Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1889-11-28

greed. / speculated-put all my for
tune into investments which seemed
full OF promises, which in reality were
smiling vortexes, engulfng all in their
horrid depths.
II awolSe one morning to find my
self ruined man, surrounded by
wealth abundant, as l thought, TO lift
me out OF trouble; but none OF it my
own. All that owned had been swal-
lowed up.
81 took the first step-borrowing
meaning TO repay, until ruin utter and
complete overwhelmed me. / gather
ed together all upon which could lay
my hands, and fed. From that day
have never known happy hour. One
man there was Percy. who had boon
to me brother noble, 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 it.
Percy, if that man lives tell him
Horace Gray would have died content
had he restored to Reginald Archer his
own, and heard him breathe his for
giveness.
Horace Grey! Could this be he?
The man upon whom all my life l 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 n trance, sat listening, my
head bowed on my hands. My fathers
form, lying so still and cold as had
last seen it, 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 a SEN
tence spoken when | had stood, boy,
beside my fathers knees and spoke OF
revenge - "Hordce's conscience has
! long since revenged me. II 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
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 l said, IF Reginald Archer's
soul could speak to you with my lips
and say his father had never harborod
thought save of pity and forgiveness,
would it bring you comfort?'
Boy, what mean you? Say that
once againm
Horace Gray. my father, whom you
wronged forgave you. The property
you have restored shall be your child's.
l am his son. :"
"Proofs -proofsr' he muttered.
"You shall have them" l answered.
Ana, Fastening TO my room. l soon
returned with papers proving my iden-
THY.
"Strange-strange! OF all wronged,
he alone can / remember-he whose
son whispers forgiveness. God help
me! never can forgive myselfr'
Two weeks later the man whom all
my life had regarded as my bitterest
enemy breathed his hast; and. 10! / wept
tears OF sincere sorrow as | 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 l 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, 1 knew that could my father have
looked down from heights above l
should have seen the old smile light up
his face, and heard him murmur, at is
as would have wished it,