Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1883-04-12

! God knows L would give you all the
miserable years / may yet live could l
undo the cruel deed. l will take him
to hospital and when he RECEIVERS
will for his sake try to redeem
myself"
"No," said Mrs. Comstock, "you
shall not take him from me again.
Stay moment, will tell my husband
all and see what he will suggest"
"Oh, Bessie spare me the shame
of meeting the man who occupies the
place in your heart 1 once filed" he
pleaded sadly.
Love for Jack Holbrook had died
out years before; yet she pitied the
trembling outcast who had strayed to
her door-pitied without being able
to connect him with the handsome,
dashing, young fellow who had won
and trampled upon her girlish affec-
tions.
"My husband is the soul of gener-
osity and will gladly help you to begin
life anew. Hark p she went on, as
suming listening attitude, {" hear
his footstep now; he is coming to see
what has detained me so long"
Mr.. Comstock entered the kitchen
and was greatly amazed when in
few hurried words his wife explained
the state of affairs.
"Do whatever you please, my dar-
ling" he said, 81 will consent to any
thing that will make you happy"
Jack Holbrook looked at the woman
who had once been his wife with a
bitter pang of regret; then at his own
tattered garments, and flush of
shame rose to his cheeks. At Bessie's
request he carried the sick boy up
stairs. An hour later the family ply
sician arrived and declared the child
to be dangerously i'll with pneumonia.
Through the long hours of the night
the discovered pair watched at the
bedside of their dying child. Who
shall say what Jack Holbrook's refec-
tions were as he viewed his past life
of folly all, that led him step by
step into the lowest depths of degra-
dation.
In the midst of his most acute suf-
ferings, poor Jack vaguely wondered
why the pretty lady kissed him so
often; and why, when she left the
room for an instant, the man who had
befriended him kissed the same spot
her lips had touched. The doctor re-
turned at an early hour and said the
child could not recover. Everything
that tenderness could devise was done
to assuage his pain, and at nightfan
the frail body vras at rest. An hour
or two before he died Bessie raised
him in her arms, saying:
"Look at me, Jack. l am your own
dear mamma who lost you long ago.
l had prayed every day that you might
be restored to me. You are going to
God, my darling, but we will meet
again in Heaven. Do you think you
will know me, Jack? ?"
"Oh, my boy p said his father, "for
give me before you go. / have been
the cause of all your suffering. Ask
your mother to forgive me, too
al forgive and mamma forgives,"
murmured the child.
Bessie reached out her hand as
token of pardon. For moment Jack
Holbrook held it in his own. but
neither spoke word. Presently Bes-
sic said, tearfully:
"Perhaps this dear child was re-
stored to me in order to teach me the
divine lesson of forgiveness; and it
may be for the purpose of leading you
back to better life. God grant that
his mission may not have been in
vain"
After the funeral Mr.. Comstock had
long conversation with Jack Hol-
brook, who appeared like different
Individual with a decent suit of
clothes on.
"As a guarantee of my belief in
your sincere repentance, 1 am ready
to supply you with means to leave the
city and go to some place where your
history is unknown, that you may be-
gin life over again." observed Mr..
Comstock, handing him roll of bills.
The poor outcast was overwhelmed
at this unexpected kindness, and
promised faithfully TO follow the ad-
vice.
"May God bless you and your wife,
he said, falteringly. you are
worthier of her than ever could have
been. Tell her will remember Jacks
mission"
Ted was sent to home for friend
less boys. but is now a clerk in Mr..
Comstock's Office and desperately in
love with the "yeller-haired CURL"
Occasionally Mr.. Comstock hears from
and writes to Jack Holbrook, who is
/ prosperous merchant in a Western
town. Bessie and Jack are the guard
ian angels of his existence, and he
hopes to meet them again in that
place where there is "no marrying or
| giving in marriage"
The house on Staten Island, New
York, in which Garibaldi lived has