Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1878-01-09

ull'lNl Hlttll' WY ~ WV nv 'iA''NN S'A'N'
sion to the man he had wronged
IL do not wonder this pr:pleXes you
hut the reason is simple He had not the
courage. lie was Il coward, and faced the
secret consciousness of his guilt rather
than The open confession to his friend. No
doubt his broodng over his undiscovered
guilt had rendered his mind diseased, and
that to him was horrible thought, hat he
had by this sin undermined his whole
moral health. There rushed over him the
thought that he had committed the unpar-
donable sin, and he had Il fiendish desire
to commit some open, terrible sin which
would sweep away the reccolIection OF
this. Something held him back. | think
he said that it was the face of his friend,
which was very gentle and seemed at this
time to have an unusual expression Of af
frction for him.
He probably saw, Farley, that this
poor man was suffering; for it is hardly
possible that II man with such an expert
ence could wholly conceal it.
g. No doubt, no doubt; and one day
when he was walking with his friend, and
the conversation gave an opening, he be
gan, without previous intention, and pour
ed out the story Of his sin, and the suffer
ings he had undergone. His mind was
clear enough us to the facts, and he TOLD
them simply, without undertaking to ana
I'VE his own thoughts greatly; but when
he came to describe his own experience
lafterwarl, he felt all the time that there
was II certain insincerity about him; that
he was not really conlessing, that it was
not hard-p which he had reached. 70
speak more distinctly, he told all this rs of
third person, and did not once mention
himself"
Such ways are rarely so blind AS the
teller thinks" said Goldthwait BE
sides, he must finally have told all, or else
you would not know the story"
Very true" said Farley, rising to go;
- but one cannot always tell all secrets,
With that he left the Office, which had
grown dark during the talk. His friend
remained behind to attend to some bus-
ness Farley, US he left the door, stopped
irresolute II moment, AS if he would re-
turn, but he changed his mind and walked
away He walked faster and faster, eav-
inc the town behind until he was on Il
long bridge which crossed the river separa-
ting the city from one of its environs,
The lamps were lighted, and AS he leaned
on the rail, he saw their reflection in the
water Far off on the distant bank II low
Of lights marked the ascent of Il hill, and
he watched, too, the moving steam cars
which carreda Il steady gimmer with them.
{" tie must have understOod;' he cried
to himself. ." He must have known who
these two friends were. What II fool
am that | did not say the three words
which would have made The whole matter
~ plain rs daylight" " He walked ol
moodly, crossing the bridge 1t was
Suurday nigh, and he was overtaken ol
met by many persons going to market ol
To church. Two women who passed hin
were gong to confession, us he overheard
from hrm. lie followed them with ;
su Ien thought and kept not far hehint
them unll they came TO the door OF
Roman Catholic church. lhpy enered
and he, restrained by II vague sense %
strangenes, in such IL place, stoppel Il
the entrance. rhey won Il roll of thpI
weeks sus, he rti 'cted. receive ab,olu
tion and depart. lie hal often hear lh
folly and superstition Of this Gus ON dc
MED but at that moment it seemed to hlC
that there would b. IL most sweet reliet T.
the act Of conlussinS to one. an enlir
stranger perhaps, who yet held the otlic
If priest lie took IL step toward tn
church. Then he checked himself.
"Why do | not confess to my ow
minister?" he asked, and the answer wa
that he had courage only to tell II mai
whom he did not know, and who woul,
hold his confidence sacred. And wha
were these ministers and priests? VIII.
make confession to them? 1t was becaus
in some way they heard for God. 10 Goo
all final confession must be made. Thel
came into his mind IL passage of Scripture
which was familiar enough to him, but o
apparently no connection with his presen
trouble:
lie that loreth not his Jr0ther whom h,
hath seen, how Gun he lore God Whom III
hath not SeeR?'
He repeated it mechanically, when sud
denly, as one turns II precious stone to The
right angle and receives an unexpected
flood of light, the simple truth shone upon
him; the confession which he had SO otter
made to God win great parllcuI'ri'y
could not bring absolution an! peace be-
cause he kept back the confession from the
brother whom he had wronged. ne turned
and hastened back to the city, lie began
to run, for fear some doubt should catch
him. He buttoned his coat about MN,
planted his arms at his side and RACED
over the bridge. lite struck across The
city for Goldthwait's office. 1t was dark
Of course he had left for home and Farley
started for his friends house. lie was
eager to tell him-as eager us II he haC
some glorious news for him. lie ran VI
the steps ont Of breath, and trembling
with excitement. The servant who open
ed the door saw him standing Ihelo' hl'
face agtated, so that he could not speak
" Mr. Farley said he, IL 'il over
Mr.. Goldthwait has Just dIea.
"Died" gasped the man. some reIa
tions who had heard OF his sudden ueaIh
at that moment came up the steps ano