The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-01-25
BOOK l..
THE SHADOW
THE CHILD. AND WHAT SHE LED ME-
49, UNTO. ,-..-s.-.A

@AAt~ SAAAN~>>S
@G INTO.
I was walking at a rapid pace up the |
avenue one raw, fall evening, when, some
where near the corner of Fifty---
street, / was brought to sudden stand
still by the sound of a child's voice &C
costing me from the stoop of one of the
handsome houses was then passing.
30, siri" 1t CRIED ''please come in
Please come to grandpa. He's sick and
wants YOU. 40 ea
block I glanced up and saw bending from
the open doorway the trembling figure of
little girl, with a wealth of curly hair
blowing about her sweet, excited face.
You have made mistake" l called
up to her. Il am not the person you sup
pose I am a stranger. Tell me whom
you know about here and l will see that
someone comes to your grandpa
But this did not satisfy her. -. Running
down the stoop, she seized me by the arm
with childish impetuosity, crying; mo,
no. There isn't time. Grandpa told me
to bring in the first man l saw going by.
You are the first man. Gomez"
There was urgency in her tones and,
unconsciously, began to yield to her in
sistence, and allow myself to be drawn
towards the stoop.
who is your grandpa" asked, salts
fled from the imposing look Of the house
that he must be a man OF some pro1ni-
nence. If he is sick there are the SER
vants''-But here her little foot came
down in infantile impatience. E-s y
Grandpa never waits!' she cried drag
ging me witt her small hands up the
stoop and into the open door. IF you
don't hurry he'll think l didn't 90 as he
told me- -.-.
What man would not have yielded?
The hall. as seen from the entrance, was
wide and unusually rich. Indeed, an air
of the highest respect ability, as well as
~ q ra n o ed he
whole establishment; and however odd
the adventure appeared, it certainly Of
fered nothing calculated to awaken dis
trust. Entering with her. l shut the
door behind me. In an instant she was
half way down the hall. =
Here! here!" she cried, pausing before
door near its end. So
The confidence with which she sum-
moned me CT sometimes wonder il my
countenance conveys more than the ordi-
nary amount Of good nature) and the
pretty picture she made. standing in the
Hood OF light which poured from
the unseen apartment toward
which she beckoned me, lured me on till
l reached her side,Sand stood in full view
of scene which certainly justified her
rear II not the demand she made upon a
passing stranger. .-...
In the midst Of small room plain as
any office, saw an elderly gentleman
standing who, even to my unaccustomed
eyes, seemd to be not simply i'll, but in
the throes Of actual dissolution.
Greatly disturbed, for l had anticipated
nothing so serious, turned to fly for as
slstance, when the little child, rushing by
me, caught her grandfather by the knees
and gave me such a look, I had not the
heart to leave her.
Indeed, it would have been cruel to do
so. The appearance and attitude Of the
sick man were startling even to me.
Though in a state bordering on death, he
was, as have said, standing not lying,
and his tall figure swaying against the
the large table to which he chung, formed
picture of mental and physical suffering
such as l had never before seen, and can
never In all my life to come forget One
hand was pressed against his heart. but
the other, outspread in desperate at
tempt to support his weight, had fallen
on some half-dozen sheets or so of type
written paper, which, slipping under the
pressure put upon them, kept him tot
tering, though he did not fall. He was
looking my way, and as I advanced into
the room. his collapsing frame shook with
sudden feeling, and the hand which he
held clenched over his heart opened
slightly, revealing scrap Of paper
crushed between his fingers.
Struck with compassion, for the con-
trast was pitiful between his naturally
imposing appearance and his present help
lessness, I murmured some words OF SYM
pathy and encouragement and then sup
posing him to be alone in the house with
his grandchild, inquired what | could do
to serve him.
He cast a meaning glance down at mis-
hand, then seeing that I did not under
stand him, made superhuman effort and
held that member out, utterlng some in
articulate words which 1 was able to con-
strue into prayer to take from him the
paper which his stiffening clutch made it
difficult for him to release.
Touched by his extremity, and anxious
to afford him all the solace his desperate
case demanded, I drew the paper from
between his fingers. AS did SO noted,
first, that 1t was a portion Of one OF the
sheets saw scattered about on every side,
and, secondly, that it was folded together
as If intended for some ones private Pc
rusal.
What shall do with this ?" I asked,
consulting his eye, over which glaze
was fast forming.
He let his own glance wander eagerly
till it fell upon some envelops, then II
became fixed, and I understood.
Drawing out one, placed the slip in 1t,
and fastening the envelop, consulted his
face with a smile.
He answered with a look so full OF
thanks. appreciation, and confidence that
/ felt abashed. Something Of more than
ordinary significance was conveyed by
that look, and was about to ask what
name I should write on the enVelop
when the faint sounds with which he hac
been trying to express his secret wishes
became articulate, and l heard these
words:
ITO no one-no one else! To-to--'
Alas! at this critical Eoment and just
as the name was faltering on his lips
his utterance failed He stroVe for eN-
preston but no words would come.
In a desperation, which was but the
Nf Il 10 ri n6 n q
him. ,.t--..,
as it for your lawyer" I suggested
then as he made no sign, hastily added
"For your doctor? For your wife? Fol
anyone in the house?"
He gave me one supreme look, raised
his eyes, and for instant stood in al
attitude so expressive OF JOY anu lnde
Unable expectancy that I was aston1shet
beyond words and forgot that was IN TN
presence Of death. But only for a moment
While 1 was still marvelling at this sud
den change in him, the child who was
clinging to him uttered terrified scream
and unloosened her arms Then | saw
him sink, gasp and fall forward, and
springing, caught him in my arms befor'
his head could touch the floor. Alas! i
was the last service I could render him
BY the time had laid him down he hat
expired, and I found myself, in no othe1
company than that of trembling child
bending over the dead body of man wht
with his last breath had charged me will
a commission Of whose purport under
stood nothing save that under no circum
stances and upon no pretext was I to de
liver the letter he had entrusted to me
to anyone but the person for whom it wa
intended.
But who was this person? All, that wa