The New Orleans crescent., 1868-06-28
Written for the Sunday cresesnt.i - =
BARTRELEE. t.
CHAPTER -xxv1-coNT1NUED.

his own words, as Richard Bartrelle raised him
from the ground, l am shot all to pieces"
1t was true Death had clutched its victim
Tenderly raising his fallen enemy from the
field, he had him removed to the quarters he
now occupied and from that hour forth he
had tended him with unwearied assiduity.
He saw that the wound was mortal-no power
on earth could save him and the brave heart
in his bosom prompted him by every means
in his power to ease his sufferings. Had it
been otherwise Bartrelle would not have so
readily ministered to his fallen foe. But the
CHASTITY spectacle of that crushed and writhing
form drove from his breast the hostility which
until now he had cherished with vindictive
animosity.
He had telegraphed his father of his sons
condition, and until he should arrive he de-
termined to devote himself to his care with
unremitting attention. At first young Hayes
received these attentions with suspicion and
distrust; but when he saw how earnest,
watchful and tender Bartrelle was, his con-
science was smitten, and lifting his eyes to
the face of his nurse, he said:
"Bartrelle, 1 have been your bitter aud un-
relenting enemy, but magnanimity such as
this l never dreamed of my heart is too
heavy for words-forgive mel 1t is the first
time Warren Hayes ever said as much but,
God knows, wish what is past was undone."
"Dont think of it now, Warren-let
ii CO."
"But you forgive me say that you do"
81 do sincerely against you now 1 enter
tain no enmity whatever nothing but kind
ness !"
81 thank you, Dick lay my evil deeds up
against me no longer think only of our boy
hood-we were friends then God knows,
wish we had always remained so but it was
fated not to be had it been, 1 would not
now be tortured by remorsel" came feebly
from the pallid lips.
"Think no more of it, Warren-do not let
it give you any more trouble. 1 do not think
of it at all"
You are very kind to me, Dick-more
than kind but cannot so easily forgive my
self"
"Again, let me entreat you, Warren, to let
all that pass You are in no condition to dis
cuss these matters now. have said that l
forgive any injury you may have ever done
me or mine, and mean it fully so do not
discompose yourself any further about it
Now let me apply this cloth to your wound,
and Bartrelle adjusted the cooling cloth 10 the
shattered hip. AS he spoke to Hayes, mild
clear light shone from his eyes-the light of
peace-and when he addressed him, it was
with softened tone, and his voice vibrated
with a strange tenderness hitherto unknown
to that fierce, intractible nature.
But for Warren Hayes, he could not be
quiet The awful sense of approaching
death was upon him. The heart-rending
pang which accompanied the thought that
this world was no more for him-that he was
leaving it with all his sins upon his head was
more than he could endure in silence. Now
that this overwhelming sense of mortality
was upon him, he felt that he must
be at peace with the world before
he died, or his accusing conscience
would proclaim Lis misdeeds at the
throne on high. For the time then, and
under the pressure of the terrible chill that
was freezing all his faculties, he felt that he
could better trust in mans forgiveness than
in that of his offended maker Poor man,
his sins were great, and his awful destiny new
to his thoughts. Brave at the sight of physi-
cal danger, he trembled now-trembled as
his feet trod the crumbling brink of the
great river, and its chilling waves dashed be-
meath him.
Thus the days and nights passed on until
the evening when we introduced them to our
reader. The greatest anxiety of the diving
man was the fear that he would not be able
to see his father and obtain his BLESSING.
Now, when the world was fading from around
him he knew his worth. He did honor to his
kingly nature, and that wayward heart was
stirred by memories that swelled it almost to
bursting that swept down the
aisle Of time, picturing his youth, his boy
hood, and the bright promise that ushered in
his mans estate; but bringing with them the
accusing wall of hopes unfulflled and op-
portunities forever wrecked.
''It is almost time they were here, if they
are coming, don't you think So Dick ?"
''Be patient, yet a little while, Warren,
they will comel"
"oh 1 hope so, Dick, hope so !" and the
feeble voice had plaintiye thrill that made
the heart of his companion stir with emotions
kinder and more thrilling than any he had
yet experienced. For it could not be sur
prising that, although he had forgiven him
the injuries he had inflicted, he might not
fully sympathize in his sufferings. But his
heart would have been adamant to have with
stood that sorrowful cry. He bent above
him then, with a new light in his eye, and
softened tenderness in his touch, as he
smoothed back from the temples the damp
and matted clusters of hair.
His face had grown very thin, but it still
retained the same proud contour of features,
the same winning charm of look that had
made Warren Hayes, in the days of his
strength and vigor so charming companion,