"Don't ye understand!" the father whispered. "Look—at her eyes—she's not tellin' you a dream—she's looking through the white gates of heaven—it's Death, Boy—it's come—Lord God, have mercy!"
With a groan he dropped by her side and her thin hand rested gently on his shaggy head.
The Boy stared at her in agonizing wonder as she felt for his hand and feebly held it. She was gazing now into the depths of his soul with her pensive hungry eyes.
"He good to your father, my son——" she paused for breath and looked at him tenderly. She knew the father was the child of the future—this Boy, the man.
"Yes!" he whispered.
"And love your sister——"
"Yes."
"Be a man among men, for your mother's sake——"
"Yes, Ma, I will!"
The little head bent low and the voice was silent.