Andreas to his latest day was ever the faithful adviser of old and young alike.  In the sunshine of love which smiled upon him his austere zeal turned to considerate tenderness.  When at last he lay on his death-bed, and shortly before the end, Melissa asked him what was his favorite verse of the Scriptures, he replied firmly and decidedly: 

“Now the fullness of time is come.”

“So be it,” replied Melissa with tears in her eyes.  He smiled and nodded, signed to Diodoros to draw off his signet ring—­the only thing his father had saved from the days of his wealth and freedom—­and desired Melissa to keep it for his sake.  Deeply moved, she put it on her finger; but Andreas pointed to the motto, and said with failing utterance: 

“That is your road—­and mine—­my father’s motto:  Per aspera ad astra.  It has guided me to my goal, and you—­all of you.  But the words are in Latin; you understand them?  By rough ways to the stars—­Nay what they say to me is:  Upward, under the burden of the cross, to bliss here and hereafter—­And you too,” he added, looking in his darling’s face.  “You too, both of you; I know it.”

He sighed deeply, and, laying his hand on Melissa’s head as she knelt by his bed, he closed his faithful eyes in the supporting arms of Diodoros.

*** End of the project gutenberg EBOOK A THRONY path, by Ebers, V12 ***

******** This file should be named g102v10.txt or g102v10.zip *********

Corrected editions of our eBooks get a new number, g102v11.txt versions based on separate sources get new letter, g102v10a.txt

This eBook was produced by David Widger widger@cecomet.net

Project Gutenberg eBooks are often created from several printed editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the us unless a copyright notice is included.  Thus, we usually do not keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition.

We are now trying to release all our eBooks one year in advance of the official release dates, leaving time for better editing.  Please be encouraged to tell us about any error or corrections, even years after the official publication date.

Please note neither this listing nor its contents are final til midnight of the last day of the month of any such announcement.  The official release date of all Project Gutenberg eBooks is at Midnight, Central Time, of the last day of the stated month.  A preliminary version may often be posted for suggestion, comment and editing by those who wish to do so.

Most people start at our Web sites at:  http://gutenberg.net or http://promo.net/pg

These Web sites include award-winning information about Project Gutenberg, including how to donate, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to subscribe to our email newsletter (free!).