Good-bye My Lady - Part II

News came to me that Lady’s father the Duke of Newsprint was getting worse by the day so I decided to pay him a visit. I found him sitting in the dark infirmary on the edge of his cot (for some strange reason he hated lying down) glaring at me. I inquired about his health and how Lady was handling his illness but all he would talk about was his new four-horse chariot. It was his pride and joy and he inquired as to what was to become of his chariot if he died. I told him that I had no use for it since I had plenty of chariots and it would go back to the previous owner who he was still indebted to. That strangely seemed to satisfy him and we proceeded to have a cordial conversation. Later Lady told me that he liked me but that he thought that I had came to visit him to get money or acquire his chariot from him. He was a very cautious man concerning his wealth because he had so many subjects relying upon his generosity.

I visited the Lady and the Duke many times during the next few months. The Lady cared for the Duke day and night without rest so every few days a subject would agree to take care of the Duke while I took Lady out for a ride in the country. There we had many adventures but those are for telling under different tales.

Later in the year I received word that Lady was asking for my help with the Duke’s care so I agreed to help for one night. The Duke had always been a self-reliant man of action and just couldn’t fathom the possibility of not being able to go where he wanted or when he wanted; however, the Duke at this point had become confined to the cot.

The Lady was vexed with the Duke’s constant attempts to leave the safety of the cot. She hoped that my presence would help sooth his troubled mind. Once when Lady had left the room he looked at me with his soulful eyes and said: “Watch for her.” He then proceeded to attempt another escape from his imprisoning cot. With all his strength he couldn’t get up so he settled back into his cot one more time.

In the small hours of the morning when the Lady had retired the Duke looked at me and said: “I AM GETTING OUT OF THIS COT!!!” I looked back at him and said: “Go ahead if you can. Your mind is strong but your body is weak.” For over an hour the Duke tried to no avail. Just like a new colt rebelling against the bridal and saddle.

In the darkness of early morning the Duke finally looked back at me and said: “ I will never get out of this cot." The look in his eyes was the same dull look as the colt who finally resigns itself to the bridle and saddle. In that moment he realized that his fate was sealed.

The next morning when Lady awoke she found a man resigned to his fate who never again tried to be released from the cot.

The Duke embraced death bravely, however, he hated intensely leaving Lady behind with no one to protect her. During one of my subsequent visits with the Duke he made a pact with me to be her protector upon his death. It was a great honor and I accepted the charge, which gave him great joy for he was truly concerned for her future.

That next week the Duke died with Lady at his side. He left her with a smile and said: “I want to take you with me but I can’t so Good-bye My Lady until we meet on the other side.”