on his pale, time-worn features, he exclaimed,

"It is all right, now, Fielding. Now, my God, I am free; my burden,
under which I have toiled through misspent years, is cast away. I am
free!"

"Courage, my friend; you have done a good work--a work worthy of a
dying Christian, and may the blessing of Almighty God rest on it and
you," said Father Fabian, who made over him the sign of the cross,
while he blessed him in the name of the Holy Trinity.

Mr. Fielding placed the will in a large white envelope, which he laid
on the bed beside Mr. Stillinghast, and took leave, hoping that when he
saw him in the morning he would be much better. The doctor prevailed
on him to swallow a restorative which he had brought, after which, he
grew more composed, and gave the will to May, and directed her to lay
it on the shelf of a small, narrow closet, on the left side of the
fireplace. As she did so, she saw another envelope like it, marked
"_Will_;" also a number of packages--bonds, deeds, mortgages, and
receipts, tied up in small; compact bundles, packed in between the
shelves. But she felt no interest there; and quickly returning to her
uncle's pillow, was glad to see that he had fallen into a profound
sleep. Helen, who had been hovering about the door, and around the
room, in and out, for the last half hour, came in again, and asked May
if "she should not relieve her by taking her post, while her uncle
slept?"

"No, dear Helen, he might awake and miss me; and he has requested me
not to leave him until death releases his soul. Do you attend to the
affairs of the house--I will watch here."