The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-05-21

crushing his chest.
Loosened probably by the explosives pre-
Vlously used by the mining party. the one
blow of poor Joyce's pick had been sufficient
TO d1slodge it from its position high I'D on the
range of rocks, and before the clergyman's
warning could avail. the old colonist lay
crushed beneath its weight
Help, help in the house there!"
Summoned by the cries of Mary and her
companion, the native servants hurried to the
spot, and, with all the care possible the
death dealing boulder uas removed from the
prcstrate victim.
e One groan of relief and then he lay STILL
whilst the experienced missionary, only too
accustomed to have his surgical knowledge
called into use, passed his hand hastily over
the injured chest.
Garry me into the house I'm done for, 1
know"
The words came clearly though feebly, and
save for the gentle clasp of the hand the
missionary made NJ response.
OF what use to contradict when the case
was hopeless, and one of only hours at most
If not of minutes?
rs there a couch on the ground f1oor?" he
quietly asked of Mary.
She replied, in the affirmative, choking her
sobs as best she could.
After her first sharp burst of grief she had
rega1ned possession of herself marvellousy
for so young a girl and was now supporting
the farmers head in her lap
Then, with as much gentleness as possible
the farm hands carried their master into the
house.
For some minutes the mortaly- wounded
man lay speeches., whilst the missionary
busted himself with such simple remedies as
We're available to ease his patients pain
Suddenly the old colonst spoke clearly and
distinctly
"Parson,' he said IT want to- make my will
quick! Any sheet of paper will dot will
be short enough
The clergyman hastily took sheet of note
paper, and wrote the will at his patients
dIctation.
t was short and explicit indeed!
The teStator bequeathed everything of
which he died possessed to his adopted
daughter, Mary Everest.
"Ch! uncle, dear, you too good to me!
But it is such a responsibility" said Mary,
kissing the once powerful hand which, ever
since her benefactor had been raised from the
z ground, she had held in her own small one.
q "A faint smile lit up the face of the dying
man. ..a.e
"Notsmore than you will find it very easy.
to bear" he replied.
Then after the will mad been signed, and
the clergyman, together with Kafir boy
the latter assisting with his "mark''-had at
tested it, the worthy missionary devoted him
self to the spiritual needs of the sufferer.
For time, the dying man listened earnest
~ 10 the consoling words, but gradually he
grew restless again. ~ -ss,ssa II "a 4sses !,
"Are you in great pain, my dear fellow?"
asked Mr.. Sanderson.
NO thanks; I'm scarcely suffering bodily
at all, but I'm worried about that will"
L
r drawn up many for people in these lonely
+ districts, replied the parson.
- yes; but you know what the law is; and
Tn afraid, now that have something worth
leaving, those cousins of mine may try to set
;, it aside-undue influence, or some such hum
bug, they may plead"
"Oh, uncle, dear, dent trouble about me
now! sure it will be all right, and, if it
isn't, it won't natter said Mary the drops
falling slowly from her dark-brown eyes.
Il mean to make you perfectly safe, child,
and have thought of a way to do it, Par
son, you must marry us!"
Marry youi"
Mr.. Sanderson stared in establishment at
first but, by degrees, the idea appeared by
no means so unreasonable as when first given
utterance to.
Not the faintest semblance even Of a blush
had appeared on Mary's fair face.
She had stared through her tears with even
mere establishment than the missionary and
for the moment had almost fanced the
speaker delirious.
but in tones evidently growing more feeble
you won't mind being my wife for a few
minutes, surely, and it is the last thing shall
ever ask of you"
Then, daZed, grief-stricken, and almost as
in a dream with only Kaffirs for witnesses
Mary Everest knelt by the side of her bene-
factors couch; and, with a ring which had
been her mothers on her finger, she heard
the concluding words Of the marriage service
pronounced over her.
With streaming eyes she pressed a kiss
on the forehead of the good old man who was
her father and husband in one.
Half an hour later she was widow.
CHAPTER IL
"Now, then. Jack, you lazy beggar, get up
and come out, will you?"
x-aS 11,;ro