The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1899-12-07
TEE PRINCETON UNION: THURsDAY, DECRMB1,R y 1sae

Il
Every one has weak points, Mr.. DIN,
stead" he said. Yours is your your heart.
Do you mean that I'm in q conditio,
where | might 60 without warning !?
The old man asked, nerYously. seem
ing suddenly to grasp the situation.
DR.. Morton watched his face Thought
fully for moment, and answered:
YES" .ss5 S'ss
Robert" Olmstead called, in d weak
trembling voice, go for Judge Russell
Bring him back with you at once"
rs my mind right? Can make m,
will?" he asked, as soon as Stanton lef
the room, and, being treasured by til.
| physician, he sat in silence till Judg,
| Russell came and they were left alone
together. IT.. - ~ II i
II should have taken your advice
he began, "but fortunately it is not toe
late. hoped that Robert would marry
first and that the other one would die
Don't mention the other ones name in
the will. Say $4,000 to the next, hei1
after Robert, If he will surrender all
claims and those papers, -
He paused moment to gather
strength. Slowly he mentioned some
minor requests, three men to act as
trustees, and added: "Let the rest be
held in trust for Robert for ten wears.
Let him have the use and income. and if
he marries let it all be his at once"
IF he should not marry in the ten
years" Judge Russell asked,
He will, he WILL" Olmstead ex-
claimed. He'll not be such fool. If
he don't-if he don't care for me or
the money, then let it go where it will.
The other one can't get it if he signs
OF for the ten thousand, and I don't
care who else has it if Robert don't
want it. Write quickly. I'm not we'll
I feel afraid" ..,,,.....z
The rest returned and did what they
could for the patient while Judge Rus
sell wrote. The storm was still increas-
ing, and to add to it the fire broke out
which destroyed the great building
supporting the tower with the clock
which had so long kept pace with the
clock in Olmstead's library. d,
Thousands must still remember how
the hands of that clock moved steadily
while all the building beneath it was
wrapped in flame; how the great bell
rang, clear and loud, above the storm,
above the roaring and kissing of the
water, above the grooming and throb-
bling OF the engines and the shouting of
the men; how it struck the hour of
midnight, like grand, triumphant
peal, less than two minutes before the
roof and the walls fell in with an awful
crash, stopping the wheels but leaving
the tower with its burden still standing,
Like grim minaret rising out of the
ruins; for there was something ghostly
In those long black fingers that for
days remained there, solemnly pointing
to two minutes past twelve.
The engines were heard above the
storm, in the library, and the glare
tlnged the curtains closely drawn over
the long windows; but the fire received
little attention from the anxious ones
gathered there. - II" =
When the writing was finished, Ohm
stead read the will, and ina more
natural voice remarked:
lit is correct. Give me the pen.''
Kew. DR.. Borden signed as the first
and a moment later Judge
Russell handed the pen to Sam.
Sam was unused to writing. The
solemn scene, the intense excitement.
vague sense of responsibility, be-
him, and he made slow work
It It, Judge Russell could hardly en-
lure the delay. He had left his wife
With sick child at home, without so
much as telling her that he was poinp
'ut. He glanced at his watch as he
landed Sam the pen. -
"Great Heavens! it's 10 O'Clock. Hur-
y, man, hurry he whispered.
Sam tried to hurry, and was SO much
ne slower in consequence. The tall
lock and the clock in the tower were
triikng. He nervously fingered the
en till they had ceased. Stanton was
neeling by the armchair, holding his
ncle's hand. DR.. Borden stood be.
ind the chair, with a word for comfort
courage when it could be spoken.
AS the last stroke sounded. Ohm
tead turned his head, resting on the
Jack of the armchair, till his ewes
'oked up at the portrait of beautiful
oman, hanging above the fire. and
[owly he repeated:
Twelve o'clock, and all is we'll"
AT last Sam finished writing. :mdoe
'usself bent over him, took the pen,
'rote for an instant, and +
Suddenly the room seemed to yibrate
nd shudder. The dull outlines Of the
1ndows glared brighter than the
gifts of the library. The awful crash
: the falling walls and the shrek OF
1e crowd about them sounded. Judge
ussell caught up the will and hurried
ON the house. Stanton felt twinge
ontract the hand he was holding: for
citing the years that had made 3 man
him, he laid his cheek upon it.
DIR. Morton glanced at the patients
ICE, reached his heart, waited a mo-
tent, and, laying his hand on stan
ms shoulder, said: ..@
my friend, it is over. He is porone."
Reverently DR.. Borden repeated the
wing words: