
upon which his whole heart was set.
And the soldier knew it, too, and many
time he paused in his writing and
laid his pen aside and bowed his head
upon his hands and strove for consola-
ton in the thought of the great fame he
had already won. But there was no
consolation in all this. So when Death
came the second time he found the SOL
der weak and trembling and ema-
ciated.
at would be vain of you to struggle
with me now," said Death. "My poi
son is in your veins, and, see, my dew
is on your brow. But you are brave
man, and l will not bear you with me
till you have asked me one favor, which
l will grant"
"Give me an hour to ask the favor"
said the soldier. "There are so many
things-my histories and all-give me
an hour that l may decide what shall
ask"
And as Death tarried, the soldier
communed with himself. Before he
closed his eyes forever, what boon
should he ask of Death? And the SOL
dier's thoughts sped back over the
years, and his whole life came to him
like lightning fash-the companion
ship and smiles of kings, the glories of
government and political power, the
honors of peace, the joys of conquest,
the din of battle, the sweets of quiet
hOiAC lllC upOA q NColCiA PldlllC, GLC
gentle devotion of wife, the clamor of
noisy boys, and the face of little girl
All, there his thoughts fingered and
chung.
"Time TO complete our work-our
books-our histories" counselled Am
bition. "Ask Death for time to do this
last and browning act of our great life."
But the soldiers ears were deaf to
the cries of Ambition; they heard an
other voice-the voice of the soldiers
heart-and the voice whispered: "Nel-
lien ellie-Nellie." That was all
no other words but those, and the SOL
der struggled to his feet and stretched
forth his hands and called to Death:
and, hearing him calling, Death came
and stood before him.
81 have made my CHOICE" said the
soldier.
"The books?" asked Death, with a
scornful smile.
"No, not them" said the soldier,
but my little girl-my Nelliel Give
me lease of life till / have held her in
these arms, and then come for me and
will go!"
Then Deaths hideous aspect was
changed; his stern features relaxed
and look of pity came upon them.
And Death said, eft shall be So" and
saying this he went his way.
Now the soldiers child was far away
many, many leagues from where the
soldier lived, beyond broad tempes-
tuous ocean. She was not, as you
might suppose, little child, although
the soldier spoke of her as such. She
was wife and a mother; yet even in
her womanhood she was to the soldiers
heart the same little girl the soldier
had held upon his knee many and
many time while his rough hands
weaved prairie flowers in her soft, fair
curls. And the soldier called her Nell
lie now just as he did then, when she