Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1909-07-09
AtNightfall
By GEORGE GISSING
Copyright. by J. B. Lippincott Coz

y ~ IL ~ I'M ~ ~ 4 ~ ~ L ~ ~
Copyright. by J. B. Lppincott Coz
The sick man had lain still for sew
eral hours: an ominous stiffness, un-
derstood as such by the nurse, who
moved silently about her duties, oc-
casionally speaking low with some
one at the door, The light of close
shaded lamp fell upon the corner
table covered with sick-room appli-
ances, but as yet it was only after
noon-the afternoon of an autumn day
In London, cold, gray, turbid.
The man seemed to be about so
years old. A face much shrunken;
eyes with the look Of long pain;
mouth relaxed from the half-sullen en-
ergy which had been its wonted char
acter. Resignation, self-abandonment,
spoke in the changed features, and in
the voice q mildness strange to 1t
before.
do the servants wait upon you
property" he inquired, after gazing
half absently at the nurses face.
Very well indeed"
Good girls. II I haven't another
chance, tell Moreland to pay them
well. Give them enough to let them
take good holiday. You won't for
get?"
He closed his eyes, and kept them
closed whilst answering the inquiries
about his feelings which the nurse put
to him.
I'm quite clear-headed, but seem to
be all head. You can hear me? l
seem to myself to speak indistinctly.
The old cottonwood feeling in the
ears. Legs gone-simply gone"
He kept silent for some moments.
What's the world doing? Any
news?
His voice was stronger, with note
of the old irony. The nurse told him
briefly what the newspaper con-
tanned.
Anyone dead?" he asked, again
smiling.
mo one in particular, I think. Some
millionaire. Yes, Mr.. Clifford Bates"
She was stopped by movement Of
her listener He had thrown up both
his arms and raised himself from
the pillow, but in the same moment
fell heavily back. His face was deep
ly flushed, his mouth quivered; upon
the outside of the bedclothes his
hands clutched and struggled. The
nurse believed that the end was COM
ing; she had been prepared for some
such paroxysm as this. But the
eyes that were f1xed upon her kept
the light of life; new and wonder
full vitality appeared on the haggard
features. One or two efforts to speak
were unavailing; at length his voice
became Ineligible.
How? Where?"
Thrown from his horse"
Dead? Not only injured?"
KILLED"
He breathed quickly and irregularly.
Again his hands were thrown up, but
more feebly. He turned his head this
way and that, as if endeavoring to
raise 1t. When the nurse exerted her
self to tranquillize him, he kept his
look steadily upon her, and the ex-
preston in his eyes grew to one of
passionate entreaty.
What chance have II" he asked in
a whisper-"any? Is there one in ten
thousand?"
You mustn't excite yourself"
Il know. I'm getting quiet. Is
there a shadow of hOpe?"
The nurse answered only by spong-
ing his forehead and hands. He took
the silence as it was meant, let his
eyelids fall, and seemed to relapse into
the comatose condition in which he
had spent half the day.
After a long look at him the nurse
turned with a suppressed sigh. She
| was a woman of kind and comely face,
still young; the best type of nurse
professional aptitude and gentle man
ners combining in her to make an
ideal attendant upon the sick. Present
| ly she glanced again at the newspaper
| wishing to re-read the paragraph
which had so strong an interest for
her patient. The rustic caused the dy.
ing man to open his eyes again, and
| again he gazed hard at the woman's
face, now visible by lamplight.
Come and sit by me-"
At once she did so.
1T always has to be woman" pur
| sued the unsteady voice. Il could al
ways tell woman anything-men
nothing. You know the world; you
see a great deal, of course; one can
talk to a woman like you.
"She Is nearly 40-ten years young
er than /, and ten years since we met
and seven since she lived alone"
who are you speaking OFF," asked
the listener, gently.
"Of his wife-that fellows that is
dead. Is he really dead? Then she
will come back at once. l suppose
they have cabled to her. She went
| to India three years ago. l am glad
she won't see me. l have one more
day, perhaps. It will be an old story
by when she gets home. l want yor
| to promise that you'll find her, wher
she comes back, and tell her some
thing from me. It'll be easy enough
| Moreland will let you know her ad
dress; l can't give the message t.
him. From you it'll come naturally
when you've explained"
The nurse promised to do his bid
ding. But minute or two passed be
fore he again broke silence His fea
lures reflected the working of hi,
mind, tumult of thoughts and pas
sion.
You're not unlike her." he re