Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1892-11-04
"You spoke of taking something" !

take it, now! feel sometimes that it's
bound to build me up yet! When the
cooler weather comes I'll get more rest.
and then"
"And then?' repeated, us the poor
boy hesitated.
ooh! I'll get better Them he added.
hopefully. but you don't believe
that, know. Yet Rube can tell you
I've been far worse than You see me
now"
took his hot fingers into my own.
Barton jerome, have you mother?"
YES" his answer but whisper.
"And you loved her onco?"
Don't say that! love her still" he
cried, passionately. But I've got to
die without hcr-without her! o God!
it is bardr'
why without her?" persisted.
because she does not know my
acknowledgements / dare not let
her know! And she could not come to
me, If did. 1t is too late! too Later
His white face was buried deep in
the rough pillow.
Suppose we write to her." l sug-
gestcd "a true mother can forgive
and forget any and everything
"No, MOI" he gasped you must not
write! Rubc does not know, no ono
knows it here, butt am fugitive
from justice!'
did not say thought as much; that
would have been positive cruelty But
| drew poor Barton Jcrome's wasted
face to my breast and pillowed it
there.
You are good man, or you wouldn't
do that" he faltered at last. Mother
used to hold me in her arms just so
when was little fellow. But father
was always cold and stern! couldn't
have done what / did If he had been
different II want to tell you about
it before ! 60 You can write to
mother when all is over-but not now,
not now. l might get well, and it
would not do"
lie had another fit OF coughing then,
and laid him back on the cot, white
and exhausted.
ut won't be long now!' sighed RUDE
Sawyer, stealing in on tiptoc. "An'
wouldn't it nigh about kill his mother
to see him lynn so! After all, it's Just
as well she doesn't know. I'll watch
him tonight as careful as she would
herself. You can sleep there in the
other bunk If need you I'll call"
So | retired from Barton Jerome's
| \ trrl,t
for could not sleep And neither did
our patient. He moaned and tossed
about, and once he again spoke aloud
Rube and | both caught the words
They were: "Motler, father-forgive ="
II reckon they would" the miner
whispered. wish they could see him
now. What's the boy done, anyhow"
"lle will tell me yet" answered.
, ''if he lives long enough"
And the next day, Barton Jerome
rallied. He was even strong enough to
sit up for an hour, by the open door. 1t
was then he told RUDE and me the
whole story Of his blasted life. He
= kept nothing back, and he did not try
to excuse himself in the least. 1t was
: briefly this. He was an only son, and
| he had been carefully brought up and
, educated. But soon after leaving col
| lcge, he had learned to gamble. Then
he lost heavily, and to cancel the bad
debts incurred he deliberately opened
, his fathers safe, and took therefrom a
thousand dollars. After confessing all
, to his still loving mother, he fed from
, home, and did not stop until he reached
, the Pacific coast. There he drifted
from bad to worse, until he finally
, brought up at the little mining camp
: out in the Mubas foothills, where
l had found him the day before.
When he finished his not uncommon
story, | made no comments. They
were not necessary. He was young
and crring, and he was also dying.
S II want to make restitution" he sale
| at last. Il can do it now, thanks tC
t Rube! He made some investments fol
L us both that have turned out well, ant
l | can pay father back, ten-fold. You
. must send it at once. will make out {
i, check for all have. My bank book is
S in that coat behind the door. Sorry
t put off writing so long! I'm not equa
t to letter now! But you can say all
c wish him to know. Don't mention my
: being so i'll! 1t would only worry
:. mother"
+ You must write to them yourself"
n said. decidedly, IF it is only the one
S word forgive-here are pen and paper!'
d You think that would do, sir?"
:. Most assuredly."
i lie took the pen then, and traced tn,
i beautiful word in q scrawl. lie trieC
i to sign his name, but could not. Hi
Y sudden strength deserted him, and h,
o fell back in q faint. Rubc and were
:, long time in restoring him to con
t sciousncss. Indeed we once thought hi
d had left us forever. Dnt Barton Jerom,
lived full fortnight longer ant
), / have never regretted my sta,
| in that remote and far-awa,
o camp. We had many preciou
n talk togcthe~, and he died at last
c thoroughly rcpentant lad, wholly a
o peace with his Maker | wrote to hi
d parents, making the restitution he de
;. sired, and also inclosing his letter o
f? one word, Forgive" For he was new
It or strong enough afterwards to writ,
IS more. And their loving answer cam
c the very morning he passed away
;, They gave him their full and free for
l. givcncss, and oh. how they begged hin
1t to come home! His dying lips wer
d pressed to the letter again and again
c Forgiven by God, and father an,
IS mother, too" he whispered, ''Oh, i
c was too much to hope for, and now t
l. think it is true! You'll bury this lette
IT with me?"
promised.