He waited until the doctor was at liberty and then
returned with him. There was no response to their knock, and again
Theodore opened the door and went in, the doctor following.
The old man did not move or look up even when the doctor spoke to
him. He lay as Theo had last seen him only that his fingers were
closed tightly over the stem of the rose, and one crimson petal lay on
the pillow close to the sunken cheek. The old man was dead--but who
could tell what thoughts of other days--of sinless days long past,
perhaps--may have been awakened in his heart by that fragrant,
beautiful bit of God's handiwork?
As Theodore went quietly up the stairs, he was glad that he had not
passed by Old Man Schneider's door.
IX. THEO IN TROUBLE
Theo went regularly now to the mission school on Sunday afternoons,
and Mr. Scott had become much interested in him.
One day Mr. Scott pleased Theo immensely by going to the boy's stand
and getting his lunch there, and not long after he went one evening to
the boy's room. He found the place dark and the door locked, but as he
was turning away, Theo came running up the stairs.
"Oh!" he cried out, in a tone of pleased surprise, as he saw his
teacher. "Wait a minute an' I'll get a light."
Having lighted his lamp, the boy sat down on the cot, giving the
broken stool to his visitor.
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