Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1892-05-19
certain indescribable something about

| reverend beauty clothed the worn Old
features with grandeur not of earth.
Want weakness and woe. it is true,
were depicted there deeply craven
by long years OF care and suffering
but of wickedness there was not u
single trace. His was remarkable
face for a desp:sed and homeless tramp
to wear
DIR. Palmer came at once but after
examining the patient carefully he
only shook his head. With the best
of care the old man might possibly
pull through, but he was SO aged and
feeble that it was exceedingly doubt
full. SO saying he took his departure,
leaving behind him some simple rem
edy.
Kind tender hearted Aunt Libbie
would not hear OF moving the unfor.
tunate old man. and at her reque I
sat by his bedside all that night. He
! did not come to his senses fully. but
along toward morning he began to
babbe necessarily as people often do
! in severe cases o. fever. He evident
! ly fancied he was talking with soma
one for he rela ed quite II coherent
chapter from the history of his shad-
owed past.
Listen. dear" he murmured. Il
will tell you the whole bitter sorrow
full truth. am as innocent rs your.
self but my half-brother Thompson
Dacre. in appearance IN very second
self is a wicked and desperate man.
Il fear it was he who saw the dea-
con draw his money and who followed
him hOmeward 10 commit the robbery
which resulted in the victims death.
But alas! ! cannot prove my where
abouts nor can ! give the information
that might place my only living rela-
tive upon the gallow. The evidence
against me is conclusive and my lips
are sealed.
For Gods sskc believe me, darling,
and do not drive me from your side
forever into the depths of the blacklist
and most hopeless despair" he walled
moment later. 1t will ruin me.
soul and body il you do. Things look
terribly dark, | know. but before
Heaven | am innocent"
Again the old man became silent,
but after n few moments pause he
went on with his pathetic story.
she would not listen to me 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?"
Again he ceased speaking for a mo-
mcnt only TO resume IL little later.
Oh God, what have | done to
merit this life of ccaselcsS suffering
that has been my portion for moro
years than can remember? | be.
came Il wanderer and an outcast all
my life, All my hope and my ambi-
ton and even my love OF life died
within me on the terrible night when
Libbie condemned me for my broth.
er'S crime. My heath failed and
became beggar and tramp but
thank God! have never been worse:
Il have sunk low, indeed. but my
hands are still unStained by crime. I
am only Il poor forsaken, worthless
old wretch without a hope or pur.
pose in this world or the next; dark
unsightly blot upon the pure book OF
nature and yet thank God! am still
an honest man.
but feel that the dissolution |
have longed for SO long is drawing
near to me at last. ! will seek once
more the scenes OF my happy child.
hood before the shadow Of despair
and tho dark mantle of death hava
enwrapped me forever IN their shroud
of al
blackncss. If that boon may yet bs
mine. | will look once moro upon tho
face Of her love ere ! sink forever in
the cold and silent tomb. . God I'M
heaven, grant it in thy mercy
His voice cea ed aga and lis
tened breathlessly for his next words
They soon came
Hear me dearest and do not
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;
| will tell you the whole, miserable
story once again"
| perceived that the old mans voice
was rapidly growing weaker. so !
! slipped noselessly from the apartment
and sought Aunt Libbic. She was al.
ready up and found her in the kitchen
helping Maggie.
Ito in and watch by tho old man
for few minutes while get breath
of fresh air" l said. He is going
fast, think. Be quick"
Without word she obeyed and
| the door Of the sick room closed be-
hind her Aunt Libbie was alone
with the dying tramp For more than
an hour | heard the murmur OF tho
unconscious old beggar's voice, inter.
rupted occasionally by bitter sob
from Aunt Libbie then both ceased
and all was silent.
When | opened the door of the lit
tie bedroom single glance assured
me that all was over with the old man
and his long hopeless existence as a
tramp was ended at last Aunt Lib
bie's friendly doorway had been for
him the portal to world of eternal
light.
The worn old features had become
calm and tranquil once more, smoothed
by the soft caressing fingers OF the
angel Of the Lord. a smile OF peace
and happiness had fallen upon the
icy lips with the seal of deaths eter-
nal silence and the shining circle of
white hair CLEANED about the marble
face like halo of silvery light
Rest had come at last; it was with him
Aunt Libbie was kneeling by the
bedside. with her white lips pressed TO
the broad white brow whose deep
burrows had suddenly been trans
formed into Ihread-like lines by the
wondrous magic OF the mighty inys-
terry OF death. She did not STIR AS
entered. and when called her softly
she made no answer
Awed By the silent majesty that al.
ways attends tho solemn court o.
the King of Tcrrors, whether he hold
it in palace or in a cot / stepped
noiselessly to her side and lightly