The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1912-01-18

the year, so 1 knew something unus-
ual must have happened. 1 met him
ana We went together to Mentone.
You understand what happened: The
Chlcago climate had bee ntoo much
lor MIN and his lungs were in bad
condition.
During the first weeks We drove
out quite often and good many
friends came to see US, but later we
found 1t much NOR epleasant to spend
our days on our balcony all alone.
When Jack saw that would not
leave him to 90 with other young
people he did everything 20 see that
l should not miss their company. /
can see plainly now how he really
ala much more than his ST. ength per-
mited him to. wish you cou.u ndve
heard him telling stories. One Ilo,l-
ing Jacks valet came to me and said:
MI. Manchester asks you to come
10 his room. Until that day he felt
SO sure that he would recover. but
after a sleepless night he had sent
1or the doctor and asked him to tell
him the truth. / think he had kept
up his spirits for my sake, for some
times in the evening his mind would
muir: Fourteen years, and JACOB
served only seven years for Rachel,
Another time he said: How charming
you are. The day will surely COM
when we two will cross the Atlantic
together How l wish she might
know this, Mrs. de Peyster, bus have
not the slightest idea who she is.
or where to find her
OF
fragrance or the flowers was almost
intoxicating, he called me and sent
his valet away. When Crawford had
les ne asked for tin box and his
Keys. He opened the box, which was
filled with letters and papers and
thinking that he wanted to be alone
l started TO leave the room. but he
called me back and saw him read
ing letter and heard him whisper:
Darling, as he placed portrait
among the letters. There was a fire
In the fireplace, and he asked me to
burn the whole bundle.
When the first flames touched if.
he leaned heavily on my shoulder and
heard him say: God bless you.
wherever you may CO.
Two days later. when the doctor
mad left. Jack spoke to me of business
matters and then said. Tom, the doc
TOR gives me a couple of DAYS more.
l DO not fear what comes after death,
but / am afraid of death itself. The
doctor has promised to give ME NOR
phine when the end comes. There is
one more thing l must do, then |
am ready. Bring me some paper. and
envelope and pen and ink"
Il helped him to take a ring with
saphires set like yours from his fin
ger. He folded the letter together.
place the ring inside and put both
into the envelope. His lhand was
hrm as he wrote the address, sealed
the letter and stamped it. Crawford
mailed it.
1T was as if this was the breaking
OF the last tie. He suffered very much.
The young mans voice trembled and
it was som etime before he felt able
70 continue.
That night the doctor gave him
morphine. In the morning 1 was doz-
ing in the next room when / heard
him sing. Did 1 tell you that he had
a magnificent voice? At first he was
hoarse, but his voice grew clearer as
he sang 'Abschiedslied' 1t was touch
ing to hear the longing in his voice as
he sang: 'Behuet Dich Colt! Es waer
zu schoen gewesen,' and l knew the |
end had come when his voice broke |
as he sang rs hat nich5 sollen sein.' |
Pardon me, Mrs. Peyster. if I have
bored you. felt you would under |