Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1908-02-27

must De some mistake. WY, SPOKE te
him on Change last Monday"
1T is very Sudden" his father an
swcred taking his broad-brlmmed hat
from peg. There is no doubt about
the fact, however, The doctor says that
there is very little hope that he will sur
vive until evening. 1t is a case of malig-
nant typhoid fever
You are very old friendsy' Ezra re-
marked, looking thoughtfully n his faith
er.
Il have known him since we were boys
together" the other replied. -FOUR moth
er, Ezra, died upon the very day that
Harstons wife gave birth to this daugh'
ter of his seventeen years ago. Mrs.
Harston only survived a few days
How will the money go if the doctors
are right?" Ezra asked keeuly.
Every penny to the girl the mer-
chant answered. she will be an heress,
There are no other relatives that | know
Of. except the Dimsdales. and they have
fair fortune of their own. But | must
go
The African merchant hailed a hanson
and drove out to his friends house at
Fuham. He and Harston had been char
ity school boys together had roughed II
together. risen together, and prospered
together. Harston. by incessant attention
10 business and extreme parslmony, had
succeeded in founding an export trading
concern In this he had followed the ey
ample Of his friend There was no fear
of their interests ever coming into col
lision. as his operations were confined to
the Mediterranean. The firm grew aud
prospered, until Harston began to be look
ed upon as a warm man in the City cir
cles. His only child was Kate. girl OF
seventeen. There were no otner near
relatives, save DR.. Dimsdale, a prosper
Gus West End physician.
Girdlestone pushed open the iron gate
and strode down the gravel walk which
led to his friends house. A bright sum
mer sun shining out of cloudless heaven
Dathed the green lawn and the many-col-
ored flower beds in its golden light. The
ar, the leaves, the birds, all spoke Of life.
1t was hard to think that death was
closing its grip upon him who owned them
all. A plump little gentleman in black
was just descending the steps.
We'll, DOCTOR" the merchant asked,
"how is your patient?'
You've not come with the intention OF
seeing him, have your" the doctor asked,
glancing up with some curiosity at the
grey face and overhangfng eyebrows Of
the merchant. 1T is a most vlrulent case
of typhoid. He may die in an hour or
he may live until nightfall, but nothing
10 how IlN- nIvS
you. | fear. and you can do him no good.
1t is most infectious, and you are incur
ring a needless danger. l should strong
ly recommend you not to go.''
why, you've only just come down
from him yourself, DOCTOR" John Girdle-
stone remarked.
"Ah, I'm there in the way of duty"
80 am l." said the visitor decisively,
and passing up the stone steps Of the en-
trance strode into the hall. There was 4
large sitting room upon the ground floor.
through the open door of which the vs.
itor saw a sight which arrested him for
a moment. A young girl was sitting in
a recess near the window with her little,
supple figure bent forward, and her hands
clasped at the back of her head, while
the elbows rested upon a small table 10
front Of her. Her superb brown hair
fell in a thick wave on either side over
her white round arms. The doctor had
Just broken his sad tidings to her, and
she was still in the first paro1ysm OF her
grief-a grief too acute, as was evident
even to the unsentimental mind of t!:e
merchant, to allow of any attempt at con-
mt trrn
lutely for a moment, and then ascending
the broad staircase he pushed open the
door of Harston's room and entered.
The blinds were drawn down and the
chamber was very dark. A pungent Whit
of disinfectants issued from 1t, mingled
with the dank. heavy smell of disease.
The bed was in a far corner. Without
seeing him. Girdlestone could hear the
fast labored breathing of the invalid. A
trinity dressed nurse who had been sitting
by the bedside rose, and recognizing the
visitor, whispered. few words to him
and left the room. He pulled tpe cord Of
the Venetian blind so as to admit few
rays of daylight. The great chamber
looked dreary and bare, as carpets and
hangings had been removed to lessen the
chance of future infection. John Girdle-
stone stepped softly across to the bedside,
and sat down by his dying friend. The
latter turned his restless head round,
and a gleam Of recognition and gratitude
came into his eyes.
Il knew you would come" he said.
YES, | came the moment / got your
message"
Il am glad that you are here" the
sufferer continued with a sign of relief
Il wish to speak to you. | am very
weak. | have been making my WILL
John. Stoop your head and you will
hear me better. have less than fifty
thousand | should have done better had
retired years ago.
II told you So" the other broke ia
gruffiy.
You did-you did. But acted for
the best Forty thousand | leave to my
daughter Kate"
A look of interest came over Girdle
stones face. How about the balanceY
he asked.
Il leave that to be equally divided
among the various London institutions
for educating the poor. We were both
poor boys ourselves, John, and we know
the value of such schools"
Girdlestone looked perhaps a trif1e dis
appointed The sick man went on very
slowly and painfully:
MY daughter will have forty thousand
pounds. But it is so tied up that she
can neither touch it herself nor enable
anyone else to do so until she is of age