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<v Speaker 1>This is section sixty three and the epilog of The

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<v Speaker 1>Gilded Age. This LibriVox recording is in the public domain.

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<v Speaker 1>The Gilded Age, A Tale of to Day by Mark

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<v Speaker 1>Twain and C. D. Warner, Chapter sixty three, read by

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<v Speaker 1>John Greenman. It was evening when Philip took the cars

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<v Speaker 1>at the Ilium station. The news of his success had

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<v Speaker 1>preceded him, and while he waited for the train, he

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<v Speaker 1>was the center of a group of eager questioners, who

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<v Speaker 1>asked him a hundred things about the mine and magnified

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<v Speaker 1>his good fortune. There was no mistake this time. Philip

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<v Speaker 1>in luck had become suddenly a person of consideration, whose

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<v Speaker 1>speech was freighted with meaning, whose looks were all significant.

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<v Speaker 1>The words of the proprietor of a rich coal mine

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<v Speaker 1>have a golden sound, and his common sayings are repeated

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<v Speaker 1>as if they were solid wisdom. Philip wished to be alone.

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<v Speaker 1>His good fortune at this moment seemed an empty mockery,

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<v Speaker 1>one of those sarcasms of fate, such as that which

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<v Speaker 1>spreads a dainty banquet for the man who has no appetite.

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<v Speaker 1>He had longed for success, principally for Ruth's sake, and

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<v Speaker 1>perhaps now at this very moment of his triumph, she

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<v Speaker 1>was dying. Just what I said, Mister Sadling, the landlord

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<v Speaker 1>of the Ilium Hotel, kept repeating, I call Jake Schmidt,

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<v Speaker 1>Ye find him there, shust so sure as nothing. You

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<v Speaker 1>ought to have taken a share, mister Dusenheimer, said Philip.

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<v Speaker 1>Guess I know, but don't woman? She say you sticks

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<v Speaker 1>to your piece in this, So I sticks to them

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<v Speaker 1>on time? Makes nothing that mister Priorly, he don't never

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<v Speaker 1>come back here no more? Hain't it, why, asked Philip. Well,

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<v Speaker 1>there is so many peers and so many other things.

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<v Speaker 1>I got him and all set down, then he comes back.

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<v Speaker 1>It was a long night for Philip, and a restless one.

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<v Speaker 1>At any other time, the swing of the cars would

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<v Speaker 1>have lulled him to sleep, and the rattle and clank

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<v Speaker 1>of wheels and rails, the roar of the whirling iron

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<v Speaker 1>would have only been cheerful reminders of swift and safe travel.

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<v Speaker 1>Now they were voices of warning and taunting. And instead

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<v Speaker 1>of going rapidly, the train seemed to crawl at a

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<v Speaker 1>snail's pace. And it not only crawled, but it frequently stopped.

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<v Speaker 1>And when it stopped, it stood dead still, and there

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<v Speaker 1>was an ominous silence. Was anything the matter, he wondered,

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<v Speaker 1>Only a station, probably, perhaps, he thought, a telegraphic station.

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<v Speaker 1>And then he listened eagerly with the conductor opened the

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<v Speaker 1>door and asked for Philip's sterling and hand him a

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<v Speaker 1>fatal dispatch. How long they seemed to wait, and then

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<v Speaker 1>slowly beginning to move, they were off again, shaking, pounding,

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<v Speaker 1>screaming through the night. He drew his curtain from time

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<v Speaker 1>to time and looked out. There was the lurid skyline

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<v Speaker 1>of the wooded range along the base of which they

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<v Speaker 1>were crawling. There was the Susquehanna gleaming in the moonlight.

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<v Speaker 1>There was a stretch of level valley with d silent

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<v Speaker 1>farm houses, the occupants all at rest, without trouble, without anxiety.

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<v Speaker 1>There was a church, a graveyard, a mill, a village.

