Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1907-06-12

The mans whole attitude was indi-
catiye OF tiredness. The dropping
curves Of his mouth, the haggard lines
on his not unhandsome face, the list
less hands and unseeing eyes, all be-
spoke one who has fought and failed,
one tired of the world, tired Of himself,
and weary of life.
For some considerable time he had
been seated on one Of the park seats
apparently needless Of the curious
glances with which several passers-Oy
regarded him. Occasionally his hand
would wander to his coat pocket, where
his fingers closed round the butt OF
small revolver, which once or twice he
had drawn out and then put back with
q faint sigh.
At last he became aware of some one
staring fiXedly at him. He looked up,
and beheld a boy Of about 8 years old,
with sturdy legs planted firmly and
widely apart and hands clasped behind
him. Seen by a third party, the man
and the boy formed a strange contrast
the one who had lived his life and
the other before whom the wOndrous
Book Jay open at the first page.
He was q thoroughly English boy,
who seemed to move almost In an at
mospbere of virile activity and strength,
evidently the idol of well-to-do par
ents, to judge by the cut Of his clothes
snd the cost Of the war-like playthings
with which he was decorated. On his
head he wore q miniature soldiers he'll
met, and strapped around his waist be
had a cleaning toy sword.
Il beg your pardon, SIR said the
boy in manly little voice, when he
found that the man was returning his
gnze with interest, Il did not mean TO
be rude; 1 thought that you were
asleep. Would you mind telling me
the time?"
The mans hand lnstintively went to
his waistcOat pocket then he paused,
and smiling grimly, slowly withdrew
the chain and showed a watchkey and
a pawnticket dangling at the end.
What does that mean?" asked the
boy, drawing nearer.
1T MEANS" said the man, st means
that I am unable to tell you the time
with any degree Of certainty. But,
Judging by the sun. young sir, 1 should
say that it is Nighttime that you were
seeking your nurse AID getting to
bed"
mo, I'm privileged to-day" said the
yOungster. This Is my birthday" and
with something of a swagger he came
I'D and leaned against the arm of the
seat
Indeed" said the man with some
degree of interest. We'll, L suppose L
ought to wish you many happy returns
Of the day, chi"
why, Of course" cried the boy, land
then say the same to you, and many
Of them-that's the rule
THANK you, my lad" said the man.
"But l fear there are no more happy
returns for me-" He paused a second,
and then added: mo, have arrived at
the end"
do you mean that you are dylng2"
asked the lad
The man gazed at his questloner for
SAu4l44l6 Tie
while. and then replied. Yes, I'm dy-
Ing fast Just IKE that sun sinking
behind the trees over there When
that goes down l shall be dead, only
that's going down In a blaze Of glory,
whilst Il" wave of the hand and
: shrug Of the shoulders completed the
sentence.
The youngsters blue eyes opened
wider as he listened, and he sidled UP
closer to the man, who appeared to
be only occasionally conscious OF his
presence.
1--WE never seen a dying man." ne
said presently, and there was a certain
amount of awe in his tone i've heard
and read about them, but I've never
seen one. May l stayY'
Receiving no reply, he took the con-
sent for granted, and hoisted himself
on to the seat beside the man, who
now seemed lost IN thought.
Maybe they'll read about me to-mor-
row." murmured the man. six lines
Or so, no more, and no one will care"
The boy had been looking up quaint
b into the mans face for a while and
then he said:
'You don't look as though you were
dying. What are you dying OFF,
The man laughed bitterly.
General failure, my lad" he said.
Failure OF purpose, failure OF means,
insufficient powers of endurance, inabIl
Ity to stand a prolonged fast They
can put al those down on my death