Милий друг
Death and a Proposal
"
"Inabouttendays?"
"Yes,atmost."
Hecontinued;"Charleshasnorelativesthen?"
"None,savecousins.Hisfatherandmotherdiedwhenhewasveryyoung."
Inthecourseofafewminutes,theservantcametotellthemthatthepriesthadfinished,andtogethertheyascendedthestairs.Forestierseemedtohavegrownthinnersincetheprecedingday.Thepriestwasholdinghishand.
"Aurevoir,myson.Iwillcomeagainto-morrowmorning";andheleft.Whenhewasgone,thedyingman,whowaspanting,triedtoraisehistwohandstowardhiswifeandgasped:
"Saveme—saveme,mydarling.Idonotwanttodie—oh,saveme—goforthedoctor.Iwilltakeanything.Idonotwanttodie."Hewept;thetearscourseddownhispallidcheeks.Thenhishandscommencedtowanderhitherandthithercontinually,slowly,andregularly,asifgatheringsomethingonthecoverlet.Hiswife,whowasalsoweeping,sobbed:
"No,itisnothing.Itisonlyanattack;youwillbebetterto-morrow;youtiredyourselfwiththatdrive."
Forestierdrewhisbreathquicklyandsofaintlythatonecouldscarcelyhearhim.Herepeated:
"Idonotwanttodie!Oh,myGod—myGod—whathashappenedtome?Icannotsee.Oh,myGod!"Hisstaringeyessawsomethinginvisibletotheothers;hishandspluckedcontinuallyatthecounterpane.