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<v Speaker 1>And now, without paws or fear, the train had mounted

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<v Speaker 1>a trestlework high in air, and was creeping along the

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<v Speaker 1>top of it, while a swift torrent foamed a hundred

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<v Speaker 1>feet below. What would the morning bring? Even while he

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<v Speaker 1>was flying to her, her gentle spirit might have gone

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<v Speaker 1>on another flight whither he could not follow. Her. He

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<v Speaker 1>was full of foreboding. He fell at length into a

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<v Speaker 1>restless doze. There was a noise in his ears, as

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<v Speaker 1>of a rushing torrent when a stream is swollen by

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<v Speaker 1>a freshet in the spring. It was like the breaking

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<v Speaker 1>up of life. He was struggling in the consciousness of

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<v Speaker 1>coming death. When Ruth stood by his side, closed in white,

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<v Speaker 1>with a face like that of an angel, radiant, smiling,

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<v Speaker 1>pointing to the sky and saying come, He awoke with

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<v Speaker 1>a cry. The train was roaring through a bridge, and

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<v Speaker 1>it shot out into daylight. When morning came, the train

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<v Speaker 1>was industriously toiling along through the fat lands of Lancaster,

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<v Speaker 1>with its broad farms of corn and wheat, its mean

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<v Speaker 1>houses of stone, its vast barns and granaries built as

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<v Speaker 1>if for storing the riches of Heliogabalus. Then came the

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<v Speaker 1>smiling fields of Chester with their English green, and soon

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<v Speaker 1>the county of Philadelphia itself, and the increasing signs of

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<v Speaker 1>the approach to a great city. Long trains of coal

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<v Speaker 1>cars laden and unladen, stood upon sidings. The tracks of

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<v Speaker 1>other roads were crossed. The smoke of other locomotives was

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<v Speaker 1>seen on parallel lines. Factories multiplied streets appeared, the noise

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<v Speaker 1>of a busy city began to fill the air, and

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<v Speaker 1>with a slower and slower clank on the connecting rails

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<v Speaker 1>and interlacing switches, the train rolled into the station and

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<v Speaker 1>stood still. It was a hot August morning. The broad

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<v Speaker 1>streets glowed in the sun, and the white shuttered houses

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<v Speaker 1>stared at the hot thoroughfares like closed baker's ovens set

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<v Speaker 1>along the highway. Philip was oppressed with the heavy air.

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<v Speaker 1>The sweltering city lay as in a swoon. Taking a

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<v Speaker 1>street car, he rode away to the northern part of

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<v Speaker 1>the city, the newer portion, formerly the district of Spring Garden.

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<v Speaker 1>For in this the Boltons now lived in a small

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<v Speaker 1>brick house, befitting their altered fortunes, He could scarcely restrain

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<v Speaker 1>his impatience. When he came in sight of the house,

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<v Speaker 1>the window shutters were not bowed, Thank god for that

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<v Speaker 1>Ruth was still living. Then he ran up the steps

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<v Speaker 1>and rang. Missus Bolton met him at the door. Thee

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<v Speaker 1>is very welcome, Philip and Ruth. She is very ill,

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<v Speaker 1>but quieter than she has been, and the fever is

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<v Speaker 1>a little abating. The most dangerous time will be when

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<v Speaker 1>the fever leaves her. The doctor fears she will not

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<v Speaker 1>have strength enough to rally from it. Yes, thee can

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<v Speaker 1>see her. Missus Bolton led the way to the little

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<v Speaker 1>chamber where Ruth lay. Oh said her mother. If she

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<v Speaker 1>were only in her cool and spacious room in her

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<v Speaker 1>old home, she says, that seems like heaven. Mister Bolton

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<v Speaker 1>sat by Ruth's bedside, and he rose and silently pressed

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<v Speaker 1>Philip's hand. The room had but one window that was

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<v Speaker 1>wide open to admit the air, but the air that

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<v Speaker 1>came in was hot and lifeless. Upon the table stood

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<v Speaker 1>a vase of flowers. Ruth's eyes were closed, her cheeks

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<v Speaker 1>were flushed with fever, and she moved her head restlessly,

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<v Speaker 1>as if in pain. Ruth said her mother, bending over her,

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<v Speaker 1>Philip is here. Ruth's eyes unclosed, there was a gleam

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<v Speaker 1>of recognition in them. There was an attempt at a

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<v Speaker 1>smile upon her face, and she tried to raise her

