The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1893-02-18
ALL FORGIVEN.
A Minister'S Pathetic story Of a
Dying Miner.


consumption, ID a remote camp out IN
the Mubas foothills, and hardy fell
low miner had brought me to his cot,
iniploring me TO remain with him until
the end
Bart has something on his mind, =
be explained. hcsitatingly. ''We all
think he has confession to make, and
II you stay, II Is bound 70 como, sooner
or later. think he'll die happier,
with the load taken of his conscience.
Bart an me both have hit Of gold
saved up. and we can pay you well for
the trouble Of staying Il woh't be
long now, anyway Yonll get camp
rations thrown ia. an IT'S as healthy
here in the foothills as you'd find il
anywhere; better stay with Dart. sir.
7 till the end!'
graspcd Rube sawycr's honest.
roughencd hand - win remain on
one condition that you win not even
think Of future payment am out
here on a needed. vacation, the climate
agrees with me and can hunt and
fish, while at the same time ] can help
younurse your dying comrade.r
The miners eyes glistened. You've
got heart, sir. an am glad Of II.
Now, take look at Bart He's as fine
a lad as you'd wish TO see; or. at least.
was before this wasting away began. =
Together we entered the place, which
, was part tent, part dugout On low
cot BY the door lay man still young
In years. his face and form bearing the
traces Of great physical beauty. re-
member thinking. what be must have
been III health and strength. and then
suddenly his eyes were turned upon
me. They were large, gray ana pierre
ing, such eyes q are never forgotten.
And he extended a thin, shapely hand
in welcome.
you are the minister from the east
that Bart heard Of below and prom
ised 10 bring me II he could Well, II
was mighty good Of you TO come. be-
long In the cast, TOO, you see, New
Works my state, ands
1T Is also mine ! interrupted,
pressing his long, white fingers
'.But you'll get back 10 II again. an
won'tr lie cried. with frown. .'I've
got to die here in the Mubas foothills.
nm Rube has promised to bury me just
outside Of camp I've lain here six
months an over, an it's long, long
death. Better die at once, an done
with it!r
lyon are quite ready to dep, i
asked, looking him full III the face.
His boyish gray eyes fell beneath my
glance.
s.No, amt, sir, an that's why l
wanted you to comet I've got d good
deal TO say and something to do before
the last chapter ends. I'll read you the
book Of my life II you've a mind TO
listen. some day. But how long can
Jon stay?''
As long as you think you need me, !"
answered. And honest Rube Sawyer
seized my right hand in grateful
acknowledgment while Barton Je-
rome feebly grasped my left
fYon resemble my father. the latter
said. after a pause. He IS a Fulton
county Jerome Must be living there
ret anyway ! hope sol Ever been in
Albany?T
HOuued IN the afflrmative.
II was born and raised there, the
young man continued 81 think
But violent spell Of coughing came
on, and ] hastily withdrew, fearing he
might be tempted to begin talking
again.
Darts is bad case" said Rube
Sawyer, with sigh. ..Thc valley doc
tor says lie can't live week. So you
won't have long to stay, after ALL"
Has your friend heard from home
latcly2' ! asked
Bart meyer gets letters from no
BODY, sighed Rube again. .sAn' he's
got mother, for he told me So I
reckon she loves rim Il sight, too. Ii
isn'tcrery mother that has such SON
tor looks You should have seen him
when he first came To the hills
Straight as an arrow, and SIX foot tall,
il an inch. An then such bright eyes
and curly hairl liked him NJ first
sight, an i like Dart yet. But hes rot
some secret that was eating his life
away from the start Tain't the eli
mattel The rests all sound and healthy.
Bart.s just frctting his heart out over
some past wrong-doing But he's been
the finest fellow IN camp. an the boys
all like him Was always doing i kind
turn when we'll An'Nnow he's dying.
My, my hate to think that! There'il
be folks in the east as will be awful
sorry 70 hearl He may tell Won all
about himself. an then, again, lie NAV
not But Rnbe Sawyer doesn't care to
know. Eve nursed Bart like brother.
though I've none myself. ia do ii
agalssla sssnst Tor the smile and kind word
he can give
There were tears in the miners ewes,
and, while lie brushed them away. il
turned in 10 the cot, pretending NOT u
see. Barton Jerome was lging in IN
uneasy slumber, his clear-cut fat,
turned towards me HAD tinc then to
study il carefully. and tEicd Us read
the story Il his wasted Young life
What had he been2 Whathad he done2
Why was he dying there II MA cont1.nt
Y make no sign2 These questions
came again and again There we're
weak lines on his clean-Shayen face.
telling that he had been easily in
huenced for good and eva Tia rantt
have been brought up carefully and
prayerfnlly But he had early gone
=. astrayi knew at.s.sTen then HIS
hollow cheeks and sunlfen eyes were
surely the-ravages Of former dissir...,
ton and wrong-doipg They had not
come In day
ma barton Jerome spolse aiona, Az
he tossed upon his hard gu;
took II mother. and I've psi to 90
Father Fcfff eC,h r.a ~ At4