The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1904-12-31

So the oath was sworn, the cup oi klnd-
ness drunk, and the song sung, asthe last
stroke Of twelve died away.
After the Others mad gone, Ralph bar
row paced up and down the great living
room, which he had built when a uore
timid man would have built modest housa
Ii was noble room, thirty feet high with
windows which showed nothing but the
sky. One corner was partitioned oft for
Mildred sleeping closet: in another stood
Ralph drafting table: a third held the
dining table, where, if the fare was hum-
be the hospitality was royal; the last angle
contained piano, bookshelves and a low
diyan, where he slept; Over the mighty
hearthstone Ralph had painted the motto
Of his room ''Thc world forgotten, by
the world forgot. Here he had fought
oat his great battle, here he aud his friends
had passed the hest hours OF their lives,
since the day. five years before, when they
first met, BY chance, in city where all
were strangers His mind was busy With
past aud future. Life stretched behind
and before him ike a pathway. Memory
showed him his own footprints straight aud
even as an Indian trail leading to that days
/ triumph: hope pointed to a future Of in
,rel~ius success. His thoughts ran back
aud forth with tremendous raridity At
one moment he reviewed the building Of
his room; in the mex; he was finishing his
hoase on the same eenernus scale suite
fer Mildred q studio Cor Basil, abora-
tnFy for Philip. lie himself wo,,ll keep
Ia his ore rom. the others should have ali
the .Iaoe they desired
~ the night grew c,.oler biz mood he.
came graver. The Problems Yet to be
solved IN his suaat work were sTapple,l
Wiik. one by one Two O. eIugk found him
still busy maxim. notes The str,k,, from
The h,.li oc ueighh"rio@ ssccplc warmed
him th1t il yss- ,.rpwing lsic, and II" had
en- es5ly engagement the next nlHja-.
Sheer, was i~ l,r from him rs ever. bi- hFrly
ached WiIh weJriures. while hIs brain
sssirktI wi,h sn alH,,s,t s.,oniziUl srfiyitg.
lie m,r~t -le,l. at the usuyras W..9la iAd
him antt G.r b.. aut,~. \ ihoagb' struck
h.ai -Aii,lr~i -lesfiss a,lxtafe always
-I.-l hs-s,ic bsr bsi. Ef }771Fs she had
lsytn = rtsrfyr 10 Jasssmpis Puur ktlis.
.'-rl he =atl a saEqzse .he h.,. tn bgh.
sLis uneauuy aaArIula,s. cseFy aisht
he Il.,ensj s., her daaF. aui heard her
>l,a, rr..ulsr breathing Gengly turain@
The handle b., entered ue;sel,-sls. tuaisd
the Ph;ai va IFS accustomed plser and
paused rno,seat to l,ok AZ MliiFcsl face
as The irglish, fr,sn an ousef raou >hone
nFen &C.
What marble yleepr be- ,ajl io him
rlG. aai leig the r,s.a, 81 ,s,fily a. he had
entered it He had often =sea Nilirei
rouF uuI her lssSc srne isslsieSesiei IN a
siuegia-s e aater II i takes tea
sl-.ouful to Iu' that Hi,lc giri to 4ecp. j,
wiil take twice As much f5r me, was hi>
though, A. be- roared oaS the drug, meas
agiug a generous tablespoonful. He set
the glass on s table by the 6re drew his
ar,ueisair neaFsr the blszs. lighted a cigar
drank I'll the draueht ard took up the
iaa psci latest volume Of verse. .lf
she combined effects ii these three sopo-
tiEe- 10 not pat iae te sleep, he said, 1
wdl give st uP, and S1 to work '
The Gre ate osi the heart % the great
yuie legs. whioh broke into two pieys-, the
ends falling together with Noise that
caused Mildred u taru IN her sleep The
aams in the Iawp barnezl psle, aiekcred
and went ont The lofty room was in
iaFkseS-. save for the elaw OF rhe esnbers
/ on the hearth bat the man ia the armchair
dbl nos move. The last sparks Of 6se
fadesl into soll gray ashes, the cold dawa
lookcd 10 shrongh the windows, the trSt
suubetm sent its golden lance Of light across
the rDoraZand siill be dsi not Inove.
Sooa after sanriss Mildred was astir
A. she wss dressing. she sang uuslcr her
breath saatehes irou the uew carol she had
learnt for Christmas Her simple toilet
ns&,lt. she eau,e oui, iustcr in hand. ready
for the first task Of the day.
''Why, Ralph, are you up already
, she cried. Il believe you have never
been in bed at all Why don t sou speak
/ 10 me. brother
She laid her hand ou hi1 shsalder and
shook him rlayfully The book Se had
been holding dropped from his nerseless
hand ,he half srsoked cigar slipped thFSsszh
hi- fingers The drug had done is work
, toe we'll Ralph had turned the last page
ef hts earthly life
Ralph Darrow's trssc death made i
deep impression oa the community. Pen-
pie discovered that DarroW had been a
I mau of seuiuS Designs aud notes for a
new park system. 4 public library an art
museum and school oi' design were found
among his papers I, was resolved 10 carry
ont hi, plans fer improving the city An
avenue was named for hun; st was pFefS,sd
to rais,. a monument to his memory Pa,
Mildred opposed His work Is his beSf
monument she said. These who had
known him agreed with her His fame
increased as one by one his noble buildings
r.se FROM the ground and il was seen how
we'll he had iiseernei the needs of the
growing city.
The ouly plans not carried OUT were those
\ for his own house, The sreas room re
manned as he left it. In time Mildred
bulk a modest addition, and hepsshe lived
by herself. The years brought her rich
harvest If good works She was the friend
Of all young artists aud musicians. twas
gradually recognized that she was a power
fer .ood in the community. Her soft voice
aud gracious maauer covered dauntless
courage and an iron will; her work was so
quietly done that others oftenest received
the credit for it. Her efforts were all for
education. sWhen | am old, | will visit
the hospitals and the home for aged men,
she said: my youth belongs to youth,
Her beauty softened and n,ellowed with
the passing years; her friends Thought her
loyeler in middle age tkan she had been
in youth. 4 rumor that she was about to
marry aroused general apprehension; it
was felt that. like one of the Roman YES
tails she was vowed to the service of the
city.
The day of Ralph Darrow' 5 tryst found
his sister living where he had left her,
During the morning and the afternoon her
friends came and went, for she kept open
house during the holidays. That New
Year 5 eve she dined alone. After dinner
n .,....,,,,.-, ,~,le, ~ htar s.arva1,f :