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<v Speaker 1>thin hand as Philip touched her forehead with his lips,

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<v Speaker 1>and he heard her murmur, dear phil There was nothing

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<v Speaker 1>to be done but to watch and wait for the

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<v Speaker 1>cruel fever to burn itself out. Doctor Longstreet told Philip

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<v Speaker 1>that the fever had undoubtedly been contracted in the hospital,

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<v Speaker 1>but it was not malignant and would be little dangerous

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<v Speaker 1>if Ruth were not so worn down with work, or

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<v Speaker 1>if she had a less delicate constitution. It is only

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<v Speaker 1>her indomitable will that has kept her up for weeks,

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<v Speaker 1>and if that should leave her now, there will be

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<v Speaker 1>no hope. You can do more for her now, sir,

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<v Speaker 1>than I can, how asked Philip eagerly. Your presence, more

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<v Speaker 1>than anything else, will inspire her with a desire to live.

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<v Speaker 1>When the fever turned, Ruth was in a very critical condition.

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<v Speaker 1>For two days. Her life was like the fluttering of

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<v Speaker 1>a lighted candle in the wind. Philip was constantly by

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<v Speaker 1>her side, and she seemed to be conscious of his

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<v Speaker 1>presence and to cling to him as one borne away

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<v Speaker 1>by a swift stream clings to a stretched out hand

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<v Speaker 1>from the shore. If he was absent a moment, her

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<v Speaker 1>restless eyes sought something they were disappointed not to find.

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<v Speaker 1>Philip so yearned to bring her back to life. He

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<v Speaker 1>willed it so strongly and passionately that his will appeared

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<v Speaker 1>to affect hers, and she seemed slowly to draw life

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<v Speaker 1>from his After two days of this struggle with a

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<v Speaker 1>grasping enemy, it was evident to doctor Longstreet that Ruth's

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<v Speaker 1>will was beginning to issue its orders to her body

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<v Speaker 1>with some force, and that strength was slowly coming back.

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<v Speaker 1>In another day there was a decided improvement. As Philip

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<v Speaker 1>sat holding her weak hand and watching the least sign

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<v Speaker 1>of resolution in her face, Ruth was able to whisper,

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<v Speaker 1>I so want to live for you, phil You will, Darling,

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<v Speaker 1>you must, said Philip, in a tone of faith and courage,

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<v Speaker 1>but carried a thrill of determination of command along all

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<v Speaker 1>her nerves. Slowly Philip drew her back to life. Slowly

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<v Speaker 1>she came back as one willing but well nigh helpless.

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<v Speaker 1>It was new for Ruth to fail, this dependence on

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<v Speaker 1>another's nature, to consciously draw strength of will from the

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<v Speaker 1>will of another. It was a new, but a dear

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<v Speaker 1>joy to be lifted up and carried back into the

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<v Speaker 1>happy world, which was now all aglow with the light

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<v Speaker 1>of love. To be lifted and carried by the one

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<v Speaker 1>she loved more than her own life, sweetheart, she said

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<v Speaker 1>to Philip, I would not have cared to come back

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<v Speaker 1>but for thy love, not for thy profession. Oh, THEE

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<v Speaker 1>may be glad enough of that some day when thy

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<v Speaker 1>coal bed is dug out, and THEE and father are

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<v Speaker 1>in the air again. When Ruth was able to ride,

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<v Speaker 1>she was taken into the country, for the pure air

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<v Speaker 1>was necessary to her speedy recovery. The family went with her.

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<v Speaker 1>Philip could not be spared from her side, and mister

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<v Speaker 1>Bolton had gone up to Ilium to look into that

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<v Speaker 1>wonderful coal mine and to make arrangements for developing it

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<v Speaker 1>and bringing its wealth to market. Philip had insisted on

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<v Speaker 1>reconveying the Ilian property to mister Bolton, retaining only the

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<v Speaker 1>share originally contemplated for himself, and mister Bolton therefore once

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<v Speaker 1>more found himself engaged in business and a person of

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<v Speaker 1>some consequence in Third Street. The mind turned out even

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<v Speaker 1>better than was at first hoped, and would, if judiciously managed,

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<v Speaker 1>be a fortune to them all. This also seemed to

