Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1900-12-06

was sitting on the edge Of the cot, on
which he had been reclining, talking to
Lem Dodd and Tom Bines, when DR..
Mathison came in and said, in hushed
voice:
Il think he is dying. He wants to see
you. BY the way, did you hear about the
fire out at the Hermann place last
night?''
81 did not" said Paul
ut was very curious. The fremen got
there and found remarkable state Of at
fairs. The hall was on fire and piled
with furniture. They heard a man shout
ing inside, and they only reached him
after they succeeded in extinguishing the
flames. The man was Cheatham-David
Cheatham. He was bound and had been
gagged. He was taken out in dying
condition, and lies In the same ward as
Carpenter, and not far from him. Sim
Cheatham-the old mans nepnew-was
found dead in the hail."
Il am sorry to hear this said Paul,
though they were bad men,"
They reached the room in whwich Car
penter was lying, and Miriam Hermann,
who had been sitting at the foot of the
cot, sprang up, no seeing Paul. and went
to meet him with extended hands.
She had been weeping, and again the
tears streamed from her eyes as she
ching to him and said, with a saints
devoutness:
ooh, thank heaven that you are saw
edu
cit might have been better for my
peace" he whispered, chad it been 9TH
erwise."
Sbo Io hut To
his hands, she led him to the side Of the
bed, where her erring but heroic father
lay dying.
With gasping breath, and a great effort
of will, Carpenter said:
eve had lawyers and the German con-
sui here, and I've confessed all"
Confessed all" repeated Paul.
"Yes; who am and who you are. l
need not tell you what you have known
from the 6rst--that you are Martin Her
mann's nephew. Why have you not
made yourself known?"
Il will answer that briefly, shipmate.
I came to New York under my own
name, but rot knowing my uncle, whom
I had not seen since my early child
hood was dead Through my friend, the
German consul, l saw my uncle's will,
and objected to the conditions. But hav-
ing seen Miss Hermann, / determined,
under an assumed name, to win her love
and failing in that, to abandon my
claims and leave without making myself
known. 1 saw Cheatham's scheme, and
went into his employ-at the suggestion
of my good friend. l did not know your
relationship to any of the parties. 1 had
no reason to feel kindly toward you,
though have ever admired your courage,
skill and intelligence. This is all. Had
it not been for the fire I would now be
bound for Australia"
"But," gasped Carpenter, twill she
let you go?"
''It Is for her to keep me here" replied
Paul, turning to Miriam
With heart cry she threw herself on
her knees beside and him and sfbbed:
''Do not leave me-do not leave me-"
'sYou hear her. Karl?
81 hear her." he said, bending over the
hand with her.
'It grows brighter. They said that my
eyes were gone-but l can see Oh-it
has all been troubled dream. Jane
Jane! Cling to me. Jane-hold me back
the tide sets fast and the anchors are
dragging. Now lay me down to sleep
-" He inhaled long breath. as if
to 90 on with a prayer Of his childhood.
But his breast settled slowly down, and
he spoke not again.
And it may be that, again becoming
as little child, the past was forgiven,
! as he laid him down to the eternal sleep.