The state herald., 1892-05-20
certain indescribsble something about /


reverend beauty clothed tho worn old
features with u grandeur not Of earth.
Want weakness and WOO 1t Is true,
were depicted there deeply craven
by long years OF care and suffering.
but OF wickedness there was not a
single trace His was remarkable
face for q despised and homeless tramp
TO wear
DR.. Palmer camo at once, but aitor
examining tho patient carefully he
only shook his head. With the bost
Of care tho old man might possibly
pull through, but he was so agod and
feeblo that II was exceedingly doubt
full. So saying no took his departure
loavipy bohind him somo simple rem.
edy,
Kind. tender.hcartod Aunt Libblo
would not hear OF moving tho unfor-
tunate old man. and at her request /
sat by his bedside all that night He
did not come to his senses fully. but
along toward morning he began to
babble necessarily Us people oiton do
In severe cases OF fever. He evident.
ly fancied he was talking with some
one, for he rela.od quito coherent
chapter from the history OF his shad j.
owed past.
Listen. dear" he murmured, II
will toll you tho whole bitter sorrow.
full truth. am ms innocent rs your.
self; but my half-brothcI Thompson
Dacre in appearance my very second
sell, 10 a wickod and desperate man.
Il fear 1t was he who saw tho dea-
con draw his money and who followed
him homeward to commit tho robbery.
which resulted In tho victims death.
But, alas! / cannot prove my where.
nbouts nor can give the information
that might place my only living rela-
tive upon the gallowa Tho evidence
against mo is conclusive and my lips
arc sealed.
'For Gods sske believe mo, darling.
and do not drive mo from your sido
forever into tho depths OF tho blackest
and most hopeless despair"' he walled
moment later. lit will ruin me-
soul and body. II you do. Things look
terribly dark. l know, but before
Heaven am innocent"
Again the old man became silent,
but after n few moments pause ho
went on with his pathetic story.
She would not listen TO mo and
condemned me unheard." he moaned.
She believed me guilty and spurned
me from her with horror and loathing.
What have to live for now?n
Again he ceased speaking for mo-
ment only 10 resume u little later.
oh God. what have l done TO
merit this life o. ceaseless suffering
that has been my portion for moro
years than l can remember? bo.
camo n wanderer and nn outcast all
my life. All my hope and my ambl-
tiOn. and even my love OF life died
within me on tho terrible night when
Libbie condemned mo for my broth
er's crime My health failed and
became beggar and n tramp. but
thank God! have never been worse:
Il have sunk low. indeed. but my
hands are still unstained by crime.
am only poor forsakon. worthless
old wretch without n hope or pur-
pose in this world or tho next; dark.
unsightly blot upon the pure book OF
nature and yet thank God! nm still
an honest man.
But feel that the dissolution
have longed for SO long is drawing
near to me ut last will seek onco
more tho scenes OF my happy child
haAA hAf hn oh ~ l.
and the dark mantle OF death have
enwrnpped me forever IN their shroud
ing folds OF clinglng. smothering
blackncss. II that boon may yet be
mine ] will look once moro upon the
face OF her love Gro l sink forever In
the cold and silent iomh o God In
heaven. grant II In thy morcyr'
His voice ceased agn'n and lis
tened brenthlessly for his noxt words.
They soon came.
Hear mo, dearest and do no,
withhold the balm OF your forgiveness
from poor miserable dying wretch.
You and you only, have loved through
all these long weary. hopeless years;
do not scorn me now. Listen. darling;
l will tell yon the whole miserable
story once again"
perceived that tho old mans voice
was rapidly growing weaker so ]
slipped no!selessly from tho apartment
and sought Aunt Libbie She was ui.
ready up and found her In the kitchen
helping Maggie.
80 In and watch by tho old man
for n few minutes while got breath
OF fresh air." l said ''llo Is going
fast ] think. 30 quick"
Without word she obeycd. and
the door OF tho sick room closed be.
hind her. Aunt Libbio was alone
with tho dying tramp. For more than
nm hour / heard tho murmur OF the
unconscious old bcggar's voice inter.
rupted occasionally by n bitter sob
from Aunt Libbic; thsn both ceased
and all was silent
When I opened tho door Of tho lit.
tie bedroom single glance assured
mo that all wins over with tho old man
and his long. hopeless existence ms a
tramp was ended mt last Aunt lib
bios friendly doorway had been for
him tho porta. to world OF ctornal
light
Tho worn old features had become
calm and tranquil once moro smoothed
by tho soft carossing fingers OF tho
angel OF tho Lord A smile OF peace
and happiness Ind fallen upon tho
Icy lips with tho soal OF deaths ctcr-
nal silcncc. md tho shining circle oi
white hnir CLEANED nbout the marble
faco like hnlo OF silvery light
Rest had come Mt last; II was with him.
Aunt Libbio wns kncoling by the
bedside with hor white lips pressed "a
tho broad. white brow whose dcor
burrows had suddenly boon trans.
formed into thrcad-llko lines by the
wondrous magic OF tho mighty mys'
terry OF death. sho did not STIR IN
entered. and when called hor softl,
shc mndo no answer.
Awod by the silent majesty that nj.