Gussie was overcome with grief when she realized that her father was dying,
but Louie's loving arm was thrown around her, and she restrained her sobs
to hear her father's last few words.
It was a sad scene. The dying father, supported in the arms of Guy
Traverse, was looking for the last time on the faces of his family. Dexie,
kneeling close to where Guy sat, with one of her father's hands clasped in
both her own, was silently weeping. Mrs. Sherwood was kneeling on the
opposite side of the bed, her face hidden against her dying husband's
breast. Louie and Gussie stood near, their arms around each other's waists;
while Mrs. Jarvis stood behind them, her arms extended across their
shoulders, as if she would willingly protect them from this anguish if she
could. Poor Georgie sobbed at the foot of the bed, a picture of childish
woe.
The minister's words of peace and comfort, spoken at this moment, were
sorely needed, for the prayer had scarcely ended when Mrs. Sherwood raised
her eyes to her husband's face and saw the change that passed over it. A
few murmured words fell from his lips as he looked into her face, then his
eyes closed and his spirit was gone to the God who gave it.
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