The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1900-12-29
image Of him who had been my warm
hearted friend. 49, &.

1 Vkkk y " EG6ENE.g NEMNEFnrH
I opened the letters that came for
him from the publishers, and answered
them, Saying that my friend was Ill.
for him, and the terms offered for the
copyright Of his book were SO favor
able that I agreed to them, and with
the money thus obtained, I was able
to set his mind at I hid 1t in a
small box belonging to him. and pro-
ducing this one day, we went through
it's contents. and found nearly ESQ in
It, in notes and gold, and this I handed
over to him. and,t to- make him feel
quite comfortable, I agreed to let him
stay with me, and paint. or do what he
liked, at so much a month.
I had told Nora of my trouble. with
out, however, giving her full particu-
lars as to the cause Of Maguire's mental
alteration, and she had shown her
sympathy by readily agreeing to carry
out an experiment I had planned. She
called upon us in time for afternoon
tea, and I took care that Mcguire
ehould be in her company as long as
possible. He was as pleasant and po-
lite as man could be, and it was EVIL
dent hat he was laying himself out to
be as brilliant as possible. but his only
remark when Nora left us a that
she was a sweet, pretty girl, and as
charming as she. was pretty.
1 haI, as a matter of course, consult
ed the leading specialists in mental
cases; but they could do nothing to
help me, though the patient was so ex-
tremely interesting that one of the doc
tors visited him periodically, and he
and Mcguire became fast friends.
Winter was fairly upon us, when I
had a letter from Hugh Travers, and
he wrote to say that his uncle was
much worse and would like to see me,
and added that I must make no delay
IL I wished to see him alive. I had
correspondent fairly regularly with the
Travers's, and had, indeed, been to see
them once since I came back to Eng
land; but the interview was painful by
reason Of the patients inability to
speak and the distress I felt for his po-
sition, that I had not yet repeated the
visit.
Now, however, I made ready to obey
the at nee, and telling Ma
guire to make himself at home until
my return, and that, II necessary, I
should write to him under the style
and title that we had agreed. upon. L
left him to finish a great painting that
he had been working at for some time.
I found Mr.. Travers very near his
end. Though I knew by the light that
leaped into his eyes when he IA my
face that he recognized me, and that he
understood perfectly well what I said
to him, and it was plain to both Hugh
-~~5 ~ox,co1R that <Aoro Two q onrnathinp
Of which he wished to disburden his
mind, had he not been bereft of speech
and the power of communicating to us
by writing.
He passed away in our arms, and so
peacefully, withal that we hardly knew
when time had ended and Eternity be-
gun for him, and the last loving look
he gave me before he closed his eyes
forever on the things Of this world
lived in my memory to be one of the
inducements that urged me on to ex-
act atonement from his bitter enemies.
We buried him up there in the quiet
kirkyard, with the eternal hills looking
down upon his resting place. and there
may he sleep in peace until God wills
that he waken AID testify against
those who robbed him of that which
was more precious to him than life.
I stayed with Hugh a few days after
the funeral, and during those few days
I prevailed upon him to throw in his
lot with me.
He was fairly well off. for his uncle.
as he always loved to call him, had left
him a goodly Inheritance. and In this
connection I may mention that we new
er heard anything of any member of
the family to which Mr.. Travers. or.
as I ought to call him, Mr.. Starlight,
belonged. And SO, when the packing
had been successfully accomplished.
we sent off our luggage. and I wrote to
Mrs. Graves. telling her that we should
arrive on the evening of the day on
which she would get my letter. !.
I had been away from home nearly a
fortnight, and I felt quite pleased at
the thought Of seeing Mcguire again.
and I hoped that his genial nature
would bring Hugh out of the shell into
which he was so fond Of retiring at any
and every opportunity. It was so late
when we arrived that dinner had been
already laid, but, to my surprise, there
were only covers for two.
."'Where is MI. Maguire?" I asked OF
Graves. 81 thought he would have
been here to welcome us"
neutrality-suspicious., sir?" he
stammered. you must know. SIR, he
went away quite a week ago." 81
event away?" I echoed. where did
he go?"
HE went according to your dfrec-
lions, sir, and he left q letter for YOU.
It's on the mantle-piece.. and there's
another with 1t, and the gentleman told
me Twas to be sure and let you have
them at once" u
"Cone in here, Graves. I said, and.
closing the door Of the dining
when he and Hugh had entered. I went
on: NOW, before I read these letters.
rive me a plain account Of al that has
happened in regard to Mr.. Magufre's
going away"
well. sir, It was on Thursday that
q carriage drove up with three people
al 1t, and n ofStheni, Q tail gentle
man, wearing s~pectacles, and giving
the name Of DIR. Denton. asked to see
Mr.. Mcguire. He said that he came
from you, and he had an open letter In
his hand. I showed them into thu,
drawing room, andTMr. Mcguire came
down. I heard them talking Tors long
time, and then they RAM Tor me. and
when I went In NJ .sMagutre was stand
Ing by the fire, looking very white.
Graves, he says, will Syon and
pack my things for me lands trap Will
rn1na for them rom the station !? I'm