The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1909-04-01

tions for educating the poor. We
were both poor boys ourselves. John,
and we know the value OF SUCH
schools"
Girdlestone looked perhaps a trifie
disappointed. The sick man went on
very slowly and painfully:
my daughter will have forty thou
sand pounds. But it is so tied up
that she can neither touch 1t herself
nor enable anyone else to do SO un-
til she is of age. She has no friends,
John, and no relations, save only my
cousin, DR.. George Dimsdale. Never
was a girl left more lonely and un-
protected. Take her l beg of you, and
bring her up under your own eye.
Treat her as though she were your
child. Guard her above all from
those who would wreck her young
life, in order to share her fortune.
Do this, old friend, and make me
happy on my deathbed."
The merchant made no answer. His
heavy eyebrows were drawn down,
and his forehead all puckered with
thought.
you are the one man." continued
the sufferer, whom l know to be just
and upright. Give me the water, for
my mouth is dry. Should, which God
forbid, my dear girl perish before she
marries, then" His breath failed
fnr he tn
recover it.
"Well, what then?"
'Then, old friend, her fortune re-
Verts to you, for there Is none VINO
wIu use 1t SO well. Those are the
terms OF the will. But you will guard
her and care for her, as / would my
self. She is a tender plant, John,
too weak to grow alone. Promise
me that you will do right by her
promise it,"
81 do promise it," John Girdlestone
answered in a deep voice. He was
standing up now and leaning over
to catch the words of the uylng mall.
Harston was sinking rapidly. With
O feeble motion he pointed to brown
backed volume upon the table. A.As
Take up the book" he said.
The merchant picked it up.
Now, repeat after me, l swear and
solemnly pledge myself"
Il swear and solemnly pledge my
self"
"To treasure and guard as If she
were my own" came the tremu-
lous voice from the bed.
ITO treasure and guard as If she
were my own" in the deep bass
os the merchant.
"KGte Harston, the daughter of my
deceased friend"
Kate Harston, the daughter of my
deceased friend"
"And as l treat her so may my
own flesh and blood treat mel"
"And as l treat her, 30 may my
own flesh and blood treat me-"
The sick mans head fell back ex-
hausted upon his pillow. Thank
God!" he explained. now l can die
in peace"
"Turn your mind from the vanities
and dross of this world" John Cir
llestone said sternly, and fix it up
en- that which is eternal. and can
never die"
Are you going?" the invalid asked
sadly, for he had taken up his hat
and stick.
Eyes, must 60; have an ap-
pointment in the City at six, which
l must not miss"
And have an appointment which
l must not miss" the dying man said
with a feeble smile.
81 shall send up the nurse as l go
down." Girdlestone said. "Goodbye!"
Goodbye! God bless you, John!"
The firm strong hand of the hale
man enclosed for a moment the feeble
burning one of the sufferer. Then
John Girdlestone plodded heavily
down the stair, and these friends OF
forty years standing had said their
last adieu.
The African merchant kept his ap-
pointmept in the City, but long be-
fore he reached 1t John Harston had
gone also to keep that last terrible
appointment OF which the messenger
| is death.