The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1903-12-30

By Anna Katharine Green Author IF Gan |hs ss: s'F''h''


I am not even engaged In business.
When, therefore, lawyer friend OF
mine stopped his buggy one day at our
club house, and, beckoning to me, said:
Come with me and see curious sight
I had no motive for refusing him, and
Immediately jumped into the buggy
and took my seat at bis side.
"'What sight? ! asked
"I am on my way to dying man
to tell him that he has fallen heir to a
large fortune. Do you think It will
make him take up his bed and walk?
"'Such miracles have happened
returned. Who is this man and'how
big is the fortuneT
"The former question I cannot an
swer; I have only his name and ad-
dress to 60 by; the latter I will reserve
replying to till we have seen whether
he is still living when We get there. 1t
would be something like the irony of
fate to find that he had breathed his
last before touching a dollar Of this
money which he has been SO long ex-
pecting.'
"'Does it come from a relative?
"'No. A law case has just been set
tied which has been dragging on for
years. No one anticipated a decision
in his favor, least of all himself, and
though, in one minute it has raised
him from the condition Of a pauper
into that of q man of wealth, fear
the result has come too late to do him
much good. But we will soon see, for
here we are in Sheriff street, where he
is said to live
II was interested by this time, as we
are in all human dramas, and was glad
when we drew up before small, one
story wooden structure Of mean but
not uncleanly aspect, to hear, through
an open window, the sound of rack
ing cough, which seemed to assure US
that the sufferer still lived, even if his
prospect of living long was small.
1--WE were met at the door by 4 pc
culiar looking woman of foreign aspect
to whom I at once took an invincible
dislike. But had not long in which
to indulge this feeling, for at the first
intimation of the lawyers desires she
flung open the door Of the sick room
and We passed in.
"A remarkable face greeted US,
hungry face, staring from rags Of bed
clothes that could not disguise by their
squalor the fact that this man, perish
ing in penury and neglect, was a man
of mind and once the possessor of posi-
tive beauty. He was. no longer young,
but beneath the death-damps that al
ready bedewed his forehead one could
discern intimations of q character of
no mean stamp. A fitting inheritor of
q great fortune, but oh, how sad that
it should have come too late!
THE friend at my side advanced into
the desolate. and miserably appointed
room. l followed him, shutting the
door behind me. The man on the bed
opened his eyes still wider, and his
face took on a strangely eager look.
Had he seen no kindly faces for days?
Was his hunger one of the soul? be-
gan to feel strange stirring at my
heart-strings, and forgot the wretched-
ness of the surroundings in my yearn-
ing pity for the man himself. Mean
while, his attention was fixed, not upon
the lawyer, but upon myself, and be-
tween the coughs that constantly dis
turbed him, I saw something like a
smile of welcome stir his feeble lips
and irradiate his feyerish eyes.
,"'Are you Michael Delancy? asked
the lawyer, speaking in a kind but
business-like tone.
"I am issued family from the Sick
mans mouth. Michael Delaney, once
gentleman and q student, but now
dying in loneliness and rags, poor,
forsaken and utterly friendless wretch
"'No, no. cried the lawyer, striving
to encourage the poor man, who, in
deed, looked as If he had not many
hours to live. You have friends and
you are not poor. Though comfort
comes late, it comes surely. We are
here to make your last days cheerful,
if not to provide you with a cure that
will yet make you a we'll man.
"I do not understand his gesture
seemed to say. I am very sick; moth
ing will ever bring me cure but death
"'Can anything bring you happi-
nessT asked. ...r.
,"'Oh,' he sighed, I should like to die
in the face Of some ones smile and
kindly look. have lain here months
and not gentle word have heard.
The very doctor they bring in now and
then is harsh and gruff. I am not used
to roughness, as am not used to dis
order. should like to breathe in a
sweet atmosphere, and feel my light
go out in place of peace and beauty
"'You SHALL That you shallp cried
my lawyer-friend, with the impetuosity
Of which his long experience had not
yet robbed him. If you are strong
enough you shall be moved at once.
Nothing that money can provide to
make you comfortable shall be lacking.
Cheer up, my friend! We have come
late, but we nave come with a pur-
pose
May ask the sick man inquired,
with a feebleness which proved that
the excitement Of the moment was
weakening him, who you are and why
you are so kind?
"He addressed himself to me, but it
was naturally my friend who answered
him.
81 am Israel Cutting, of the law
firm of Mcdonald & Cutting. This gen.
tleman is Mr.. Degraw. If We seem