The Forrest City times., 1892-05-20

inherited the paternal homestead, for she was an only child. She remained true to her fallen idol and never married; but when Maggie. her favor ite cousins child. became my wife she rendered us home with her. an offer which We gladly accepted. Her pretty little house had been our abode for just ten long, happy years on the very day she found the forlorn old beggar lying helpless and dying by the roadside.
 Wanderer though he evidently was. the old man was quite clean and while ragged and dusty there was certain indescribable something about him that proclaimed he had once been gentleman His long neglected hair and beard of a silvery white gave him the aspect of one of the patri- archs of old. and a certain grave and reverend beauty clothed the worn old features with e grandeur not of earth. Want weakness and woe it Is true were depicted there. deeply graven by long years of care and suffering but of wickedness there was not a single trace. His was a remarkable face for desp:sed and homeless tramp to wear
 Dr 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 1t was exceedingly doubt fuL 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 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 as people often do in severe cases of fever He evident ly fancied he was talking with some one for he related quite a coherent chapter from the history of his shad- owed past
 Listen. dear" he murmured, Il will tell you the whole bitter. sorrow . ful truth. am as innocent as your self; but my half-brother Thompson Dacre in appearance my very second self Is wicked and desperate man.
 Il fear it was he who saw the dea- con draw his money and who followed him homeward to commit the robbery, which resulted in the victims death. But, alas! l cannot prove my where abouts nor can I give the information that might place my only living rela- tive upon the gallows The evidence against me is conclusive and my lips are sealed.
 'For Gods sske believe me darllng and do not drive me from your side forever into the depths of the blackest and most hopeless despairr' he walled moment later. 1t will ruin me. soul and body, if you do. Things look terribly dark. l know. but before Heaven am innocent"
 Again the old man became silent but after 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 loathiug. What have to live for now?"
 Again he ceased speaking for mo- ment only to resume little later.
 Oh God what have I done to merit this life of ceaseless suffering that has been my portion for more years than l can remember2 be- came 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 CTS crime My health failed and I became beggar and tramp. but thank God! have never been worse:
 T have sunk low. indeed. but my hands are still unstained by crime. I am only poor forsaken. worthless old wretch without a hope or pur- pose in this world or the next; a 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 l will seek once more the scenes of my happy child hood before the shadow of despair and the dark mantle of death have enwrapped me forever Tn their shroud ing folds of clinging, smothering blackness If that boon may yet be mine. I will look once moro upon the face of her love ere sink forever in the cold and silent tomb O God in heaven, grant it in thy mercy0'
 His voice ceased again 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; I will tell you the whole miserable story once again"
 perceived that the old mans voice was rapidly growing weaker. so l slipped noiselessly from the apartment and sought Aunt Libbie She was al- ready up and found her in the kitchen helping Maggie.
 .Go in and watch by the old man for few minutes while get breath of fresh air" l said He is going fast l 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 l heard the murmur of the unconscious old beggar's voice inter- rupted occasionally by a bitter sob from Aunt Libbie; than both ceased