The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1903-02-03

ND again. I'm comfortable. You'll
stay an mighty You know your room'
DO. that's a good fellow. ! may want
you to help me harness up the cough
in tie morning"
"Yes; I'll stay If you want me to-
Are you comfortable thereT
VERY much so, old man. Go ahead
with Mr. Marsh"
Gordon had not talked ave minutes
before Barton was asleep, an unnat-
urol slumber, more like death than
healthy refreshing Of wearied powers.
His whole attitude was that Of COM
plete exhaustion. Tue seal Of death
was upoh him
John Gordon stopped talking, and the
tears rolled down his cheeks, David
Barton was the dearest friend he had.
The two were ten years apart In age,
but from the time when they first met
they had been instantly drawn to-
gather and had begun TO love each
other.
II was after II o'clock, and yet Cor
don hesltated to 20 to bed. He almost
feared that Barton would never wake
up, the pallor Of his face, the attitude
Of the body, we're so suggestive Of the
great change.
lie was still sitting there his cheeks
still wet with the tears that he did not
try to rcpress, when Williams came in
softly on tiptoe.
There's a queer old lady outside,
Mr.. Gordon, says she wants TO see Mr..
| Barton. II It amt too late. She's a
mighty queer looking specimen She
won't go away, and I thought maybe
you'd 20 and see her"
Barton Is asleep now. lie can't be
wakenod Ask the lady TO come into
| the hall"
Gordon went out, drawing the cur
| taius between the hrst room and the
wide hallway, and met In the hall the
visitor. who was promptly ushered IN
! by Williams.
She was dressed in q remarkably old
! fashioned style that struck John Cor
| don az exceedingly interesting rather
than grotesQue. She was very old, at
| least ninety. but straight and yigor
Gus. Her keen blue eyes looked search
! lngly at John Gordon, and she spoke
IN a sharp but remarkably clear voice
"Are you Mr. BartonT
mo, madam. | am his friend Mr.
Gordon. Mr. Barton is asleep and
not wcll. What can / do for you:
VIII you be soatedy'
"Iu moment, sir" She placed up
on the hoor faded old carpctbag
took handkerchief ont Of her pocket
| carefully busted one OF the hall
seats aud then sat down As she
took out the handkerchief a delicate
aroma was waited to John Gordon.
| II reminded him of the fragrance
he remembered once while visiting the
East India Marine museum at Salem,
Mass, when the attendant opened an
| old sea chest, lined with cedar and
| packed with silk shawls
John Gordon was now thoroughly
awake. The sharp eyes looked at him
! kindly.
II am exceedingly sorry TO hear that
Mr., Barton is lll very much wished
To see HIM First I must DE pardoned
| FOR calling at this unreasonable hour
But ! had the address aud saw the
light aud knew that newspaper men
kept queer hours. | have called at
the office OF the paper ana was told
Mr. Barton was at his apartments. !
must 20 ON my journey tonight
John Gordon had not the remotest
nkling as 20 the old lady's errand. She
was evidently u person Of great refine
meut and culture
How much of friend are you to
Mr. BartonT'
The question was 50 direct aud frank
that Gordon smiled
Il ann his dearest friend"
"Man or wOmauT the Old lady asked,
with a twinkle Of the eyes that made
john Gordon smile again
MY friend has never had any love
affair lie is a confirmed bachelor"
"Ah, don't deceive yourself young
man, I am old enough to be your
grandmother your greatgrandmother
almost ANA | have seen great deal OF
the world But, pardon me- must tell
you What came for"
She put her hand into a little bag
that huns from silk cord tied about
her wrist A. she opened the bag the
same delicate aroma penetrated the
hall agtp.
SHE handed card to Gordon He
took Do aud read.
"Mrs Captain George Ethngham. Sa-
lem."
Well Gordon said
Il am Captain Emngham's widow.
My greatgrandSon was born on the
day Captain Edingham died. His name
was Clark Efingham, lie ram away 10
sea when he was sixteen Since then
have hrap nothing OF him until
week ago bad letter from him
dated Colorado Springs. lie was con.
snmptiye, hut is getting better. ann
on my way 10 see him."
She paused and John Gordon. stin in
the dark ~ 90 the object OF her call ON
Barton. Hid
"Melv
Nnu erfH t...r r...... A. NJ.