Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1910-12-09

possible. hope. He can't last over an
hour, longer at most. Another man,
crushed as he was. would have been
killed at once. As it is, he probably
won't recover consciousness. Moth
ing but his tremendous vitality holds
the shreds of life in him so long as
this" E
Does his wife know"
"She is not in state to be told. I
wish we could persuade her to leave
the room. Perhaps Miss Lanier-"
A gesture from DR.. Hawes drew
them toward the couch.
"He is coming to his Senses" said
the family physician, adding under his
breath. SO that only his colleague and
Give could hear; "ft is the final raj
iy. Not one man in thousand"
But Give had caught Anice's eye
and beckoned her to lead Mrs. Con-
over to the Side Ststhe couch.
The Rahroadef's face, set like car
sven granite, began to twitch. The
rigid mouth relaxed it's set whiteness
and the eyelids fickered. Mrs. Con-
over, at these signs OF. life. prepared
for fresh attack of hysteria, but
gentle, firm pressure Of Anice's hand
in hers forestalled the outburst. With
an aggrieved look at the girl, Lefty
again turned her scared attention to
her husband.
DR.. Hawes was bending once more
over the PROSTATE man, seeking to
employ restorative. Now he rose.
and as he did so, Caleb's eyes opened.
There was no bewilderment, no sur
prise nor pain in the calm glance that
swept his garish surroundings.
"Is he suffering?" whispered Anice.
"Or-?"
Horribly" returned DR.. Hawes in
the samestone. He"
The shrewd, pale eyes that scorned
to show trace of physical or mental
anguish, slowly took in the group be-
side the couch, resting first on the
two physicians, then on Anice Lanier
AS he saw and gnized Anice
the first change came O o'~c the dying
mans hard-set features. A look of
perplexity that merged into glad sur
prise lighted his whole face. smooth
ing from it with magic touch every
line of care, thought or lime; trans
figuring it into the countenance of a
happy boy. Long he sought and held
her sympathetic glance, that look of
youth and gladness growing and deep
ening on his face, while all around
stood silent and marvelling.
1t was Mrs. Conover who broke the
spell.
ooh, Caleb!" she walled querulous-
ly, "you said no horse could get the
better of you. And now"
At her words the beatific light was
gone from Conovers eyes. In it's
stead came a CLEAN of grim. ironical
amusement. Then his gaze travelling
past Anice to Give Standish, his
brows contracted in a frown of dis
pleasure. But this, too, faded. The
swathed head settled lower among the
cushions, the powerful body seemed to
shrink and fiatten. The eyes closed,
and Conover lay very still.
His wife. divining for the first time
self forward on her knees beside the
silent figure, her sobs scaling to a
crescendo cry of terror.
Slowly Caleb Conover opened his
eyes. Reluctantly, as though drawn
back by sheer force from the very
threshold of the wide portals of Rest,
his spirit paused for an instant longer
in its earthly abode-paused and
flared up. as dying spark. in the
Railroader's stiffening face.
For a moment his eyes-already
wide with the awful mystery of the
Beyond-strayed over his kneeling
wife; over the sparse locks punched
up in that halo of kid curriers'; over
the pudgy shape so mercilessly out
lined by the sheer nightgown; over
the tear-swollen red eyes. the blotched
cheeks, the quivering. pursed-up
mouth.
Lefty" he painted, in tired disgust.
you look-more like measly rab-
bit-every day!"
Then, as though another and bet
ter thought had entered his darkening
mind, he reached out his hand toward
his wife, whether to signify a senti-
ment of protection or desire for help
no one could devine, but it fell inertly
to his side and the soul of this master
ful man passed behind the veil OF
time.
THE END.