Liberty advocate. [volume] (Liberty, Miss.) 1835-1866, 1844-03-30
THE LAST PARDON.

He turned away MI" 'o
GESTURE. A.,t doinon
The parent was yet silent. 81
9Iwasdeaf-blind-desperate--mad.'I
"But YOU had promised! Here-here|
vour written oath--deliberately sign
Sdz-solemnly sworn to--never to aP-
pro.ch the gambling table again. 1t is
broken. You are no son oil NINE
at was in moment of hilarious reVel
aha, allowed myself TO he ensnared into
IN commission of an act abhorrent 10 my
soul" i
oAud then your blow upon the forehead
~ him who had not injured you; your
DroHigate duel, and your perseverlns at
Tempt TO inaict death upon your generous
foe!' Carlo, you make my blood cold.
Whence came this ruthless and bloody
temper? Your mother was mild, pure
and gentle; and |, | am no brawler; no
ruffian; no stabber; Carlo, Carlo, you
have almost broken my heart!"
"My fa,her-I will tell you whence
Game my evil disposition | do so in
part to reciprocate the severe reproaches
d which you advance against me. N my
childhood was beautiful. My charms
Aa,,ered The vanity of a father and moth.
Ter, who had it in their power to correct
INV passions. They did not so. They
weakly perlerred their pleasure before
nv interest, and now reap the bitter
fruit, Is it now, that am what you and
she have made me, that you would aban-
don me TO poverty? You acknowledge
that am wild, and incapable of govern
ing myself Fear then, to throw upon his
own resources, in world full of tempta-
lions, one whom your blindness has rem
dered too feeble to resist them
"Carlo, you are fend! Has your
sain,ed mother, from her early grave, no
voice for your bosom? Have deserved
your sneers, your insults"
"You have, He who brings into life
N being, owes it to him 10 watch his course
10 the end--to guide and protect him
through good and through evil"
"My son, rejoined the aged sire, in a
calm voice, but with deep emotion, Sin
some degree you are light. lam, at least,
partly to blame that you are what you
are. Had J., in your earliest youth, adop'
ted with you severe measures, | might
have crushed the demon in you. Your
accusation is unleeling-but it isl just. |
will, therefore, for this once, again for
give you. Since your maturity, as du-
ring your boyhood, you have been con-
sinual pain, terror and disgrace to me.
You have deprived my days Of peace,
and my nights ofrepose; you have squan-
dcred my money, and brought dishonor
on my narle--yet once more | forgive
you. had formed different determine
tion--it was my design to disown you;
for, however wrong lmay have been du-
ring your infancy, in indulging you inju-
diclously, have for the years which have
since passed, made all the atonement in
my power, and without avail. You dc
not love me--you do not even respect the
shade of your lamented mother. II, in
my bosom, inspite Of my reason, lingel
yet much affection Cor you, it is mournfu
and almost hopeless; but | forgive you
You are the last scion Of our noble house
With you our family name expires. an
reluctant to deal TOO severely with you
Your banker shall be authorised to pay
your debts, and viii use my infuenc,
with the king in your shameful affai
with Count B."
"fou make me breathe again." criet
the youth, throwing himself into his faith
ers arms; the old man, however repul
Sed him.
before | bestow upon you my aid an,
my forgiveness, hear me swear upon thi
molly cross--I forgive no more! Be III,
past forgotten. For the future, the con
sequences Of your deeds fall on your
mead. on this sacred relic | repeat tn,
oath: interfere no more--l forgive n,
more'--Now embrace me, my son, ant
snow Yourself hereafter more worthy o
81 your name.
lhe smooth azure Of the bay Of Maple
was suddenly darkened and scattered will
yam by one Of those violent tempest