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complete quiet and seclusion for the invalid； was evident from the fact that
Mr。 Hamlin's drawing and dining rooms； and even the hall； were filled
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with eager friends and inquirers。 It was discomposing to Gideon to find
himself almost an equal subject of interest and curiosity to the visitors。
The story of his simple devotion had lost nothing by report； hats were
doffed in his presence that might have grown to their wearers' heads； the
boldest eyes dropped as he passed by； he had only to put his pale face out
of the bedroom door and the loudest discussion； heated by drink or
affection； fell to a whisper。 The surgeon； who had recognized the one
dominant wish of the hopelessly sinking man； gravely retired； leaving
Gideon a few simple instructions and directions for their use。 〃He'll last as
long as he has need of you；〃 he said respectfully。 〃My art is only second
here。 God help you both！ When he wakes； make the most of your time。〃
In a few moments he did waken； and as before turned his fading look
almost instinctively on the faithful； gentle eyes that were watching him。
How Gideon made the most of his time did not transpire； but at the end of
an hour； when the dying man had again lapsed into unconsciousness； he
softly opened the door of the sitting…room。
Hamlin started hastily to his feet。 He had cleared the room of his
visitors； and was alone。 He turned a moment towards the window before
he faced Gideon with inquiring but curiously…shining eyes。
〃Well？〃 he said； hesitatingly。
〃Do you know Kate Somers？〃 asked Gideon。
Hamlin opened his brown eyes。 〃Yes。〃
〃Can you send for her？〃
〃What； HERE？〃
〃Yes； here。〃
〃What for？〃
〃To marry him；〃 said Gideon； gently。 〃There's no time to lose。〃
〃To MARRY him？〃
〃He wishes it。〃
〃But sayoh； come； now；〃 said Hamlin confidentially； leaning back
with his hands on the top of a chair。 〃Ain't this playing it a littlejust a
LITTLEtoo low down？ Of course you mean well； and all that； but come；
now； saycouldn't you just let up on him there？ Why； she〃Hamlin softly
closed the door〃she's got no character。〃
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〃The more reason he should give her one。〃
A cynical knowledge of matrimony imparted to him by the wives of
others evidently colored Mr。 Hamlin's views。 〃Well； perhaps it's all the
same if he's going to die。 But isn't it rather rough on HER？ I don't know；〃
he added； reflectively； 〃she was sniveling round here a little while ago；
until I sent her away。〃
〃You sent her away！〃 echoed Gideon。
〃I did。〃
〃Why？〃
〃Because YOU were here。〃
Nevertheless Mr。 Hamlin departed； and in half an hour reappeared
with two brilliantly dressed women。 One； hysterical； tearful； frightened；
and pallid； was the destined bride； the other； highly colored； excited； and
pleasedly observant； was her friend。 Two men hastily summoned from the
anteroom as witnesses completed the group that moved into the bedroom
and gathered round the bed。
The ceremony was simple and brief。 It was well； for of all who took
part in it none was more shaken by emotion than the officiating priest。 The
brilliant dresses of the women； the contrast of their painted faces with the
waxen pallor of the dying man； the terrible incongruity of their voices；
inflections； expressions； and familiarity； the mingled perfume of cosmetics
and the faint odor of wine； the eyes of the younger woman following his
movements with strange absorption； so affected him that he was glad
when he could fall on his knees at last and bury his face in the pillow of
the sufferer。 The hand that had been placed in the bride's cold fingers
slipped from them and mechanically sought Gideon's again。 The
significance of the unconscious act brought the first spontaneous tears into
the woman's eyes。 It was his last act； for when Gideon's voice was again
lifted in prayer； the spirit for whom it was offered had risen with it； as it
were； still lovingly hand in hand； from the earth forever。
The funeral was arranged for two days later； and Gideon found that his
services had been so seriously yet so humbly counted upon by the friends
of the dead man that he could scarce find it in his heart to tell them that it
was the function of the local preacher an older and more experienced
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man than himself。 〃If it is；〃 said Jack Hamlin； coolly； 〃I'm afraid he won't
get a yaller dog to come to his church； but if you say you'll preach at the
grave； there ain't a man； woman； or child that will be kept away。 Don't you
go back on your luck； now； it's something awful and nigger…like。 You've
got this crowd where the hair is short； excuse me； but it's so。 Talk of
revivals！ You could give that one…horse show in Tasajara a hundred points；
and skunk them easily。〃 Indeed； had Gideon been accessible to vanity； the
spontaneous homage he met with everywhere would have touched him
more sympathetically and kindly than it did； but in the utter
unconsciousness of his own power and the quality they worshiped in him；
he felt alarmed and impatient of what he believed to be their weak
sympathy with his own human weakness。 In the depth of his unselfish
heart； lit； it must be confessed； only by the scant； inefficient lamp of his
youthful experience； he really believed he had failed in his apostolic
mission because he had been unable to touch the hearts of the Vigilantes
by oral appeal and argument。 Feeling thus the reverence of these
irreligious people that surrounded him； the facile yielding of their habits
and prejudices to his half…uttered wish； appeared to him only a temptation
of the flesh。 No one had sought him after the manner of the camp…meeting；
he had converted the wounded man through a common weakness of their
humanity。 More than that； he was conscious of a growing fascination for
the truthfulness and sincerity of that class； particularly of Mr。 Jack Hamlin；
whose conversion he felt he could never attempt； yet whose strange
friendship alternately thrilled and frightened him。
It was the evening before the funeral。 The coffin； half smothered in
wreaths and flowers； stood upon trestles in the anteroom； a large silver
plate bearing an inscription on which for the second time Gideon read the
name of the man he had converted。 It was a name associated on the
frontier so often with reckless hardihood； dissipation； and blood； that even
now Gideon trembled at his presumption； and was chilled by a momentary
doubt of the efficiency of his labor。 Drawing unconsciously nearer to the
mute subject of his thoughts； he threw his arms across the coffin and
buried his face between them。
A stream of soft music； the echo of some forgotten song； seemed to
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Gideon to suddenly fill and possess the darkened room； and then to slowly
die away； like the opening and shutting of a door upon a flood of golden
radiance。 He listened with hushed breath and a beating heart。 He had never
heard anything like it before。 Again the strain arose； the chords swelled
round him； until from their midst a tenor voice broke high and steadfast；
like a star in troubled skies。 Gideon scarcely breathed。 It was a hymnbut
such a hymn。 He had never conceived there could be such beautiful words；
joined to such exquisite melody； and sung with a grace so tender and true。
What were all other hymns to this ineffable yearning for light； for love；
and for infinite rest？ Thrilled and exalted； Gideon felt his doubts pierced
and scattered by that illuminating cry。 Suddenly he rose； and with a
troubled thought pushed open the door to the sitting…room。 It wa