The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1904-04-14


The Teller swung his arm heavily
| 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. They moved steadily.
They seemed to be framing the SEM
blance Of an old ballad that Meredith
knew. The whisper grew more distinct.
It became rich but broken voice, and
they heard it singing like the sound of
some far, hating minstrelsy:
''Wave willows-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, Il tell you it's
grand eleven we have this year! 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 afternoon?"
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
you?"
The voice went on rapidly, not heed
ing him, "Ah, you needn't howl! Well,
laugh away, you Indians! If it hadn't
been for this ankle-but it seems to be
my chest that's hurt-and side-not
that it matters, you know The sophie
more's just as good or better. It's on
~ my egotism. Yes, it must be the
side-and chest-and head-all over,
believe. I'll try again next year-next
year I'll make it daily. Helen said,
not that I should call you Helen-I
mean -Miss-Fisbee-n Sher-
woodruff I've always thought Helen
was the prettiest name in 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 I'll
finish you, Skillet, first; know you!
l know nearly all Of you. Now let's
sing Annie Lisle' - He lifted his
hand as if to beat the time for
chorus.
ooh, John, Johnv' cried Tom Mere
dith, and sobbed outright. my boy,
my boy-old friendv' The cry of the
classmate was like that Of a mother,
for it 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 earliest
Of the small hours, these subjoined to
two deep hooded phaetons, from each
of which quickly descended a gentle
man with beard, an air Of eminence
and small, ominous black box, and
the air Of eminence was justified by
the haste with which Meredith had
sent for them and by their wide re-
pute. They arrived almost simulta-
neously and hastily shook hands as
they made their way to the ward down
the long hall and up the narrow corri-
dor. They had short conversation
with the surgeon and word with the
nurse, then turned the others out of the
room by practiced innuendo Of man
ner. They stayed long time in the
room without opening the door.
Meredith went out on the steps and
breathed the cool night air. A slender
faint Of drugs hung everywhere about
the building, and the almost impercep-
t1ble permeation sickened him. 1t was
deadly, he thought. To him it was i'm
bued with hideous portent of suffer
ing. The lights in the little ward were
turned up, and they seemed to shine
from chamber Of horrors, while he
waited as brother might have waited
outside the inquisition, if indeed a
brother would have been allowed to
wait outside the inquisition.
Alas, he had found John HAIRLESS.
He had lost track of him as men some
times do lose track Of their best be-
loved, but it had always been COM
tort to know that HAIRLESS was some
where, comfort without which he
could hardly have got along. Like 9TH
ers, he had been waiting for John to
turn UPON top, Of course-he had such
ability, ability for anything, and people
would always care for him and believe
In him so that he would be showed
ahead no matter how much he hung
back himself; but Meredith had not
expected him to turn up in Indiana.
He remembered now hearing man
who had spent the day in Plattville on
business speak Of him: They've got a
young fellow down there who'll be gov
ernor in a few years. He's sort of
dictator. Runs the party all over that
part of the state to suit his own sweet
will just by sheer personality. And
there isn't man in the district who
wouldn't cheerfully lie down in the