with the best in the land, yet. Where are the papers?--Have you got the

papers safe? Show them--show them to me!"

Under his strong excitement his voice had gathered power and his last

sentences were spoken with scarcely a perceptible halt or hindrance.

With an effort he had raised himself almost without assistance to a

sitting posture. But now the fire faded out of his eyes and he fell back

exhausted. The papers were brought and held before him, and the

answering smile that flitted across his face showed that he was

satisfied. He closed his eyes, and the signs of approaching dissolution

multiplied rapidly. He lay almost motionless for a little while, then

suddenly partly raised his head and looked about him as one who peers

into a dim uncertain light. He muttered:

Gone? No--I see you--still. It is--it is-over. But you are--safe.

Safe. The Ten-----"

The voice died out in a whisper; the sentence was never finished. The

emaciated fingers began to pick at the coverlet, a fatal sign. After a

time there were no sounds but the cries of the mourners within and the

gusty turmoil of the wind without. Laura had bent down and kissed her

father's lips as the spirit left the body; but she did not sob, or utter

any ejaculation; her tears flowed silently. Then she closed the dead

eyes, and crossed the hands upon the breast; after a season, she kissed

the forehead reverently, drew the sheet up over the face, and then walked

apart and sat down with the look of one who is done with life and has no

100

The Gilded Age