Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1906-05-01

for he was to nave gone away Delore
noon."
The morning sun rose upon fair
world, gay with bird gatherings from
the big trees Of the Carewe place and
pleasant with the odors of Miss Betty's
garden, and Crailey, lying upon the
bed Of the man who had shot him,
hearkened ana smiled gOodby to the
summer he loved; and, when the day
broke, asked that the bed be moved so
that he might lie close by the window.
1t was Tom who had borne him to that
room. IL have carried him before
this" he said, waving the others aside.
Not long after sunrise. when the bed
had been moved pear the window. Crai-
ley begged f'::achon to bring him
miniature Of his mother which he had
given her ana urged Eer to So for 1t
herself. He wanted no hands but hers
to touch it. he said. AMI when she
had gone he asked to be le.t alone with
Tom.
Give me your hand, Tom" he said
family. I'D like to keep hold Of 1t a
minute or so. couldn't have said that
Yesterday. could l. without causing US
both horrible embarrassment! But
fancy / can now because I'm done for.
That's too bad, isn't it? I'm very
young, after all. Do you remember
what poor Andre Chenier said as he
went up to be guillOtlned?-'There were
things i'm thi; head of mine! But l
want to tell you what's been the mat
ter with me. 1t was just my being
bad sort of poet. suppose that I've
never loved any one, yet I've cared
more deeply than other men for every
lovely thing ever saw, and there's SO
little that hasn't loveliness in 1t. Ia
be ashamed not to have cared for the
beauty In all the women I've made
love to-but about this one-the most
beautiful OF all-F-
"She will understand" said Tom
quickly.
"She wil-yes-she's wise and good.
If Fancllon knew. there wouldn't be
even memory left 10 her. and l don't
think she'd live. And, do you know,
believe I've zone Il favor for Miss Bet
ty in getting myself shot. Carewe will
never come back. Tom, was ever a
mans knavely SO exactly the architect
of his own destruction as mine? And
for what gain! Just the excitement OF
the comedy from day to day, for she
was sure to despise Inc as soon as she
knew, and the desire to hear her voice
say another kindly thing to me, and
the everlasting perhaps In every wom-
an, and this one the hearts desire or
all the world! All, well. Tell mel
want to hear it from you-hOw many
hours does the doctor say?
Hours, Crailey?" Toms hand twitch'
ed pltifully in the others feeble grasp.
II know it's only few"
They're all fools, doctors" exclaim'
ed Vanrevel fierccly.
mo, no. And / know that nothing
can be done. You all see 1t, and you
want me to go easily, or you wouldn't
let me have my own way so much. 1t
frightens me, own up, to think that
so soon I'll be wiser than the wisest IN
the world. Yet l always wanted to
know. I've sought and I've sought
but now to go out alone on the search
it must be the search, for the Holy
Grail-I"-
"Please don't talk" begged Tom in a
broken whisper, for mercy's sake, lad.
It wears on you So"
Crailey laughed weakly. DO you
think 1 could die peacefully without
talking a great deal? There's one thing
I want, Toni want to see all Of them
once more, all the old friends that are
going down the river ut noon. What
harm could it do? want them to
come by here OH their way to the boat,
with the band and the new flag. But
I want the band to play cheerfully
Ask 'em to play 'Rosin the Bow will
you? I've never believed in mournful'
ness, and I don't want to see any OF II
now. It's the rankest impiety Of all
And, besides, want to see them as
they'll be when they come marching
home-they must look gay"
"Ah, don't, lad, don't" Tom flung
one arm about the others shoulder, and
CraIley was silent, but rested his hand
gently on his friends head. In that ut.
titude Fanchon found them when she
came.
The volunteers gathered at the court.
house two hours before noon. They
met each other dismally, speaking In
undertones as they formed in lines OF
four, while their dispirited faces show
ed that the heart was out of them. Not
40 with the crowds of country folk and
townspeople who lined the streets to
see the last of them, for these, when
the band came marching down the
street and took its place, set up roya
cheering that grew louder as Jefferson
| Bareaud, the color bearer, carried the
flag to the head Of the procession. With
the recruits marched the veterans OF
| 1872 and the Indian wars. the one
legged cobb,cr stumplng along beside
| General Trumble, who looked very de
| iected ard old. The lines stood II
,tIaucn -, ras,nnIei tn tho cheering