Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-12-21


Solomon! Solomon" And the judge
knelt beside him.
TITS all right, Price; I kept your ap'
pointment," whispered Mahaffy; q
bloody spume was gathering on his
lips, and he stared up at his friend with
CLASSY eyes.
In very shame the judge hid his face
in his hands, while sobs shook him.
observation-disclosures, why did you do
this?" he cried miserably.
The harsh lines on the dying mans
face erased themselves.
You're the only friend I've known
in twenty years of loneliness, Price.
I've loved you like a brother, he
painted, with pause between each
word.
Again the Judge buried his face in
his hands. u
~ know It., Solomon know It.;
he moaned wretchedly.
price, you are still man to be
reckoned with. There's the boy; take
your place for his sake and keep it
you can III
II wildly God, I WILL" gasped the
Judge. "You hear me? You hear me,
Solomon? BY Gods good help, I will"
you have the presidents letter.
saw it" said Mahaffy In a whisper.
"Yes!" cried the Judge. Solomon,
the world is changing for us!" V
For me most Of al" murmured Ma.
haffy, and there was a. blank instant
when the judges asl1en countenance
held the full pathos Of age and failure.
Remember your oath, Price" gasped
the dying man. A moment Of silence
succeeded. Mahaffy's eyes closed, then
the heavy lids slid back. He looked up
at the Judge while the harsh lines OF
his sour old face softened wonderfully.
'Kiss me, Price," he whispered, and
as the Judge bent to touch his on the
brow, the softened lines fixed them
selves in death, while on his lips ling
cred smile that was neither bitter
nor sneering. G." @".4
CHAPTER xxxv.
In that bare upper room they had
shared. the Judge. crushed and broken,
watched beside the bed on which the
dead man lay; unconscious of the flight
of time he sat with his head bowed
in his hands, having scarcely altered
his position since he begged those who
carried Mahaffy up the narrow stairs
to leave him alone with his friend.
He was living over the past. He re-
called his first meeting with Mahaffy
in the stuffy cabin Of the small river
packet from which they had later gone
ashore at Pleasantville; he thanked
God that 1t had been given him to see
beneath Solomon's forbidding exterior
and into that starved heart! He re.
viewed each phase of the almost insen.
sible growth OF their intimacy; he
remembered Mahany's fine true loyalty
at the time of his arrest-he thought
of Damon and Pythias-Mahaffy had
reached the heights of sublime de.
votion! he could only feel enobled that
he had inspired it. -
At last the dusk Of twilight invaded
the room. He lighted the candles on
the chimneypiece, then he resumed
his seat and his former attitude. Sud.
denly he became aware of small hand
that was resting on his arm and
glanced up; Hannibal had stolen quiet
~ into the room. The boy pointed to
the still figure on the bed.
Judge, what makes Mr.. Mahaffy lie
so uuiet-is he dead?" he asked in q
whisper. 30,
Eyes, dear lad" began the Judge in
a shaking voice as he drew Hannibal
toward him. "your friend and mine is
dead--we have lost him." He lifted
the boy into his lap, Hannibal pressed
q tear-stained face against the Judges
shoulder. "How did you get here?'
the dCo questioned gently.
Uncle Bob fetched me-" said Hanni-
bal. Hes downstairs, but he didn't
tell me Mr.. Mahaffy was dead"
1--WE have sustained great loss,
Hannibal. and We must never forget
the moral grandeur Of the man. Some
day, when you are older, and can
bring myself to speak Of it, | will tell
you of his last moments" The Judges
voice broke, a thick sob rose choking
ly in his throat. "Poor Solomon! A
man OF such tender feeling that he hid
It from the world, for his was a rare
nature which only revealed itself to the
chosen few he honored with his love-"
The Judge lapsed into q momentary
brooding silence, in which his great
arms drew the boy closer against his
heart. Dear lad, since ! left you. at
Belle Plain very astonishing know
ledge has come to me- It was the
Hand of Providence see 1t now--that
first brought us together. You must
not call me Judge and more; am your
grandfather-your mother was my
daughter"
Hannibal instantly sat erect and
looked up at the judge, his blue eyes
wide with amazement at this extra
ordinary statement.
ct is very strange story, Hanni-
bal, and it's links are not all in my
hands, but am sure because of what
1 already know. I, who thought that
not drop of my blood flowed in any
veins but my own, live again in you.
DO you understand what am telling
you. Your are my own dear little
grandson" and the judge looked
down with no uncertain love and pride
in to the small face upturned to his.
II am glad il you are my grand
father, Judge" said Hannibal very
gravely. II always liked you"
Thank you, dear lad" responded the
Judge with equal gravity, and then as
Hannibal nestled back in his grand
fathers arms single big tear dropped
from the end Of that gentleman's