The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-08-24
ECCEN IRlC MR. CLARK.
lcontInued fron1. slxth Paae)

he marked the haggard face and hollow eyes q insist that you retire. You must rest. sir-worrying for the past week as you have been doing is telling on you painfully. You need rest-and you must ta4se it. "
 And l will said Mir. Clark, submis- sively Stopping again. he .elasped the sleeping face between his hands and kissed it tenderly, Good night!' heard him whisper-"good nlght-good night" He turned, and, motoning for me to follow, opened the door->'Doctor, good night Good night Maryi'
 He led the way to his own room up- stairs. And now, my friend he said as he waved me to an easy-ehair, "I have but two other favors to ask of you: The first is that you talk to me or read to me, or tell me fairy tales, riddles anything. that you keep it up inces- sanity, and never leave off till you find me fast asleep. Then in the next room you will find a comfortable bed. Leave me sleeping here, and you sleep there I And the second favor, The continued, with a slow smile and an affected air of deliberation-"Oh well, I'll not ask the second favor of you now. Pll keep 1t for you till tomorrow" And he turned laughingly away and paced three or four times across the room. in his step his gait, the general carriage of the fig ure. I was curiously reminded of the time, years before, that l had watched him from the door of the caboose, as he walked up the suburban street till the movement of the train had hidden him from view.
 Well what will you do?" he asked, as he wheeled a cosey-cushioned lounge close beside my chair, and, removing his coat. flung himself languidly down. ''Will you talk or read to me?'
 T will read" I said. as I picked up a book to begin my vigil.
 Hold just minute. then" he said, dra wing card and pencil from his vest -'I may want to jot down note or t"o' Now. go ahead"
 had been reading in a low voice steadily for perhaps an hour, my com panion never stirring from his hrst posi- ton, but although my eyes were never lifted from the book, l knew by the oc- cLsional sound of his pencil that he had not yet dropped asleep. And so, with out a pause, I read monotonously on. At last he turned heavily. paused. With his eyes closed he groped his hand across my knees and grasped my own. Go on with the reading. he said' drowsily.-"Guess I'm gong to sleep now-but you go right on with the story Good nightl" His hand fumbled finger ingly moment, then was WithdraWn and folded with the other on his breast
 I read on in a lower tone an hour long CT then paused again to look at my com- panion He was sleeping heavily, and al- though the features in their repose ap- peared unusually pale. wholesome per spration. it seemed, pervaded all the face, while the breathing though labor ed was regular. I bent above him to lower the pillow for his head and the movement half aroused him. as thought at first, for he muttered some- thing as though fmpatiently; but listen ing to catch his mutterings 1 knew that he was dreaming 'Its what killed fath- err I heard him say. And it's what killed Tom" he went on, in a smothered voice; killed both-killed both! It shan't kill me; 1 swore 1t. l could bot tie it-case after case-and never touch a drop. If you'll never take the first drink you Il never want it. Mother taught me that. What made her ever take the first? Mother! mother! Ntnen get to be a man, I'll buy her all the fine things she used to nave when father was alive. Maybe I buy back the old home with the roses. up the walk and the sunshine slantng in the hall.
 And so the sleeper murmured on. Sometimes the voice was thick and dls- eordant, sometimes low and clear and tuneful as a childs. Never touch whiskeylp he went on, almost harshlY. Never-neverl neveri Drop in the street first. l did. The doctor will come then, and he knows what you want. Not whiskey.-Medicine; the kind that makes you warm again-makes you want to live; but don't ever dare touch whiskey. Let other people drink it if they want it. Sail it them; they'll get 1t anyhow; but don't you touch iti It killed your father. it killed rom, and-oh!-Mot motheri mothers Tears actually teemed from underneath the sleeper's lids. and glittered down the palid and distorted features. There's medicine that's good for you when you want whiskey he went on.-"When you are weak, and everybody else is strong-and always when the hagstones give way beneath your feet, and the long street undulates and wavers as you walk; why, that's a sign for you to take that medicine-and take it quick! Oh, it will warm you till the little pale-blue streaks in your white hands will bulge out again with tingling biood and it will start up from it's stag nant pools and leap from vein to vein till it reaches your beings furthest height and droops and falls and folds down over icy brow and lace like a soft veil moistened with pure warmth. An! 1t is so deliriously sweet and restfull'
 [ heard a moaning in the room below and then steps on the stairs and tap ping at the door. 1t was Mary. Mrs Clark has awakened and was crying for her son. "But we must not waken him." I said Give Mrs. Clark the medicine the doctor left for her-that will quiet her"
 But she won't take 1t, sir. She won't do anything at all for me-and if Mr. Clark could only come to her, just a minute. she would" The woman's speech was broken by shrill cry in the hall, and then the thud of naked feet on the stairway. "I want my boy-my boy!" walled the hysterical woman from without
 "Go to your mistress-quick," I said sternly, pushing the maid from the room. Take her back; I will come down to your assistance in a moment" Then I turned hastily to see if the sleeper had been disturbed by the woman's cries; but all was peaceful with him yet; and so, throwing a coverlet over him, I drew the | door to silently and went below.
 l found the wretehed mother in an al- most frenzfed state. and gathering in a | violence that alarmed me to that extent | thought best to again summon the phy- | sician; and bidding the servant not to leave her for instant, hurried for the | help so badly. needed This time the doc tor was long delayed, although he Joined me with all possible haste, and with all | speed accompanied me back to the un- happy home. Entering the door, our ears were greeted with shriek that came piercing down the hall till the very echoes shuddered as with fear. It was the patients voice shrilling from the sleepers room up-stairs:-"O God! My my