Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1907-07-20

ghosts after Florence came back. and
! had Bobbs send you that one last
note in a faint hope that you would
SO away again.
"Bobbs wrote TO Annie for me. too
telling her 10 talk with Mrs. Bruce and
try and persuade you TO 30. but she
only begged TO see me and insisted on
keeping as near 90 me as she could
OF course, I could not see her. Ware.
but she used To write me every day
and leave the letters on the window
sin for Chico 90 get after dark. /
wasn't able 60 answer them. Ware. for
am perfectly helpless now. YOU
know and he changed his position
enough 20 show us two arms swathcd
IN bandages. but God only knows
what comfort they were 20 me. and
Bobbs or his mother got word to
her from me whenever they could"
lie was painting noisly from the e.
fort OF his Ions exertion. and Bobbs
made a deprecatory gesture as II he
would have him stop. but Carney mo
toned him away and began once more
IN faint. disjointed words:
Il mustn't stop now, Bobbs. have
more 20 say and my time IL growing
short"
He leaned heavily against the tree
for support and paused as II summon
ing 10 his aid all his energy and all his
courage, and then gasped on:
BE good 20 Florence when she
comes TO you. Ware. and-Gods-
blessing-on you-both"
Suddenly. and with mufied sob.
he lunged forward and raised his poor
distorted arms toward the window.
which his gaze had never left for an
instant. One OF the nurses appeared
and raised the sash TO the top. letting
the bitter wintry air rush In and fiji
the death chamber.
It's the end" moaned Carney. in a
scarcely audible tone. It's the end.
and yet the beginning. too. OH my
God. be kind-be good TO me now.
cannot wait-my Annie-I-am-com
ing - - Ware - by - her - side
- Ware - by - her - side - Ware
- don't forget. cannot -
harm - her - now L Annie -
my - precious - Our - Father -
who - art - Amen my Annie"
AS We sprang to support him the
light OF the lantern flashed across his
cruelty disngured face and MacArdel
muttered in my ear:
''Leprosy-poor devil, Just a. I
thought, but what he said was true
Ware. There's no danger to anyone
here"
We lowered him gently 20 the
ground and the rapidly drifting snow
received him il it's soft embrace and
covered him over like a shroud.
Some hours later. when the house
was quiet for the night and MacArdei
had retired TO his room, called Bobbs
into the dimly lighted library and said:
It's late. ! know, Bobbs, and we
are all worn out in mind and body. but
/ want you to tell me the rest of this
story before you 60"
There's little to tell now. sir" said
! Bobbs. bravely keeping back his tears.
| We lived either IN my mothers house
or in the old cellar with the tunnel
that leads TO the river. Mrs. Bruce is
my mother, sir. and my name is Rob
ert Bruce. but in the old country they
used TO call me "Bobs. sir. after Lord
Roberts. you know.
Mother helped take care OF Mr..
Carney, SIR. and washed his things and
the bandages he used. and when we
had to go to the cellar to stay as we
did when you came. fearin' as you
might see US at the house, Mr.. jerks
would get the things for her when
we'd leave m IN the path. We always
had enough to eat stored away for
such times and we could get water
from the river. but sometimes we had