Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1907-04-11
=. BY B. L. FARJEON.
II am willing to do anything &c

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can't expect to live many more years:
I'm near seventy now. but, old as
am, it seems to me that I'm only just
beginning to learn things. You've
been a great comfort to me, Make
Believe; don't know now how
should get along without yer. Will
yer look upon me as yer father; and
let me take you as my daughter?
Then I shall be sure Of yer. Yer
don't answer me, Make-Believe. Is
there anything wrong in what I've
said?"
"No, sir; it's more than kind of yer.
and I'd say yes at once If 1t wasn't for
Saranne. When she's married to Wal
ter l don't think she'd care for me to
live away from her; and if she's will
ing, and If Walters willing, that l.
should stop with them. wouldn't
leave them, wouldn't leave them for
tks world"
"You mean that they'd want better
place than this to live in."
"Yes, l think they'd be sure to-"
'Well, then, what would have to do
would be to give up my shop, and ask
them to find room for me; then
shouldn't lose yer"
"If that could be arranged, sir. I'll
consent, sir. most willingly. After all
you've done for me, 1t 'ud be ungrate-
full to refuse: and it 'ud be a pleasure
to wait OH yer Is that the wind, or Is
1t somebody knocking at the street
door?''
Its the wind; there's a big storm
coming"
He walked to the window. and drew
the blind aside. The storm was not
coming; it had come. 1t was showing
furiously.
'I'm sure, Mr.. Dexter" said Little
Make-Believe, listening intently, "that
somebody's knocking at the street
door"
He listened, and the wind happen
ing to lull at that moment, they both
heard a violent rapping at the door be-
low.
"Ill 60 and see who 1t is. It's
strange time for visitor"
He took a candle and went to the
door, followed by Little Make-Believc.
He did not draw the bolts but called
out:
"Who's there?
81 want Mr.. Dexter" answered
voice without.
I'm Mr.. Dexter; wl.at do you want
of me?'
81 must speak to you at once. Het
me in"
"Not likely, Mt this time of night.
What's yer business?"
Business of life and death. Your
wife's dying, and you must come to
her at once"
"My wife. Dyingw gasped Thomas
Dexter, and he drew the bolts.
AS he opened the door the wind
dashed in ferccly and almost blew him
off his feet
The man entered quickly, and shut
the door behind him.
His story was soon told, Polly
Cleaver lay dying two miles away, and
had secret to tell her husband which
it was more than his soul was worth
not to hear.
'The doctor says she hasn't two
hours to live" said the man.
IL will come with YER" said Thomas
Dexter; his face was white and his
limbs were trembling "Make-Believe,
will yer stop up for me till 1 come
back?"
"Yes, Mr.. Dexter" she replied. go
go, this very minute"
She assisted him with his overcoat.
and handed him his hat.
Don't let them know upstairs" he
said, and then he went iuto the storm
with the messenger.
Little Make-Believe did not bolt the
door. He took the key, and locked it
outside.
Listening a few moments for the
sound Of their footsteps which it was
impossible for her to hear amidst the
bowling of the wind. even If the pave
ments had been hard and firm, instead
of being covered an inch thick with
snow, she returned to the room above.
and thought over what had passed.
1t was all so confusing that she could
scarcely understand it; only one feel
ing was clear to her-pity for the dy-
ing woman and for the man who was
on his way to her deathbed.
To die upon Christmas night, after
being parted all these years! 1t was
dreadful-dreadful!
She crept softly to her sisters room;
Saranne was sound asleep.
She listened outside the bedroom of
Mr.. Deepdale and Walter; their regu-
lar breathing came to her ears; they
had not been disturbed.
Then she returned again to the sit
ting room. A secret which it was
worth more than his soul was worth
a. not to hear? What could it be?
How white his face was as he went
out! What an ending to their happy
night!
She hoped it was nothing bad-noth-
ing that would hurt him. What was
that? Only the clock striking. One
o'clock.
"He'll be long time gone," she
thought; II III try and read bit"
But she could not fix her attention
on the book, though 1t was full Of
pitcureS.