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<v Speaker 1>be the opinion of mister Biggler, who heard of it

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<v Speaker 1>as soon as anybody, and with the impudence of his class,

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<v Speaker 1>called upon mister Bolton for a little aid in a

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<v Speaker 1>patent car wheel. He had bought an interest in that

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<v Speaker 1>rascal small, he said, had swindled him out of all

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<v Speaker 1>he had. Mister Bolton told him he was very sorry

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<v Speaker 1>and recommended him to sue Small. Mister Small also came

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<v Speaker 1>with a similar story about mister Bigler, and mister Bolton

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<v Speaker 1>had the grace to give him like advice, and he added,

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<v Speaker 1>if you and Biggler will procure the indictment of each other,

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<v Speaker 1>you may have the satisfaction of putting each other in

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<v Speaker 1>the penitentiary for the forgery of my acceptances. Biggler and

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<v Speaker 1>Small did not quarrel. However, they both attacked mister Bolton

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<v Speaker 1>behind his back as a swindler and circulated the story

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<v Speaker 1>that he had made a fortune by failing in the

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<v Speaker 1>pure air of the highlands. Amid the golden glories of

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<v Speaker 1>ripening September, Ruth rapidly came back to health. How beautiful

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<v Speaker 1>the world is to an invalid whose senses are all clarified,

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<v Speaker 1>who has been so near the world of spirits that

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<v Speaker 1>she is sensitive to the finest influences, and whose frame

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<v Speaker 1>responds with a thrill to the subtlest ministrations of soothing nature.

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<v Speaker 1>Mere life is a luxury, and the color of the grass,

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<v Speaker 1>of the flowers of the sky, the wind in the trees,

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<v Speaker 1>the outlines of the horizon, the forms of clouds, all

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<v Speaker 1>give a pleasure as exquisite as the sweetest music to

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<v Speaker 1>the ear, famishing for it. The world was all new,

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<v Speaker 1>and to Ruth as if it had just been created

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<v Speaker 1>for her, and love filled it till her heart was

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<v Speaker 1>overflowing with happiness. It was golden September, also at fall kill,

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<v Speaker 1>and Alice sat by the open window in her room

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<v Speaker 1>at home, looking out upon the meadows where the laborers

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<v Speaker 1>were cutting the second crop of clover. The fragrance of

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<v Speaker 1>it floated to her nostrils. Perhaps she did not mind it.

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<v Speaker 1>She was thinking. She had just been writing to Ruth,

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<v Speaker 1>and on the table before her was a yellow piece

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<v Speaker 1>of paper with a faded four leaved clover pinned upon it,

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<v Speaker 1>only a memory now. In her letter to Ruth, she

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<v Speaker 1>had poured out her heartiest blessings upon them both with

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<v Speaker 1>her dear love forever and forever. Thank God, she said,

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<v Speaker 1>they will never know, they never would know, and the

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<v Speaker 1>world never knows how many women there are like Alice,

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<v Speaker 1>whose sweet but lonely lives of self sacrifice, gentle, faithful,

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<v Speaker 1>loving souls blessed Cantinually, she is a dear girl, said Philip,

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<v Speaker 1>when Ruth showed him the letter. Yes, phil and we

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<v Speaker 1>can spare a great deal of love for her. Our

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<v Speaker 1>own lives are so full. End of Chapter sixty three, Appendix.

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<v Speaker 1>Perhaps some apology to the reader is necessary in view

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<v Speaker 1>of our failure to find Laura's father. We supposed, from

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<v Speaker 1>the ease with which lost persons are found in novels,

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<v Speaker 1>that it would not be difficult. But it was. Indeed,

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<v Speaker 1>it was impossible, and therefore the portions of the narrative

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<v Speaker 1>containing the record of the search have been stricken out,

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<v Speaker 1>not because they were not interesting, for they were, but

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<v Speaker 1>inasmuch as the man was not found. After all, it

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<v Speaker 1>did not seem wise to harass and excite the reader

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<v Speaker 1>to no purpose the authors. End of Appendix and End

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<v Speaker 1>of the Gilded Age, A Tale of to Day read

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<v Speaker 1>by John Greenman,