The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-02-26

ed Webster's room, he hailed them
with q smile. "See here" he cried
holding up a letter. "This came lust
now. I know you'll be glad!' His
| whole face beamed with joy. The
| friends read. and broke into eager
| congratulations.
The most cheering anticipations of
| success will not stop the progress of
fever. Webster grew steadily worse.
Often he seemed unconscious of all
about him and lay staring at the cell
| ing, but he always liked to keen the
notice of acceptance under his head.
| Vanishing day came, and found him
| far too i'll to think of going, and at
last the doctor shook his head and
said he feared the patient would not
last twenty-four hours
The chums took turns to sit with
him, but as the day wore on Mar
shall refused TO give up his place, and
the two settled down for the night.
The soft dusk OF Il Paris evening be-
gan to fall around them. Webster
seemed asleep, and they kept silence.
Watching the sky changing from the
greenish reflections behind the dome
Of the Pantheon to the warm dark
ness Of spring night. Marshall rose
and lit the lamp, shading the light
from the sick mans eyes.
Suddenly " ebster began to speak In
n soft even voice. mo" he said, TIN
glad / came 1t was worth while.
and now my pictures in. They can't
say. any Of them, it was no use to
try it," He turned his head. MAR
shall" he said.
Yes, old man."
you'll write and tell mother all
about it, and about the picture, you
know, and say i tried to make the
money go as far as l could. There'll
be enough to bury me, I think
"Oh. that's all right, old man; you
mustn't talk like that You're going
to get well and paint lot more pic
tures.'
"No, I'm not, and I'm sorter glad
too. Maybe / couldn't have done an
other so good-another good enough
to get into the Salon. You've both
been real kind. / used to look at
you in JuIian's and wish / was big
strong man like you. / used to think
you were q dude" he added to Hal
stead. I'm sorry"
He sank off into Inconsistencies
The night wore on. Through the
half-open window came the OCCASION
al sound of footsteps and the still
less frequent rattle Of wheels. Sud-
denly a voice in the street broke the
silence, singing. The noise reused
Webster, who started.
"Ar! he cried. II want air."
Marshall lifted him. while 'Halstead
threw the window wide.
Pray" said Webster family.
The two men exchanged wild
YOU" began Halstead. "I don't
know"
81 tell you, you've got to pray"
Kissed Marshall. Anything will do.
only be quick about it,
Halstead dropped on his knees,
and in q shaking voice began. "Our
Father He ended with a sob and
buried his face in the coarse blanket.
his shoulders working.
"More!' gasped the dying voice.
'Go on" commanded Marshall
Vague recollections of church SER
vice long unheard and half forgotten
passed through HaIstead's mind, and
sentence after sentence rose discon-
nectedly to his lips like bubbles in a
champagne glass. Webster was
fighting for breath in NLarShall's arms.
Suddenly the struggle ceased, he lay
still Then. turning. he looked into
the face bent down to his.
"Homcward bound!" he said faint.
ly
Halstead on his knees his face hid
den, continued his vague, incohereni
petition;
The glorious company of the Apostles
praise Thee, is
The goodly fellowship of the Prophets
praise Thee,
The noble army OF Martyrs praise
Thee.
'Shut up, now" said Marshall.
"DOn't You see he's gone 2"