The Elk advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Elk Co., Pa.) 186?-1868, 1867-09-12

wronged but as the end drew near,
and remorseful' memories crowded
fast upon him, this first feeling was
superseded by a great hunger and
craving to hear Benjamine Mays voice
say that he forgavo him, for God is
more merciful than men,, thought Jo-
siah Keep.
So, two days before, he had hired a
neighbor to go in quest of Benjamine
May, desiring the latter to come to
him, as he hoped for mercy in his last
extremity, and no5 daring even then
to disclose his real name, lest the old
bitterness should rise up in the soul
of the other, and he would refuse to
grant what he would deny to no other
man-the prayer of Josiah Keep.
So he lay there with The tide of his
life going out, and the lights burning
low, while tho storm shouted fercely
outside, and death and that young girl
watched by the sick man.
Bessie he called at last-and she
was at his side iu q moment.
How sick you do look, father
smoothing the iron.gr hair with one
hand, and looking at him, her small,
sallow face full of great pity and
grief, although Bessie Keep had no
idea of that unseen presence just now
crossing the threshhold
Bessie, poor little Bessie, what will
become of you ? said the dying man,
looking with a craving tenderness
which it seemed must have turned
stone to pity on the little girl.
Whatsoever his faults had been, he
had loved her, the last Of his family,
the delicate clinging, helpless child,
who still of all the world clung fast to
him in unwavering faith and tender
ness.
'Ah, never mind me, father, dear.
l shall get along we'll enough if you'll
only grow better
Tears strained themselves into the
clrild's eyes she put her cheek down
to her fathers and wondered that it
felt so cold, and drew the coverlet
closer around him, aud the storm
thundered on outside, and the wind
mapped white banners of snow through
the air, and Josiah Keep lay dying,
dying, dying
Suddenly the child lifted her head.
Il hear something, father shat is not
Ike the wind she said it sounds like
horses feet and she sprang to the win"
dow.
There, close at hand, toiling thro'
the beating wind and driving snow,
she saw a wagon with two occupants.
The men, worn out and half frozen,
sprang from the wagon just after Bes-
sizes Joyful shrek, that reached them
above the bowling of the storm
They are here ! Oh, father, they
are here
Aman little past his prime, strong
and hale, with white hair about face
which never left any one who studied
it a doubt of the heart beneath it, was
Benjaminc May.
He came up now to the bedside,
and with the first glance at the face
lying there, the face dropped, and
drawn in the ashy pallor of death,
Bcnjamine May forgot all the chill and
WEAKNESS which had possessed him.
Ny friend, have come to hear
what you have to say, he answered,
bending tenderly over the dying man,
Josiah Keep looked up in the face Of
man he lad wronged so vitality more
than a score of years ago. Despite the
cheerful, kindly countenance there were
lines that he had helped to carve.
DO you know me p
Benjamine May looked at the gastly
face. Something familiar struck him
in the sharp features. His memory
half cleared up, yet he shook his head.
NO
Il am-Josiah Keep
The listener covered his face with
his hands moment. All, dear
God he said, but not lightly, even iu
the shock and horror of that moment.
/ have sent for you, Beujamine
May, to hear whether you will look On
rue, lying here, and say you forgive me
for all the evil | once did you and yours.
want Gods mercy now, and it seems to
me cannot lay hold of any hope for
that until l have first had yours
1t was an awful moment for Benja-
mine May, All bis life long he had
carried the Gre of one bitterness burns
ing down deep in his soul. And now
tie wrecked hopes OF his early man
hood, the fair, still face of the young
wife that he had lam down in her grave,
feeling that Josiah Keep was her mui.
derer, rose up before him, and his heart
throUbed moment with the old fierce.
ness of its youth. 1t was but a mo.
ment. Then he looked again on the
face OF his ancient enemy, and the
fearful craving of those dying eyes was
| forgive you the wrong said Ben.
ianiuc May, taking the cold hand in
his, and by 50 mueh as Gods mercy
it greater than mine, may he also for
give you
Then there came n swift shriek. as