Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1901-01-17


did. Her face looked paler he thought,
but she seemed easy and happy, and
she had smiled so sweetly at him as
she answered rather drowsily, Quite
comfortable, Timothy, only very
sleepy; COOL night, my man." and he
had kissed her lips tenderly and rever.
emily as he always did, and then
cheered and comforted had once more
pushed on.
Ah! there were the park gates al
most reached at last; and indeed it
was time, for his old arms ached ter
rtbly and his old knees threatened to
fail him altogether. He spoke encour-
agingly to her from time to time, but
she had evidently fallen asleep for sne
did not answer him. 1t was better So.
he thought, for now she could not guess
how tired he was, and it would have
hurt and vexed her sorely had she
known it; his good old loving Moll!
Only few more weary steps and the
gates were really gained. Passing
through them on they went, these two
strange travellers, and the little band
of urchins in their wake noticed that
just before the great door Of the hospi-
tai came in sight the old man painted
more and more and his poor little
stock of strength seemed almost ex-
hausted.
Yes, the labor of love was all but
over now; one more effort and the goal
was reached. Worn and weary, and
spent with fatigue, but still clasping
tight that precious burden, Timothy
| or I,IoI ctonC and
as friendly arms drew him into the
safe shelter of that fire-lit hall, and
kindly faces looked pityingly into his,
the place seemed suddenly to become
confused and misty, the voices to re-
cede further and further away, till at
last, wrapped in a mericful uncon-
seriousness, he remembered no more.
Faithful unto death; his task was
done; that kiss in the park had indeed
sealed their last good-by, and his low
ing old arms had held her to the end.
For, as they gently unclasped her arms
from about his neck. they saw that
Molly was dead.
They would SO willingly have kept
him on at least day or two, till he
should have recovered somewhat from
the shock o: that first sad awakening,
but the old man was firm The little
attic room was his for week or two
longer and then-why, then there was
the House he said; the dreaded law
of separation had lost all power to
hurt him now; he would just take one
more look at her and then go home.
They went with him to where she
lay, the matron and a doctor; not tho
friendly young doctor of the morning,
but another whose face looked unsat-
isfed and tired. Something had gone
amiss with his life-springs of late, and
since then he had ceased to believe in
the possibility of good, either human
or divine, and now he eyed Timothy
with half curious, half pitying gaze.
The latter shed no tears, had shed
none indeed since first they broke tho
news to him; the comfort OF them
might come later, perhaps, and there
was time enough.
He stood by her now, perfectly COM
posed and calm, scanning earnestly
each still feature and though to learn
it the better by heart. Then it laid his
1 u.
and kept it there for moment.
"The ring" whispered the doctor
to the matron. 1T may buy him drop
of comfort at least. Let him have it,"
She hesitated. then touching Tim.
othy gently on the arm she pointed to
! it.
You will like to have it, perhaps?"
she asked softly.
He glanced down at it, such "a poor
little line of gold, worn thin in long
and loving service for him, and shook
his head
Thank you, maam," he answered
gratefully. You're very kind, but I'd
rather not. Come good or ill, my old
woman would never part with that,
and | won't take it from her now.'
He hesitated for moment, then
gaining courage as he looked into the
matron's sympathetic face, he contin-
ued-
| If | might make so bold. ma'am,
would you let me have my dear girls
bonnet?"
Very tenderly sne gave it to him,
such a poor, rusty thing, and ne re-
ceived it reverently as we do some
| thing that is sacred and very precious;
then with a grateful THANK you,
ma'am," he turned to leave the room.
He glanced towards the doctor as
though to bid him good-by too, but he
had moved off from them and seemed
! busy over something at the further
end of the ward. So Timothy went
away.
He had almost reached the great
outer hall when he heard the sound of
hurrying footsteps behind him and his
own name spoken, and turning round
he saw the doctor.
The latter looked at him silently for
| a moment, and there was an express
| sion on his face that had been wanting