I
wanted you; I didn't know but I was about getting through. But--I
believe I'm still here, after all."
Then he saw a strange sight. Great tears leaped into the eyes he was
looking at, tears that rolled unheeded down the fresh-coloured cheeks of
his boy. Richard tried to speak, but could not. He could only gently
grasp his grandfather's hand and press it tightly in both his own.
"I feel pretty well battered up," the old man continued, his voice
growing stronger, "but I think I can move a little." He stirred slightly
under his blanket, a fact the nurse noted with joyful intentness. "So I
think I'm all here. Are you so glad, Dick, that you can cry about it?"
The smile came then upon his grandson's lighting face. "Glad,
grandfather?" said he, with some difficulty. "Why, you're all I have in
the world! I shouldn't know how to face it without you."
The old man dropped off to sleep again, his hand contentedly resting in
his grandson's. Presently the doctor looked in, studied the situation in
silence, held a minute's whispered colloquy with the nurse, then moved
to Richard's side. The young man looked up at him and he nodded.
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