Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1889-11-22

greed. speculated-put all my for.
tune into investments which seemed
full of promises. which In reality were
smiling vortexes, engulfing all IN their
horrid depths.
Il awoke one morning TO find my
self ruined man, surrounded by
wealth abundant, as | thought, TO lift
me out OF trouble; but none OF it my
own. All that owned had been swal-
lowed up.
Il took the first borrowing,
meaning to repay, until ruin utter and
complete overwhelmed me. | gather
ed together all upon which l coul6 lay
my hands, and fled. From that day |
have never known n happy hour. One
man there was Percy, who had been
to me brother-noblc, generous,
true. He had placed his whole fortune
within my grasp, and |. coward,
wretch that l was, betrayed even such
trust. But when the deed was done,
that seemed blood money. l think,
had / been starving, | could not have
touched it. / invested it safely and
securely, hoping some day to restore 1T.
Percy. il that man lives tell him
Horace Gray would have died content
had he restored 10 Reginald Archer his
own, and heard him breathe his for
giveness."
Horace Grey! Could this be he?
The man upon whom all my life had
almost prayed for revenge whose girl
had hoped to win for my wife!
you call yourself Roland" muir
INJURED, almost unconsciously.
IAN assumed name, merely. My
child has never known her rightful
name"
As in trance, sat listening, my
head bowed on my hands. My fathers
form, lying so still and cold as l had
last seen 1T, seemed to forbid one word
of comfort to the dying man. The
young wife in her early grave seem ed
TO call out against it, when, as though
voice had breathed the words into
my ear, came the recollection OF q sem
tence spoken when | had stood, a boy,
beside my fathers knees and spoke OF
revenge - "Horace's conscience has
! long since revenged me. If could see
him to-day | would extend him my
| hand, knowing his suffering had ex-
ceeded mine.'
All, had it not? To look upon the
poor, wasted form, 10 see the last
struggle to restore what he had taken,
! to read the wretchedness of remorse
written in every feature, was sufficient
answer; and falling on my knees beside
! the bed, the last vengeful thought left
me as | said, IF Reginald Archer's
soul could speak to you with my lips
and say his father had never harbored
thought save of pity and forgiveness,
/ WnnlQ IL DfinU Won com f0ptp'
Boy, what mean you? Say that
once again!"
Horace Gray, my father, whom you
wronged forgave you. The property
you have restored shall be your child s.
l am ais SON
proofs proofs he muttered.
you shall have them l answered.
Ana, Fastening TO my room. | soon
returned with papers proving my iden-
tity.
Strange-strange OF all wronged,
he alone can / remember-he whose
son whispers forgiveness God help
me! ] never can forgive myselfn'
Two weeks later the man whom all
my life had regarded as my bitterest
enemy breathed his last; and, 10! / wept
tears OF sincere sorrow as l unclasped
my hand from his cold grasp and raised
the weeping girl who knelt at my side.
He had gone to more merciful judg-
ment than men could give. Before his
death he had placed in my hands the
papers restoring to me my own; but at
my urgent appeal that it would be
Maude's, he at last consented and so
won my vengeance.
How strange, Percy" Maude one
day said TO me, that | should come in
to possession of such fortune when
we have lived so long in almost power
| ty. Poor father! He imagined perhaps
such economy was necessary"
| let her think it SO; and when she
put her hand in mine and shared my
name, l knew that could my father have
looked down from heights above
should have seen the old smile light up
his face, and heard him murmur, 1T Is
as | would have wished it,