The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-02-11
Some Deaths in Fiction.

middle-aged today And altnouSh 20 some
of US now in our rank realism Little Nell
appears as a priggish, small girl, We
have all wept willingly enough al her
grave. and got a deal of comfort out OF
the briny drops so pityingly she'd But
ii IS not her actual death which Is most
effective We had been expecting II 50
long, and had been led 70 il through such
pleasant valleys and quiet ways, that cur
fortitude was at its height when the
final calamity occurred. 1t is rather TINS
sentence: Here little bird-a poor, slight
thing the pressure of finger would
have crushed-was stirring nimbly in its
cage; and the strong heart OF its child
mistress was mute and motionless for
ever" Reading it one recoilects Lear
wild CRY over Cordelia: why should a
dog horse a rat have life. and thou no
breath at all?"
A vivid scene. indeed, is that in which
Mrs. Chick assures Mrs Domoey she
need only make an effort when the
watches of Paul Dom5ey and Dr. Pepys
run that rapid race ard the little Flor
ence-beloved only by her who IS leav-
ine-lies across her mothers breast.
The nhvsician. stooping down. whisper
ed nthe child's ear. Not having under
stood the Durport of his whisper, the lit
tie creature turned her perfectly coloriess
face and deep, dark eyes towards him,
but without loosening her hold in the
least
The whisper was repeated.
s'MamaI," said the child
The little voice, familiar and dearly
loved, awakened some show or conscious
ness even at that ebb, For moment
the closed eyelids trembled, and the nos
trils Quivered, and the faintest snaooW OF
a smile was seen.
fha child, S0hOlnS
aloud. 20, dear Mamal! o. dear Mamal!
The doctor gently brushed the scattered
ringlets of the child aside from the race
and mouth of the mother. Alas, now
calm they lay there; now little breath
there was to stir them!
Thus, cIinging fast to that slight spar
within he rarms, the mother dritted OUT
upon the dark and unknown sea that
rolls round all the world
AS another instance of the fltuitive
gentIeness with which Dickens treated
the most sacred Of all subjects, one has
only to recall the last will and testament
of John Harmon's namesake:
what it is, johnny" Rokesmith was
the questioner, and put an arm around
the poor baby as he made struggle
Him said the little fellow "Those!
The doctor was quick to understand
children, and taking the horse, the ark
the yellow bird, and the man in the
guards from Johnnys bed. softly placed
them on that Of his next neighbor, the
mite with the broken leg.
With a weary and yet pleased smile,
and with an action as If he stretched his
little fingers out to rest, the child heaved
his body on the sustaining arm, and,
seeking Rokesmith's face with his lips,
said:
"A kiss for the boofer LADY,"
Having now beuueathed al The Mad 20
dispose of. and arranged his affairs in this
world Johnny thus speaking, left it.
One deathbed scene we will not lightly
let pass from memory is that of ThacN-
eray's gallant northumberland New
Gene:
At the usual hour the chapel be-. be-
gan to toll, and Thomas Newcome's
hands, Just outside the bed, feebly beat In
time. And just as the last bell struck q
peculiar sweet smile shone over his face,
and he lifted uD his head and quickly
said, "Adsum?'
It was the word we used at school
when names were called, and TO- he whose
heart was as that of little child had
answered to his name. and stood IN the
presence of the Master.
Hawthorne gives US an awful and yet
Dimmesdale, prone upon the scanold
which had witnessed the degradation OF
Hester Prynne-she and their child now
bending over him.
Hester" said the clergyman, fare
wellP'
Shall we not meet AGAIN." whispered
she. bending her face down close 10 his.
"Shall we not spend our immortal life tc-
gether? Surely, surely, we nave ran
somed one another with all this woe?
Thou Iokest into eternity with those
bright dying eyesl Then tell me what
thou seest?'' Hush, Hester, hush!' said
he. with tremulous solemnity. The law
we broke-the sin here so awfully reveal
ed-let these alone be in thy thoughts.
God knows. and He is mercifuL He hath
proved his mercy most Of all in my affic-
tions BY giving me thus burning torture
to bear upon my breastI BY sending yon-
der dark and terrible old man 10 keep
the torture always at red heat! BY
bringing me hither 10 die this death OF
triumphant agony before the people! Had
either of these agonies been wanting. I
had been lost forever. Praised me His
name! His will be donel FAREWELL
That final word came forth with the
minister's expiring breath.
It's a far cry from Hawthorne to
Harte The insinuating humor Of the
Californian writer evidences itself even
in the passing Of that lovable rascal,
Jack Hamlin. On DR.. Duchesne telling
him that he has made MS faithful old
black servant. Pete, happy by confessing
religion to him, "a faint laugh glimmer-
ed in the dark hollows Of Jacks eyes.
The old man. he said, explanatory,
has been, preachin' mighty heavy at me
ever since tother doctor came, and
reckoned it might please him to allow
that everything he said was So You see,
the old mans been right soft on me, and
between us. doctor, I amt much to give
him in exchange It's no square game"
Then you believe you're going to die"
said the doctor. gravely.
Il reckon"
Then follow the dying mans directions.
The silver mounted derringers that were
loaned and must be accounted for. The
diamond pin. up the spout az Wing
dam: the solitaire ring pressed upon
man dead broke: the gold specimen. TO
be made into a mug for the cub Of that
old she tiger-Gabriel' woman" sn1
NY watch-who has got my watenT
said Mr.. Hamun. refectiveiv.
Never mind these things. Ja1%- rave
you any word 70 send to-a2g.o1T7'
NO"
There was a long pause In the still-
ness the ticking q clock Upo1 he man
TEL became audible. Then there vas
laugh in ire aute-room. where q prcfes-
stonal brother q Jacks had 0es1 wat
ing. slightly under the inhue iea u grief
and iisucr-
.seotty ought 70 know better than 20
kick UP a row IA a DECENT wonAn'a
house." whispered Jack, family Tel
him 70 dry Up or III"
But his voice vas failing him, ard the
sentence remained incomplete
Doc" after q short effort
Jack"