The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1901-08-15

l
at the window and athwart his fathers
bed, and Lfsle could see him plainly.
did you speak, father?'' he asked in
low tone, so that the sleeper might
not be disturbed if he were mistaken,
ana, receiving no reply, he returned to
the couch and composed himself to
sleep again. He remained wide awake,
however, While hour after hour passed
by, thinking upon those perplexing
problems which refused sufficiently to
shape themselves for recognition. The
moon passed over the house and set
tied In the west. The heavens took on
a transparent hue in the east. Dawn
was near at hand when he was again
startled by repetition of the sound
that he had heard before. This time
he was not sleeping. He knew there
could be no mistake. The noise came
from his fathers room, was made bv
his father.
He leaped to his feet and hurried
past the portieres straight to his ia
theirs side and came upon a sight
which filed him with sudden and un-
namable horror
Richard Maxwell was lying upon his
back. His eyes were wide open and star
ing. There was a deathlike, leaden pal
Tor upon his face, which in the imper-
feet light seemed CHASTITY. He was
breathing, but that was the only sign
Of life that was evident.
Lisle knelt down beside him, chafed
his hands and called to him, but the
stricken man made no reply except to
utter that half articulate groan which
| already had alarmed his son. The
young man procured restoratives, but
| they We're of no avail. He endeavored
| to force brandy between his fathers
| lips, but Richard Maxwell could not
swallow. He chafed his hands, but
they We're cold and @deathlike ia his.
grasp. Power Of motion seemed to
have been retained only by the optic
muscles, for whichever way Lisle turn
ed his fathers eyes followed him with
agonized entreaty.
Dawn increased and developed into
day while Lisle worked over his ia
Their, but his eXtremities became colder
| and colder, so that at last, with that
intuition which is born of parental
love, Lisle knew that his father was
dying. The eyes that watched him I'M
ceasingly while he worked became
more dim as the minutes glided into
the past, and death lowered nearer and
nearer to Richard Maxwell
Accustomed all his life to being alone
with his father, Lisle had forgotten
the presence of strangers in the house,
but suddenly he remembered. He
sprang from the room and ran to the
one occupied by Mr.. Thomas, bursting
precipitously into it and shaking the
sleeping man fercely.
''Will you come, sir, at once? Some
thing has happened to my fatherv' he
cried. Gle is dyingr'
"Good God! What is it? What has
happened? Your father? Dying, did
| you say? Shot? Hurt? What is the
| matter?" exclaimed the suddenly awak-
ened man.
II do not know. Please come. I
know that he is dying.
ssThat will. 1t may not be as bad
as you think. Where is he?" Mr.
Thomas had leaped from the bed and
was rapidly drawing on his trousers.
'In the room off the library. Hasten.
please! Hastenv'
II won't be minute Call Erna.
Nothing like a woman in case like
this, and she's worth a dozen ordinary
ones!'
| Lisle darted from the room and has
tened to that which was ordinarily his
own. He raped upon the door. There
was no response. He threw it open
and entered, arousing Miss Thomas as
he had done her father.
She started up with a scream, but
Isles quick words treasured her in
stantly.
.My father is dying" he said, with
more calmness. .Mr. Thomas said that
you would help me. Will you Gomez,
Yes; at once. Where is hep
"Come to the library
1 He FASTENED then to his fathers side,
but Thomas was there before him,
bending over the bed. When Lisle
would have recommended his efforts at
resuscitation, the Missourian waved
him aside.
Wait, young man. Has Erna Gomez
II am here, papa,''' replied her voice
from the doorway.
Mr.. Thomas raised himself slowly
erect and turned so that he stood be-
i tween Lisle and the bed. His kind face
sEtOld what his fOnpue had not vet ut