The Princeton union., 1892-05-12

l long, ureaFy years OI HIS coming eXll6
but all in vain. The proofs OF his
guilt were too strong, and Aunt Libbie
(. drove him from her side with horror
and loathing; even while her own
heart was breaking with the pain o
the separation.
From that hour Tom Dacre was
never seen again, Search as they
would, the detectives could not f1nJ
the slightest trace OF the missing man.
and after years of unsuccessful effort
the search was finally abandoned.
The brutal murder of Deacon Burgess
was doomed to remain unavenged.
That scene Of horror changed Aunt
Libbie from a gay light hearted young
girl into staid and quiet woman.
When her parents passed away she
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 a
certain indescribable something about
him that proclaimed he had once been
a gentleman. His long. neglected
! hair and beard of 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 Il 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 a
single trace. His was a remarkable
face for a despised 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 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 request I
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 d 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 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! I cannot prove my where
abouts. nor can T 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, darling.
and do not drive me from your side
forever into the depths of the blacklist
and most hopeless despairr' he walled
a moment later. 1t will ruin me-
soul and body, if you do. Things look
terribly dark I know. but before
Heaven I am innocent"
| Again the old man became silent,
but after a 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 I to live for now?''
Again he ceased speaking for a mo-
ment only to resume little later.
oh God. what have I done to
merit this life of ceaseless suffering q
that has been my. portion for more
years than l can remember? I be.
came wanderer and an outcast all
my life All my hope and my ambi-
tion. and even my love of life died
within me on the terrible night when
Libbie condemned me for my broth.
er's crime. My health failed and ]
became a beggar and tramp. but
thank God! have never been worse:
Il have sunk low, indeed, but nv
hands are still unstained by crime.
am only a poor forsaken, worthless
old wretch. without a hope or pur.
pose in this world or the next; dark,
unsightly blot upon the pure book o
nature and yet thank God! am still
an honest man. r..
But feel that the dissolution
have longed for SO long is drawing
near to me at last. I will seek once
more the scenes of my happy child.
hood, before the shadow of despai,
and the dark mantle of death have
enwrapped me forever IN their shroui
ing folds of clinging, smotherine
blacknoss. If that boon may yet be
mine l will look once moro upon the
face of her I love ere I sink forever ir
the cold and silent tomb. OGod il
heaven, grant it in thy mercyr'
His voice ceased again and lis