The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1904-04-22

over the side of the cot. the fingers new
er ceasing their painful twitching. The
surgeon leaned down and gently moved
the cloths so that the white SCARED
lips were free. Tbsy moved steadily.
They seemed TO be framing the SEM
blance of an old ballad that Meredith
knew. The whisper grew more distinct.
1t became a rich but broken voice. and
they heard 1t singing like the sound of
some far. halting minstrelsy:
"wave wiliows-murmur waters-golden
sunbeams smile.
Earthly music-cannot waken-lovely-
Annie Lisle."
Meredith gave an exclamation.
The bandaged hand waved jauntily
over the Teller's head. 'Ah. men," he
said. almost clearly. and tried to lift
himself on his arm. II tell you it's a
grand eleven we have this yeari There
will be little left of anything that
stands against them. It's our cham
pionship. Did you see Jim Romley ride
over his man this afternoonT'
As the voice grew clearer the sheriff
stepped forward. but Tom Meredith.
with loud cry OF grief. threw him
self on his knees beside the cot and
seized the wandering fingers in his
| own. john he cried. John. is it
your
The voice went on rapidly. not heed
| ing him, "Ah. you needn't howl. Well.
laugh away. you Indians. II il hadn't
been for this ankle-but IL seems to be
my chest that's hurt-and side-not
| that It matters. you know. The sopho-
| more's Just as good or better. It's on
| ly my egotism. Yes. II must be the
| side-and chest-and head-all over.
believe. I'll try again next year-next
year Ill make it daily. Helen said.
not that / should call you Helen-I
mean -Fisbee-no. Sher-
| woodruff I've always thought Helen
| was the prettiest name I'm the world
| you'll forgive me:-and please tell
Parker there's no more copy and won't
bel wouldn't grind out another stick
| TO save his immortal-she said-ah.
never made a good trade-no-unless-
they can't come seven miles-but III
finish you. Skillet. first; know you
I know nearly all Of you. Now let's
sing Annie Lisle' ~ He lifted bis
hand as IL to beat the time for q
chorus.
"Oh, John. joint cried Tom Mere
dith. and sobbed outright. My boy
my boy-old friend!' The cry of the
classmate was like that of a mother
for IL was his old idol and hero who
lay helpless and broken before him.
| Two pairs of carriage lamps sparkled
in front of the hospital in the earlies
of the small hours. these subjoined t.
two deep hooded phaetons. from eacl
of which quickly descended a gentle
man with beard. an air OF eminenc'
| and a small. ominous black box. an6
the air of eminence was justified b.
the haste with which Meredith haS
sent for them and by their wide re
pute. They arrived almost simulta
| neously and hastily shook hands a
| they made their way to the ward dowI
the long hall and up the narrow CORR
| dor. They had a short conversation
with the surgeon and a word with tn
nurse, then turned the others out Of tn
room by a practiced innuendo OF man
ner. They stayed a long time in tn
room without opening the door.
Meredith went out on the steps AM
breathed the cool night air. A slende
taint of drugs hung everywhere abou
the building. and the almost imperceI
tible permeation sickened him. 1t wa
deadly, he thought. To him 1t was in
bued with a hideous portent Of suffer
ing. The lights in the little ward wer
turned up. and they seemed to shin
from a chamber of horrors. while b
waited as a brother might have waite
outside the inquisition, If indeed
: brother would have been allowed
. wait outside the inquisition.
Alas. he had found John Harkles'
|. | He had lost track OF him as men som,
| times do lose track OF their best b'
loved, but II had always been a con
!. fort to know that Harkless was SOM
where. comfort without which
could hardly have got along. Like otl
. ers, he had been waiting for John
turn UPON top. OF course-he had sue
ability. ability for anything. and peop
would always care for him and beliey
/ III ulul 81 ludl he NOuiu Oc ShON {
ahead no matter how much he hun
back himself: but Meredith had n,
expected him TO turn up in Indiana.
He remembered now hearing a ma
who had spent the day in Plattville G
!, business speak OF him: They've got
u young fellow down there who'll be go
ernor in few years. He's a sort I
dictator. Runs the party all over thi
part OF the state to suit his own swe
will Just 10y sheer personality. Al
. there isn't man in the district WI
wouldn't cheerfully lie down in Il
mud TO let him pass over dry. II
y that young Harkless. you know. Owl
" the Herald. the paper that downed NJ
Cune and smashed those imitati,
:, White Caps in Carlow county" 1
: had been struck by the coincidence
|" the name. but lie had not dreamed tn
y the Carlow Harkless was his frieI
!" until Helcn's telegram had reach,
~ him that evening
lie shivercd. His name was spOk,
from within. and Horner came out
the steps with the two eminent sU
geons. and the latter favored him wi
few words which lie did not unds
ie stand. He did understand. howev,
p! what Horner told him. Somehow t
"' look Of the sheriff's Sunday coat. wri
I"-- f--s&rnls from his broad. be