The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1897-05-14

H
"Jdck," he said, 'dns1Cer me noto."
ed out of the courtroom, her face full of
baleful Joy, and as she passed the thresh-
old Mr.. Topmark fell, face downward,
in a swoon that was like death.
y u Il
The day had been dull, but it had
other happenings yet to come. Half way
home the Payne carriage met a messen-
ger coming hot foot to say Cerintha
babe them hasten if they would see Mr..
McGregor alive.
The home coming had been a sort ct
triumphal procession. AT least "a half
dozen good fellows had volunteered to
ride, lantern in hand, before the car
riage, so it might be driven at speed.
Inside Rob sat, with Mrs. Payne's arms
about her and Mr.. Payne and Colonel
Talbot jubilant on the seat opposite.
She was full of rosy triumph, yet at the
hail she got white and said unsteadily
"That must mean daddy needs me.
Let me get out, please. Some one give
me a horse. l can ride in half the time
the carriage must take.
"She is right. Let her out, Colonel
Talbot said, opening the door and
springing out beside her. "The best two
horses, boys, " he went on. "You can
have our places, but 60. we must.
Almost before she drew q second
breath Rob was mounted and racing for.
ward at Colonel Talbot's elbow. He
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
Robl l here um say your pappy amt
gwine stay much longer way frum heab-
en-"
Rob leaned far over her horses neck.
The house was still half a mile away.
She whispered low to the straining
beast: eco! Go! My daddy is dyingl"
AS though the good creature compre-
hended, 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 o holy place.
The blind mans face was transfig.
ured with a soft, tender smile. As the
minister's voice died away he began to
repeat in q 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 their
eyes"
Rob ran to him and began to say in
ner old, merry voice, Here l am, dad
dy, home with news to-
She could not go ON. He had caught
the shake in her voice and put out his
arms to her. with a luminous smile.
Little daughter, it has come at last
the light, the beautiful lightl' he
said, stroking her hair, as her head fell
on his breast. After a minute he went
IN "That is my brave darlingl She is
sorry-ah, so sorry-to lose her daddy,
but she will not let her sobs break up
this everlasting peace. Little comrade,
it is hard to leave you, even for heaven.
But, darling. your mother is there. You
will not think 1 grew cowardly and did
not want to stay?"
"No, daddy. You have been brave,
the very bravost man in the world"
Rob said, forcing her words to be steady.
"Life has not been too easy for either
Of us. 1t seems a little bit selfish, our
leaving me alone, but I can go, too,
some day."
"But not for a long time" he said,
patting her hand. "You have Roscoe.
Promise me you will keep and cherish
it always. For awhile you will be lone
ly. But, daughter, the light has come,
and in it I see clearly many, many
things. Call the Talbots-the colonel
and Jack. I want them. There is some
thing / must say"
"Here, old friend, just beside you'll
Colonel Talbot said, taking the dying
hand in a close, ~brotherly grasp. Rob
knelt still at the bedside. Jack bent
above her as he, too, answered the sum-
mons. Her father motioned her to rise
and stand beside the young man.
Jack" he said, the words coming
hard, "answer me now, as though you
stood facino tho iudomant har do Won