Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1909-08-20
AtNightfall
By GEORGE GISSING


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 b0
years old. A face much shrunken;
reyes with the look of long pain;
mouth relaxed from the half-sullen en-
ergy which had been it's wonted char
acter Resignation, self-abandonment,
spoke in the changed features, and In
the voice a mildness strange to 1t
before.
DO the servants wait upon you
properly" he. inquired, after gazing
half absently at the nurses face.
Very we'll indeed"
Good girls. If l haven't another
chance, tell Moreland to pay them
well. Give them enough to let them
1 take a 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.
whats the world doing? Any
news?"
His voice was stronger, with a note
of the old irony. The nurse told him
briefly what the newspaper con-
tanned.
anyone dead?" he asked, again
smiling.
mo enc in particular, 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
Iy 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 fixed upon her kept
the light of life; a 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 it. 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 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 long look at him the nurse
turned with a suppressed sigh. She
was a woman of kind and comedy 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.
TT always has to be woman" pur-
sued the unsteady voice. II 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 I, 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. I am glad
she won't see me. have one more
day, perhaps. It will be an old story
by when she gets home. I want you
to promise that you'll find her, when
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 to
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-
| LuTGS ICuCCICu IAO WI hluS VI Ills
mind, a tumult of thoughts and pas
sion.
You're not unlike her," he re-
sumed, abruptly. '"The same type of
woman, / mean. I've known the other
kind mostly. You have a faith of
some kind, haven't you? l mean a
real working faith-something you
live by?"
Something try to live BY"
Eyes. | know the look. I've watched
you when you thought l didn't. Don't
tell her about the bad time I've had;
not word of that, mind. Make her
believe 1t was short and effectual. And
then just say this: Say l came round
to her way of thinking that she was
right and / knew it at last You I'm.