w, the tears gushed from his eyes. He went to the
bedside and took the old physician's hand.

"Doctor, it's Shawn; I've come."

A glad beam came into the fast-closing eyes, and the feeble voice
struggled into a fitful tone, "Shawn, my boy, God has forgiven me--I
don't know how it may be--I've tried to think it out, but somehow I feel
that in the long journey I must now take alone, that God will let the
light burn for me--I've remembered you, Shawn."

The head sank back upon the pillow. Old Brad was sobbing in the corner.
From the hill came the weird tones of a whip-poor-will, and from the
far-away bend of the river, the echoes of a steamer's wheel. The moon
shot a beam of light through the window and the rays seemed to rest
tenderly upon the calm and gentle face. Doctor Hissong's spirit had
flown.

"Clear the room," said Budlong, "I want to speak in private with Shawn."

Taking a paper from his pocket he said, "Shawn, Doctor Hissong told me
to read you this, his will. I am here to do it. I drew it up."

The old lawyer stood by the mantlepiece, and by the flickering lamplight
read:

"In the name of God, Amen. Realizing the uncertainty of life and
the certainty of death, I, Radford J. Hissong, being of sound
and disposing mind and memory, do hereby publish this to be my
last will and testament, hereby revoking all former wills and
codicils.

1st--I give to the old negro Brad Jackson the sum of $500.00 and
intrust him to the care of the young man known as Shawn Collins.

2d--I desire that $1,000.00 of my estate be distributed among
the poor of Skarrow.

3rd.--I give, devise and bequeath to the young man, known as
Shawn Collins, but whom I hereby acknowledge to be my son, my
river-bottom farm, consisting of 387 acres. I bequeath to him my
hill farm, consisting of 187 acres. I bequeath to him my town
property, consisting of two dwellings and one store-room, my
office, bank stock and all other properties found, outside of
the first two clauses of this will. This property to belong to
the said Shawn, to be used or disposed of according to his
pleasure. I desire a modest stone above my grave, and ask that I
be buried in the cemetery on the hill, overlooking the river.

In witness whereof I have hereby set my hand, this 18th day of
Sept. 186-

Radford J. Hissong.

Witness: Dave Budlong,
John Burne