Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1897-11-11
CHAPTER Ly.

Meanwhile the doctor returned TO
watch beside his patient.
Ii was a dreary and hopeless watch,
which lasted all through the forenoon.
until the return of Steppins from the
city, bringing with him Lawyer
Fulmer and the Reverend Mr.. Palmer.
These gentlemen were met in the
hall Ivy DR.. Herkimer. and after n
short interview, in which the doctor
put them in possession of the facts
Of the case so far as they were
known to himself. they all went into
the sick room. and look up their watch
by the dying man. To the most mex
pcrienced observer ii was evident he
was sinking fast.
They watched eagerly for some such
sign of returning consciousness as the
delirioas or comatose patient often
exhibits just before death. For some
time they watched in vain-his pallid
and sunken face, rolling head, wander
ing fingers and in~articulate murmurs.
gave but little hope that he would
cver speak a word or recognize a face
again.
At length, however, when it was
late in the evening, a change came
over him. He opened his eyes, looked
around, and knew the friends that
stood about him. He was quite
cognizant of his situation. for he
beckoned feebly for the physician to
stoop low. and whispered:
Doctor, this Is deathr'
.Oh no, you are better" said the
physician. telling the usual be-
ncyolent story.
a sad shake of the head was the
only answer of the dying man, who
with another feeble effort beckoned
the other two gentlemen to draw near.
When they had approached quite close,
he faltered forth:
.'The girl Zora-must be free"
Had you not better dictate a will,
Sir!' inquired lawyer.
A silent shake of the head was the
only reply.
There is no time" whispered DIR.
Herkimer to the lawyer, ''he has not
half an hours life in him. and what
has left, short as ii is, should be de-
voted TO prayer"
Not n word Of this speech reached
the patients ear: yet the same thought
was evidently passing in his own
mind, for he looked wistfully in the
face OF the minister.
Mr.. Palmer stopped down to hear
what he wished to speak.
II have been a bad servant! What
will the Great Master say to mey'
The minister took his nearly pulse.
less hand. and spoke to him of the
infinite mercy of the Father; Of the
perfect atonement OF the Son; of the
free grace offered to the greatest
sinner who repents, even ut the
eleventh hour.
Rumford, with all his faults, had
never been harsh, implacable. or un-
forgiving. This softness of heart. pre-.
served even in the midst of a life OF
reckless vices. rendered him more i'm.
prcssiblc by religious truth, more re-
ceptive of divine grace, and more
affested by the infinite love revealed
in the atonement. Broken, subdued,
helpless, dying, he was melted into
tears,
Seeing this, the minister kneit by
his bed, and prayed earnestly 20
heaven for the repentance, pardon and
salvation of this sinner. The dying
man clasped his hands. and silently
accompanied the minister in this
prayer. And fIhen, at last, Mr.. Palm
er rose from his knees and looked up
on the patient, he saw that the soul
had already passed, leaving the dead
hands clasped in prayer for pardon,
and the dead face still wet with the
tears of penitence.
she is gone" said the doctor. with
his finger on the dead mans pulse.
May peace be with him. 'murmured
the minister, as he gently closed the
sigitless eyes.
"iou are witnesses, gentlemen, 10
his expressed will in regard to the girl
Fora" said the lawyer, as he left the
chamber of death to give orders con-
corning the funeral. For, In that hot
climate, short space Is allowed be-
tween death and burial.