The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1918-07-18
walk and the sunshine slanting In the

ulSCOTudHI, sometimes low ana clear
and tuneful as a cldlds. Never touch
whisky!' he went on, almost harshly.
/ "Never-never Drop in the street
first. l did. The doctor will come
then, and he knows what you
want. Not whisky.-Medicine; the
kind that makes you warm again
makes you want to live; but don't ever
dare touch whisky. Let other people
drink 1t If they want it. Sell it to
them; they'll get 1t anyhow; but don't
you touch it 1t killed your father,
1t killed Tom, and-oh mother
mother motherp Tears actually
teemed from underneath the sleeper's
lids, and glittered down the pallid and
distorted features. "There's a medi-
cine that's good for you when you
want whisky" he went on.-"When
you are weak, and everybody else is
strong-and always when the flag
stones give way beneath your feet, and
the long street undulates and wavers
as you walk; why, that's a sign for
you to take that medlcine-and take
it quick Oh, it will warm you till the
little pale blue streaks in your white
hands will bulge out again with
tingllng blood, and 1t will start up
from Its stagnant pools and leap from
vein to vein till it reaches your beings
farthest height and droops and falls
and folds down over icy brow and face
like a soft veil moistened with pure
warmth. All 1t Is so delriously sweet
and reStful !"
/ heard moaning in the room be-
low, and then steps on the stairs and
tapping at the door. 1t was Mary.
Mrs. Clark had awakened and was cry
ing for her son. but we must not
awaken him." l said. "Give Mrs. Clark
the medicine the doctor left for her
that will quiet her"
But she won't take 1t, sir She
won't do anything at all for me-and
if Mr.. Clark could only come to her,
| for a minute, she would"
| The woman's speech was broken by
a shrIll cry in the hall, and then the
| thud of naked feet on the stairway.
II want my boy-my boy!" walled the
| hystericals woman from without
Go to your mistress-quick," said
sternly, pushing the maid from the
roOm.--"Take her back; | will come
down to your assistance in a moment"
Then l turned hastily to see if the
sleeper had been disturbed by the
wpman's cries; but all was peaceful
with him yet; and so, throwing a GOV.
| prlnf him I hn fp gi
lently and went below.
| found the wretched mother in an
| almost frenzied state, and her increas-
| ing violence alarmed me so that
thought it best to summon the ply
stefan again; and bidding the servant
not to leave her for an instant, hur-
| ried for the help so badly needed. This
time the doctor was long delayed, al
though he joined me with all possible
haste, and with all speed accompa-
MED me back to the unhappy home
Entering the door, our ears We're greet
ed with a shrek that came piercing
| down the hall till the very echoes
| shuddered as with fear. 1t was the
| patients voice shrilling from the sleep
er's room upstairs 20 God My boy !!
/ want my boy, and he will not waken
for me" An instant later we were
both upon the scene.
The woman in her frenzy had brOk-
en- from the servant to find her son.
And she had found him.
She had wound her arms about him,
and had dragged his still sleeping
form upon the floor. He would not
awaken, even though she gripped him
to her heart and shrieked her very
soul out in his ears. He would not
waken. The face, though whittier than
her own betOllened only utter rest
and peace. We drew her, limp and
voiceless, from his side. 1--WE are too
late" the doctor whispered, lifting
with his finger one of the closed lids,
and letting it drop to again.-"See
here!" He had been feeling at the
wrist; and, as he spoke, he slipped the
sleeve up barred the sleeper's arm.
From the wrist to elbow it was livid
{ purple, and pitted and Scared with
minute wOunds-some scarcely sealed
as yet with clotted blood.
"In heavens name, what does it all
| meanW | asked.
morphine" said the doctor, "and
the hypodermic. And here" he ex-
claimed, lifting the other hand-"here
is folded card with your name at the
top"
I snatched it from him, and l read
written in faint but rounded charac-
ters:
II like to hear your voice. 1t sounds
| kind. 1t is like a far-off tune. To
drop asleep, though, as l am doing
now, is sweeter musiC-but read on
l have taken something to make me
| sleep, and by mistake | have taken
| too much but you will read right on
| Now, mind you, this is not suicide, as
| God listens to the whisper of this pen
Gil as l write! l did it by mistake.
For years and years have taken the
same thing This time / took too
| much-much more than l meant to
but l am glad. This is the second IA
| vor / would ask: Go to my employ
ers tomorrow, show them this hand
writing, and say 1 know for my sake
they will take charge of my affairs and
administer all my estate in the best
way suited to my mothers needs
| Good-by, my friend-I can only say
good night to you when l shall take
| your hand an instant later and turn
away forever"
Through tears I read 1t all, and end
ing with his name in full, turned and
looked down on the face of this man
| that l had learned to love. and the