The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-09-18

There was no mistake about It, II was
written In every line of his drawn, fever
worn face, and in his wide. fever-like
eyes and in the clutch of his long, yell
low hands upon his tussore silk dressing
gown. He looked very sick. bad old
man as he lay there on his low couch,
placed so as 10 court the air from with
out, cooled by It's passage through damped
grass screens and TO receive the full
strength of the punkah, pulled by an In
visible hand outside.
You go to England lomorrow?' he
asked sharply.
1t was written even in the change of
his voice. which was harsh. as OF old.
but with all the strength gone out o. IL.
by timorrows mail" / said, i should
have liked TO say something more
something sympathetic about his being
III and not likely to get better. but he
had always treated me discourteously
when he was well, and could not open
out all at once now that he was Ill.
Look here, Middleton" he went On;
II am dying, and / know 1t. ] don't
suppose you imagined lad sent for you
10 bid you a last farewell before depart
ing 10 my long home. l am not I'm such
hurry TO depart as all that, i can tell
you: but there IL something l want done
that want you to do for me. / meant
20 have done 1t myself. but l am down
now and I must trust somebody l
know better than trust clever man.
An honest fool-but am depressing from
the case in point. have never trusted
anybody all my life. so you may feel
honored. | have a small parcel which
want you to take to England for me.
Here IL Is"
His long, lean hands went searching
In his dressing gown and presently
produced an old brown bag held together
at the neck by string.
See here" he said; and he pushed the
glasses and papers aside from the table
near him and undid the string. Then he
craned forward TO look about him. lay
ing spssmodic clutch on the bag. I'm
watched, know I'm watched" he said
in a whisper, has pale eyes turning slow
~ in their sockets. Il shall be killed Tor
them IL keep them much longer. and
won't be hurried into my grave. I'll
take my own time"
There Is no one here | said, and no
one In sight except Cathcart smoking in
the veranda. and can only see his legs.
SO he can't see US
He seemed to recover himself, and
laughed. j had never liked his laugh,
especially when. as had often happened,
ID had been directed against myself: but
liked Il still less now.
.See here.' he repeated. chuckling;
and he turned the bag inside out upon
the table.
Such Jewels i had never seen. They
fell like cut. fame upon the marble table
green and red and burning white. A
large diamond rolled apd fell upon the
floor. 1 picked 1t up and. put IL back
among the confused blaze OF precio rs
stones, too much astonished for a mo-
ment To speak.
beautiful, aren't they?". the old MAJ
chuckled. passing his wasted hands oy.r
them. "You won't match that necklace
I'm any jewelers. i'm England. 1 tore Il
of an old she devil OF a Rhanee's neck
after the mutiny, and got a bite I'm the
arm for my trouble. But she'll tell no
tales. He, he! hel I don't mind saving
now how ] got them. l am humble
Christian now / am so near heaven--eh
Middleton? He he, You don't like TO
contradict me. Look at those emeraids
The hasp l. broken. hut II makes n
pretty bracelet. I don't think I'll tell how
the hasp got broken-little accident as the
lady who wore II gave II To me, Rather
brown. isn't II, on one side? But IL Will,
come on No. you need not he afraiu OF
touching IL; II isn't wet. Hel he, md
| this crescent. Look az those diamonds
A duchess would be proud OF them. 7
had them from "A private soldier. I gave
| him two rupees for them. Dear me,
| how the sight OF them brings back old
| times. But / won't leave them out any
| longer We must put them away-put
| them away"
| And the glittering mass was gathered