Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1920-11-11

he was even gentler than ordinary.
] am not exaggeratiag when say that
the benignity of the man was seraphic.
thought saw change Of mood
In him. There was. II was right. q
less insistent claim upon life. There
was yielding. an appearance of phys
ical and spiritual acceptance of the
law Of three score and ten II were
not deceived by little and impressive
signs noted. Mr.. Sidney was substi-
tuting compIacently the will to die for
the will to live which had been in him
conspicuously indomitable.
On DR.. Brownell's last visit, he con-
firmed what was in truth fear.
"Has Mr.. Sidney, to your knowl-
edge" he asked. recently found su-
preme satisfaction: in any event?"
"None that know Of" said.
"Why?"
Hes changing. He is different now
from anything ! ever knew him to be.
always have believed that his case
was out of our province. and that life
and death. for him. depended upon
resolve and that the resolve had a
purpose. You have not found things
wholly normal here. have you?"
"No. haven't"
"1'here is something here" said DR..
Brownell. II don't know what It is.
You don't know what 1t Is. but de-
pend on IT., something Of Importance
to Sidney has happened. It may not
have satisfied his life's resolve, but
think 1t has. For the present. he
does not need me-possibly never
again."
Jed observed the change in Nj. Sid
ney. Afterward ! knew that he was
a much more acute observer than I.
for the good enough reason that his
observation had background Of
knowledge which lacked. There was.
no doubt directly as the consequence
Of this. an unbelievable change tn
Jed. He was very fond of Mr.. Sidney.
In our unhappy experiences with him.
we had overlooked this fact and had
failed to use 1t as we could have. His
affection for Mr.. Sidney was the one
thing greater than his cupidity and
selfTove. with their attendant train
Of malevolence. violence. surliness.
brutality and treachery.
He was convinced that Mr.. Sidney
was about to die. and the thought
affected him tremendously. He be-
came gentle: he abandoned his rasp.
ing manner-whfch. indeed. he never
had carried into Mr.. Sidney's room.
hut which was an intermittent provo
cation elsewhere. He was more than
ever with Mr.. Sidney. and each eve
ming. after the others had gone. they
had bottle of wine which Jed drank
hut he did not 60 singing down the
halls afterwnrtf. He was quiet and
considerable. courteous to Mrs. Sidney
and thoroughly friendly to me.
October went and the brown month
Of November took even the white-Oak-
leaves. and the woods stood in mono
\ chrome. rsobei and I rode every
morning. and Just before the early sun.
down we usually took short walk.
to rustic the brown leaves undertook
and enjoy the sweetness Of crisp air
filled with the otfcrs of seemly de-.
cay unferfoot. Soon after sunset we
were in Nfr. Sfsfney's room. He great
~ enjoyed to have the family about
him. not engagetf in entertaining him
or waiting on him. hut occupied In
anv amusement or work that could be
untfertsken by his fire.
Jed had a cot moved in and spent
the night with him. He did not want
the nurses to have this office; and as
he was perfectly competent. I con-
sentea.
1t was an intensely happy and In
tenseay unhappy experience for me.
Mr.. Sidney. l was convinced. wenfd
not Tive to the~hepatica season. ESQ
bel had permitted him to follow the
changing seasons from spring to win
ter BY bringing him flowers. and hss
| delight at seeing the FIRST hepatfta
had been as great as hers in bringing
It to him. ...s
IsObel could not realize that heH, a;
Their was dying. No one would have
been 30 brutal as to tell her-0r would
It have been brutal? But Mrs. Sid.
ney knew. I knew. Jed knew and Mr.
Sidney knew-and was happy.
The day before Christmas came with
driving snow which set in with a.
east wind early In the morning. Il
was q real Christmas snowstor.n
heavy, persistent and driving, but moi
unkindly. b III
In the afternoon Morgan OF thu
| Metropolitan agency came. driving
with difficulty through the driftet
| banks Of snow 10 the roads. to 90,
me again. was full Of apprehensios
o. ! told Jed to. show him In. Hi
mood was different from. what It ha,
been before. when he almost ragged on
I Of the house. It seemed to me every
body's mood was changing.
II Nevertheless 'child's fancy cam
/ into my mind. Outside was the storm