Evening star., 1907-06-23
Winchester and Company
Continued from page s

set its ineffacable sign upon his face. At last
however, he pulled himself together and spoke
"4o-all are right, he said in an odd, choked
voice; I'm have to have yo' shot" -.
Winchester smiled at him.. "I'll go back
now" he said, "and they will never know
that l have been away" He stretched out
his hand quickly to the other, Good by, old
pal!' he whispered.
Company clutched the others hand and
held it tight in both his own for long mo-
ment. Suddenly he dropped it. So long,!
he breathed.
Winchester turned and crossed to the Win
dow. Just as he reached it he turned back
" You We been mighty good to me always,
he said, and I've never forgotten it, though
l may have seemed to- But l never could
understand why. Won't you tell me?'
Company rose, and, going to him, laid his
hand on his shoulder. I" l loved yo mother,
he said simply.
He was shot at daybreak. Company him
self gave the word And then afterward he
walked over to where Winchester lay dead with
bullet through his heart. For time he stood
there looking down upon the handsome face,
SO calm and tranquil-beautiful, almost, as
the faint flush of the morning SUN fell upon it.
Then he stopped and took him up in his arms,
as though he was a little child, just as l had
often seen him carry the boy when he was
helpless from drink. And those who stood
near heard him repeat those wonderfully COM
passionate words, "The only son of his mother
and she widow!" And then, still carrying
his burden, he walked to where his horse was
the amber sunlight with his dead friend cold
against his breast.
Long long afterward, when at length she
could bear to speak of it, she told me how he
had rode up to her home that sunny summer
morning, bearing the boy in his arms.
I've KEEP my promise the best | could, he
told her, as he laid the body at her feet" an
I've brought him home-forever." And with
that he turned and took last long look at her
white face. She never saw him again.
And now had come to tell her of his death,
and the old tune she was playing had some
how, taken me back over the sad old story.
Suddenly, with bang, she ceased, and turning
saw me where l stood leaning on my walking
stick. She came toward me.
You have news?" she said.
"Yes," l answered; he is dead"
She did not cry out; she did not even finch.
She just stood there clasping and unclasping
her hands while the tears, unchecked ran
down her wrinkled face. And as looked upon
her SO, l saw at last something to which had
always been blind, and asked gently:
Then it was because of him that you have
always said no to me?"
She raised her dear old eyes-they are still
SO beautiful-and met mine bravely. "Yes,"
she answered softly.
ways, and he had never known. The boy
whose life had brought them together had by
his death kept them always apart. took her
hand in silence, and in silence went upon my
way. Their parting could not last much longer
Soon both she and l would go there to meet
him where there is neither marrying nor Civ
ing in marriage; but we are even as the angels
of God. The tenderness of twilight had fallen
upon the world, and as l walked on through
the gathering shade l read in it message which
only the rapt and parting soul may know, and
my thoughts of the afternoon seemed far off
and distant. If life is sweet, so also is death
God judges for us best.