The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1899-11-03

tient, with his back to the fire.
"Every one has weak points, Mr.. Ohm
stead" he said. "Yours is your heart
"Do you mean that I'm in condition
where 1 might go without warning?''
the old man asked, nervously, SEEM
ing suddenly to grasp the situation.
DR.. Morton watched his face thought
fully for a moment, and answered:
"Yes."
"Robert," Olmstead called, in weak,
trembling voice, "go for Judge Russell.
Bring him back with you at once"
sis my mind right? Can I make my
will?" he asked, as soon as Stanton left
the room, and, being reassured by the
physician, he sat in silence till Judge
Russell came and they were left alone
together.
II should have taken your advice
he began, "but fortunately it is not too
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 heir
after Robert, if he will surrender all
claims and those papers,"
He paused a moment to gather
strength. Slowly he mentioned some
minor bequests, three men to act as
trustees, and added: "Let the rest be
held in trust for Robert for ten years.
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. Hell 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
off for the ten thousand, and l don't
care who else has it if Robert don't
want it. Write quickly. I'm not well.
I feel afraid"
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.
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 groaning and throb-
bing 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 grin 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
tinged the curtains closely drawn over
the long windows; but the fire received
little attention from the anxious ones
gathered there.
When the writing was finished, Ohm
stead read the will, and in a more
natural voice remarked:
at is correct. Give me the pen."
Rev. DR.. Borden signed as the first
witness, 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-
wildered him, and he made slow work
at it. Judge Russell could hardly en-
dure the delay. He had left his wife
with a sick child at home, without so
much as telling her that he was going
out. He glanced at his watch as he
handed Sam the pen.
''Great Heavens! it's 12 o'clock. Hur-
ry, man, hurry" he whispered.
Sam tried to hurry, and was so much
the slower in consequence. The tall
clock and the clock in the tower were
striking. He nervously fingered the
pen till they had ceased. Stanton was
kneeling by the armchair, holding his
uncle's hand. DR.. Borden stood be-
hind the chair, with word for comfort
or courage when it could be spoken.
6Ao tllC ldoG SlIohc Olul-
stead turned his head, resting on the
back of the armchair, till his eyes
looked up at the portrait of a beautiful
woman, hanging above the fire, and
slowly he repeated:
'Twelve o'clock, and all is WE'LL"
At last Sam finished writing. Judge
Russell bent over him, took the pen,
wrote for an instant, and
Suddenly the room seemed to vibrate
and shudder. The dull outlines of the
windows glared brighter than the
lights of the library. The awful crash
of the falling walls and the shrek of
the crowd about them sounded. Judge
Russell caught up the will and hurried
from the house. Stanton felt twinge
contract the hand he was holding: for
getting the years that had made man
of him, he laid his cheek upon it.
DR.. Morton glanced at the patients
face, reached his heart, waited a mo-
ment, and, laying his hand on Stan
tons shoulder, said:
''My friend, it is over. He is gone"
Reverently DIR. Borden repeated the
dying words:
"Twelve o'clock, and all is WELL"