Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1905-09-28

By Anna Katharine Gresn Author IN Etc. eoF''A'n
COPYRIGHT. 1890. sv nosrar soNNra's SONS.

| served, ana L snail DeSlu aC tHe ne-
ginning Had / known that by telling
it sooner should have saved others
from consequences / now tremble to
think of. l should certainly not have
retained my secret so long. as my only
wish has been to do my duty, disa-
greeable as I have sometimes found it,
and difficult beyond anything l have
ever before undertaken.
| II am a native Of Cleveland, bachc-
lor and a man Of means. board at a
club house ana / nave not RESPONSE
| bility In the world. save such as every
man owes to himself and to society
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.
| had no motive for refusing him, and
immediately jumped into the buggy
and took my seat at his 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 1t will
make him take up his bed and walk"
"'Such miracles have happened l
returned. Who is this man and how
big is the fortune|
1.-The former question I cannot an
swer; l have only his name and ad-
dress to go by; the latter 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 1t come from relativeT
"'No. A law case has just been set.
tied which has been dragging on for
years. No one anticipated decision
in his favor. least Of all himself. and
though, In one minute 1t has raised
him from the condition Of a paupor
into that of q man of wealth, l 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, MS 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
in, cough, which seemed to assure lis
that the sufferer still lived. even If his
prospect of living long was small.
''We were met at the door by Pc
cullar looking woman Of foreign aspect
to whom l at once took m invincihlc
dislike. But had not long In which
to indulge this feeling. for at the first
intlmaton of the lawyers desires she
flung open the door of the sick room
and we passed in.
"A remarkable face greeted us, n
hungry face, staring from rags Of bed
clothes that could not disguise by their
squalor the fact that this man. perish
ing in pcnury 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 bedcwed his forehead one could
discern intimatlons of character of
no mean stamp. A fitting inheritor OF
great fortune. but oh, how sad that
1t should have come too late!
The friend at my side advanced into
the desolate and miserably appointed
room. | followed him, shutting the
door behind me. The man on the bed
opened his eyes still wider. and his
face took on strangely eager look.
Had he seen no kindly faces for days?
Was his hunger one of the soul? l be-
gan to feel strange stirring at my
Aeart-strings. and forgot the wretchcd-
ness of the surrouncin ings 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, l saw something like a
smile of welcome stir his feeble lips
and irradiate his feversh eyes.
"'Arc you Michael Delancy?" asked
the lawyer, speaking in a kind but
buSiness-like tone.
81 am,' issued family from the sick
mans mouth. Michael Delaney, once
gentleman and II student. but now
dying in loneliness and rags. poor,
IorsnKen ana utterly triendless wretcn.'
"'No, no. cried the lawyer, striving
TO encourage the poor man, who, in
deed, looked as If be 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,
II not to provide you with Il cure that
will yet make you we'll man.
81 do not understand his gesture
seemed to say. Il am very sick: noti-
inc will ever bring me cure lut death.
"'Can any thing bring you happ:-
ncss:' asked.
"'Oh,' he sighed, 4 should like to die
In the face Of some ones smile and
kindly look. l have lain here months
and not gentle word have heard.
The very doctor they bring IN now and
then Is harsh and gruff. am not used
to roughness. US | am not used to dis
order. I should like to breathe In n
sweet atmosphere, and feel my light
so out in place Of peace and beauty
"'You shall! That you shallp cried
my lawycr-friend, with the lmpetuosity
of which his long experience had not
yet robbed him. If you are strong
enough YOU shall be moved at once.