The Argosy — page 92: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

A Doctor’s Story. 79 to the side of her couch when called ; would lie for hours folded in her arms, whispering back her loving words, repeating her gentle admonitions like an echo. The words apparently conveyed no meaning, but they touched some hidden chord. Weaker and weaker grew Mrs. Wilton. On one of my daily visits the sick nurse, who was in constant attendance now, whispered to me that the end was near. I was startled, shocked, to perceive Aow near ! “Doctor, dear friend,” she gasped very faintly, as I pressed her poor transparent hand; but her whole attention was riveted on her son ; she was gazing at him with eyes out of which the light of earth was fading fast. It was evident she desired to say something, but it was some time before the words would come. At last, gathering strength, she said in a low, penetrating voice that scarcely faltered : ‘‘T am going to leave you, Charlie. Herve I could not help you, but when in heaven I see our dear Lord face to face—when on my knees before the great white throne 5 For an instant an expression of rapture irradiated her features ; the next, with a slight sigh she sank back upon the pillow. I touched Charlie on the shoulder. He dropped upon his knees and, unprompted, joined his trembling hands in prayer. His gaze was directed upward. His countenance assumed a look of intensity I had never seen on it before. Quite suddenly he rose, and flinging himself sobbing across the bed: ‘‘ Oh, mother, mother! Do not leave me all alone,” he cried. “See! Your son is saved!” I whispered, bending over Mrs. Wilton. But I was speaking to the dead. And yet, even as I looked upon the still white face, the lips seemed parting into asmile of the most holy, calm, ineffable content. Could it be as she herself had said? Was she already kneeling before the great white throne—had God listened to her prayer at last P A few more words and this ‘‘ o’er true tale” is ended. From the moment of his mother’s death, the mists that had obscured poor Charlie’s mind dispersed. I took him to live with me, and watched his young intelligence grow day by day to healthy vigour. Not even a shadowy semblance of a cloud rests now upon his mind. He has succeeded to his grandfather’s wealth as well as to the title, for ‘‘ the niece’s child” is dead. 7 The present Lord Welbury ranks amongst England’s noblest sons ——he is one of the greatest philanthropists of the day. EK. M. Davy. COMA (-) NOOKS (CO)