Elizabeth daily monitor. [volume] (Elizabeth, N.J.) 1868-1880, 1873-11-22
Written for the Daily Monitor. ]
FORGIYING AND FORGIVEN.

[coNcLUsIoN.l

brother, John had heard nothing o
Florence and Flossy. And sitting by
tie dying mans bedside, but dimlJ
conscious Of what he was saying, hi;
thoughts wandered to his fair little wi e
and pretty daughter, with her merry
blue eyes and golden curls.
Eight long years ago Were they
living, or -.
Here his meditations were interrupted
by Halls weak voice:
"Iknow where your wife is John,
and have known fol the past four years,
though I've never seen her. Tn dying
now, Though they told me that six
months ago. and I regret-you can't i'm
agine how greatly--the wrong did you
in return for your kindness to me, when
every one else tried to push me down
further. John, look at me, for wish
to see that you believe me p
John raised his head, disclosing g
countenancc fully as haggard and drawn
as the one upon the pillow, and looked
at the speaker.
Clearly, truthfully, the dying man
met his gaze. And bitterly unforgivine
as John felt, feeling of pity thrilled
his heart when he noted the CLASSY eye,
the hectic flush, and the blue Hinged
lips of his erripg but repentant brother.
"John," the weak voice trembled, as
he attempted to touch Johns hand
"John, why didn't you know better
than to place any confidence in the sto-
les told you You knew what vii
lain | was - knew how little I was
to be trusted John, Florence was as
innocent as Flossy, as true and good "
Overcome by the exertion of rising,
he fell back ON the pillow, painting for
breath, while John, stern and upright,
looked the horror he could not express
in words.
Florence innocent ? Florence wrong
ed and insulted by his base suspicious
He arose from his chair, his eyes liter
ally blazing, as he asked in harsh un-
natural voice
"Do you mean to say that the in.
situations you made the notes you ex-
hibited, were forgeries and lies ?"
eyes !"
"Then, you may die without my for
giveness, for I will never, never forgive
you, Henry Wilson, never, though you
arose from the dead to ask my pardon y
The dying man covered before the
wrath of the relentless brother, yet he
made another appeal.
John, we are brothers, and Tn dy.
ing. For you, there still remain years
/ of happiness but for me-what hope
have beyond the grave ?"
A harsh reply trembled upon Johns
lips but ere he could utter it, before he
had time to unclasp the hot, clingine
fingers so tightly grasping his, small
voice, so it seemed, whispered in his
ear:
&C. If only the dead could tell just when
To come back and be forgiven"
"To come back and be forgiven !
All better man than John Wilson
would have found it difficult to gran
the desired pardon /! Yet now, the me
mory of his own hasty injustice, the
thought of his own share in wronginI
his gentle wife, made him feel that h
too needed to make ample PREPARATION
for any injury done in a moment of pas
, sionate jealousy.
5 Sinned against, yet SHINING VIVA
right had he to expect forgiveness, un
less he also forgave
Hal, gazing wistfully at him, saw hi
stern features relax, and noted the sol
tened expression of his lips. Holding
/ out his hand, he said, earnestly;
"John, forgive me, before it is to
J late p'
"Hal, brother !" was all John said, a
{ he grasped the outstretched hand bu
: it was sufficient.
Over the dying mans face fiitte
q look of calm contentment. Hi
breath came in Auttering gasps, and O
s his brow appeared the damp drops whic
: plainly foreshadowed the approach c
8 death.
Putting his arm around him, job
: raised him to more comfortable pos
ton.
v Slowly the blue eyes opened, shinin
; with love and peace upon the face benz
3 ing over him.
= "Ask Florence to--forgive-me,
n gasped, "and John, kiss-me--iust-
e onoer'
Y John did so-not once, but man
times.
4 "John," continued the fast sinkin
: man, "will-you -take-me-away-
!, from -here-and - bury-me by =
:. mother ?'
e "Yes, Hal p
4 The heavy head rested with create