The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1906-03-29
tsr he was to have gone away before

The morning sun rose upon q 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 and 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.
It 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 near the window, Graf
ley begged Fanchon to bring him
miniature Of his mother which he had
given her and urged her to 90 for it
herself. He wanted no hands but hers
to touch it, he said. And when she
had gone he asked to be left alone with
Tom.
''Give me your hand, Tom,' he said
family. ''I'd like to keep hold of it a
minute or so. couldn't have said that
yesterday, could I, without causing US
both horrible embarrassment? But I
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 guillotined?- There were
things in this head Of minev But 1
want to tell you what's been the mat
ter with me. It was just my being a
bad sort of poet. I suppose that I've
never loved any one, yet I've cared
more deeply than other men for every
lovely thing I ever saw, and there's so
little that hasn't loneliness in it. I'd
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 alp
''She will understand" said Tom
quickly.
''She Will-yes-she's wise and good.
II Fanchon knew, there wouldn't be
even memory left to her, and I don't
think she'd live. And, do you know, I
believe I've done a favor for Miss Bet
ty in getting myself shot Carewe will
never come back. Tom, was ever Il
mans knavery 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 me 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 Of
all the world! All, we'll! Tell mel
want to hear it from you-how many
hours does the doctor say?'
"Hours, Crailey?" Toms hand twitch-
ed pitifully in the others feeble grasp.
Il know it's only few
They're all fools, doctors.r' exclaim-
ed Fanreyel ferceIy.
mo, no. And 1 know that nothing
can be done. You all see it, and YOU
want me to go easily, or you wouldn't
let me have my own way so much. It
frightens me, I 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 so out alone on the search
it must be the search, for the HOLY
Grail-I'-
"Please don't talk begged Tom in
broken whisper, ''for mercy's sake, lad.
1t wears on you So"
Crailey laughed weakly. do you
think l could die peacefully without
talking 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 at noon. What
harm could it do? l want them to
come by here Oh their way to the boat,
with the band and the new flag. But
l want the band to play cheerfully!
ASK 'em to play 'Rosin the Bow will
you? I've never believed in mournful-
ness, and don't want to see any of if
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 gayv'
"Ah, don't, lad, don'tv' Tom flung
one arm about the others shoulder, and
Crailey was silent, but rested his hand
gently on his friends head. In that at
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
so 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 it's place, set up royal
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 cobbler stumping along beside
General Trumble, who looked very de-
Jected and old. The lines stood in
silence and responded to the cheering
by quietly removing their hats, so that
the people whispered that it was more
like an Odd Fellows Sunday funeral
than the departure Of enthusiastic pa
triOtS for the seat Of war General