Blind Love

"He is quite dead," said the doctor, with one finger on the man's pulse

and another lifting his eyelid. "He is dead. I did not look for so

speedy an end. It is not half an hour since I left him breathing

peacefully. Did he show signs of consciousness?"

"No, sir; I found him dead."

"This morning he was cheerful. It is not unusual in these complaints. I

have observed it in many cases of my own experience. On the last

morning of life, at the very moment when Death is standing on the

threshold with uplifted dart, the patient is cheerful and even joyous:

he is more hopeful than he has felt for many months: he thinks--nay, he

is sure--that he is recovering: he says he shall be up and about before

long: he has not felt so strong since the beginning of his illness.

Then Death strikes him, and he falls." He made this remark in a most

impressive manner.

"Nothing remains," he said, "but to certify the cause of death and to

satisfy the proper forms and authorities. I charge myself with this

duty. The unfortunate young man belonged to a highly distinguished

family. I will communicate with his friends and forward his papers. One

last office I can do for him. For the sake of his family, nurse, I will

take a last photograph of him as he lies upon his death-bed." Lord

Harry stood in the doorway, listening with an aching and a fearful

heart. He dared not enter the chamber. It was the Chamber of Death.

What was his own part in calling the Destroying Angel who is at the

beck and summons of every man--even the meanest? Call him and he comes.

Order him to strike--and he obeys. But under penalties.

The doctor's prophecy, then, had come true. But in what way and by what

agency? The man was dead. What was his own share in the man's death? He

knew when the Dane was brought into the house that he was brought there

to die. As the man did not die, but began to recover fast, he had seen

in the doctor's face that the man would have to die. He had heard the

doctor prophesy out of his medical knowledge that the man would surely

die; and then, after the nurse had been sent away because her patient

required her services no longer, he had seen the doctor give the

medicine which burned the patient's throat. What was that medicine? Not

only had it burned his throat, but it caused him to fall into a deep

sleep, in which his heart ceased to beat and his blood ceased to flow.