The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1876-06-15
CHAPTER XIII.
".u v,,,,n ,,obt warmth. calm, |,

"All within, Light, warmth, CALM"
"What is the name of the officer doc
tor to whose sick bed you are taking met"
asked Hubert Gray as Arthur and him
self drove at a pretty brisk speed to the
barracks.
"Capt. Jonathan Bennett, of Co. = and
Regt. in u. S. A. He is very i'll, and
appears to be suffering greatly from re-
morse, and entreated me to bring him a
clergyman. His notions of religion are
very vague. He speaks of having in
jured some one, whom he terms his
enemy"
"Capt. Bennett" mused Col. Gray, "the
name is very familiar. 1t may be one of
my old comrades. Is he hopelessly ill ?"
eyes," said Arthur, "this is one of
those cases which makes the physician
feel how valueless is human skill or
science when the divine mandate goes
forth: Dust thou art, and unto dust
shalt thou return for this poor fellow
can only linger few days. l hope you
will be able to offer him some comfort.
But here we are at the barracks"
Arthur entered the sick mans room
followed by Col. Gray.
"Well, Bennett" said the doctor, kindly
and cheerfully, "I hope you feel more
comfortable this afternoon. 1 have
brought a friend and clergyman to see
you. He has been like yourself, an old
Federal soldier-Col. Gray; Capt. Ben
net"
"Col. Grayp exclaimed the sick man,
endeavoring to raise himself in bed, "Col.
Gray! Hubert Gray and has my prayer
been answered? does my enemy stand
before me, and will he forgiven" he aues-
toned eagerly.
Hubert Gray moved quickly and grave
ly to the bedside, and taking the sick
mans hand tenderly in his, said: "I
know not that there is aught of enmity
or strife between us, but if there be, l
forgive you as freely, Capt. Bennett, as 1
have been forgiven by the gracious and
merciful God to whom I now beseech
you to turn your thoughts"
"No, oh no, you know not that there is
aught of strife between us. You know
not that I came between you and the
woman you loved. You know not that
it was my hand which caused to fill with
bitter doubts your trusting heartl Rich
ard Egan's brain and pen dictated the
rude, cold letter you believe to have been
written by Harry Maham, but my hand
contrived them to you. My evI heart
and hand robbed you of letters of sympa-
thy and love from the Mahams which
would have filled your soul with joy.
My hand received from Richard Egan
and conveyed to you the paper contain
ing the false statement of Maj. Egan's
marriage with Marion Maham. Fear
induced Maj. Egan to contradict the re-
port-but the contradiction you never
saw. Do you remember, Col. Gray, at
c., when you came to the rescue of
that brave girl, how you spoke to me
scornfully and tauntingly, aye, you even
questioned my couragel My pride, fend
pride, was reused, and vowed to be re-
venged, and this has been my revenge.
I robbed you of your sweet and holy
trust in the only woman you have ever
loved. found in Maj. Egan (who loved
the girl madly and regarded you as a
rival) an ally as unprincipled as myself,
and helped him to play his game until
had crushed out of your proud heart all
of its sweet truthfulness and hope. But
the girls fair fame, thank God, spared
untouched Egan wished me with
bribed negroes to kidnap her in one of
her long rambles at Berkley Hall and
place her under such circumstances that
she would have been glad to marry him,
and cover what the world would have
seemed shame; but Maggie, my white
robed spirit, my angel Maggie, guarded
her, thank Godl In my desk, Col. Gray,
you will find full account of the whole
transaction between Richard Egan and
myself, also copies of the forged letters
to corroborate my statement You will
also find the letters of the Mahams to
yourself, which I contrived should never
reach you. And now, Hubert Gray, can
you forgive, that may die easyP"
Freely, freely, poor Bennett, and I
beseech you turn your thoughts to Him
whose forgiveness can, not only bestow
comfort, but eternal happiness" said
Hubert Gray, with deep emotion.
"God bless you, Hubert Gray! See
seep p he said, gazing earnestly into space,
maggie, my white robed Maggie, smiles
and beckons me away O, Col. tell her,
tell the Southern girl my Maggie's pure
spirit watched over her." A few days
longer and poor Bennett passed from
earth with the words IT come, come
Maggie" upon his lips.
The papers to which he alluded were
found and read by the Mahams and Col.
Gray. The mystery was solved; the mis-
takes corrected between Hubert, Harry
and Marion, and frank, honest Harry
wondered how Hubert Gray could have
believed he wrote those rude letters. A
week after poor Bennet's death, Hubert
Gray sent the papers found in his desk
to the address of Richard Egan, Charles
ton, S. c., and with the papers letter
! H., ,o.rk;or1o-,