The Dolores star., 1910-01-07
CHAPTER XIV,

Derring found Seth watching for his
coming. and saw at a glance that he
was very Ill. Even a less practiced
eye could not have mistaken the signs.
The hands that lay outside the faded
patchwork cover were yellow and
wrinkled: the veins stood out, a net
work of cords. across the backs. They
were the hands Of an old man. Rich.
ard noted their feebleness as they
closed eagerly around his own strong,
firm fingers. Seth seemed to him to
have aged 20 years since he saw him
last
II am glad you have come. Dick. I
was afraid you would not get here. I
wanted to see you again. My life has
been a failure. It's hard to say that
when you come to die," he rambled
on. yours won't be q failure, Dick.
And I helped to make It. thought
perhaps I should die easier II I could
look at you again and see something
that I had helped to do in the world"
After this first greeting he said no
more of the comfort of Richards pres
ence. But 1t was evident in the glance
OF his eyes as they followed the young
man about the room and in his rest
lessness when Richard was absent for
a time.
Richard saw that his place was here
as long as Seth needed him, and he
quietly made arrangements to stay for
an indefinite time. He established
himself as caretaker and nurse Young
as he was. his experience of life had
been deep enough for him to under
stand that 1t is not often that one man
can do for another what his mere
presence did for Seth.
The old man did not speak again Of
himself or Of approaching death. But
he questioned Richard eagerly about
his work and the life he led Every
detail Of It interested him. 1t was as
II he were listening to the story OF
what his own life might have been.
And Richard, understanding by sub
tie sympathy what 1t meant to him,
gave a minute account of the ONCE
and the men, the hurry and rush OF
the city, and the haste and true hos
pitality Of the social life.
A stranger looking into the room
would not have guessed that 1t was
soon to be the chamber OF death.
Laughter often interrupted the re-
cital.. Richard had often fancied that
when he came to die he should not
want the humor of life taken from
him. And the account CT his Chicago
life was not dehumorized for a dying
man. Seth, listening, seemed to gain
quiet strength Of soul as his physical
strength failed.
The story Of Helen and his love for
her was too closely interviewer with
the life of the year to be omitted,
even had Richard cared to do so. Lit.
tie by little he had told 1t all. Seth
listened eagerly and questioned Dick
closely. He made him describe her
mfnutely-her personal appearance,
her characteristics, her likes and dis
likes. her work-everything that con-
cerned her. AS Richard talked of her,
the older man would watch his face
seeking something. Then a smile of
content would cross his face and he
would close his eyes as II asleep But
when Richard stopped he would say,
I'm listening"
One day when they had been talk
Ing Of her he asked Richard to open
q leather trunk that stood at the foot
of the bed and hand him a box that
he would find there.
AS he lifted the lid of the trunk the
young man knew that he was looking
into the grave Of Seth's love. 1t was
filed with letters and old-fashioned
tribes. evidently keep-sakes. A long.
wristed glove and . riding whip lay
across the top OF small box. Careful
ly Richard lifted 1t from its place and
put 1t in Seth's hands. Then he turned
away to the window and stood looking
out while the old man opened it.
Richards eyes were full of tears for
love dead SO years. But Seth's
were clear and tender as he called
him to his side.
Here. Dick, l want her to have
this. You must put it on her finger.
Tell her 1t does not bind her to any
promise"-for Richard had told him.
1T is from me. She is woman. She
will understand that / should like her
to wear It," he mused.
1t was a diamond in an old-fashion-
ed setting, the stone large and beau