The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1893-05-05
ALL FORGIVEN.


lmpioring ne % remain with him until
the end
..Bart Shns something on hIs mind, :
be explained. hesffafingly. I've al
think be has confession 70 make, and
II you stay, It h bound 70 conc, sooner
or later. think he'll die happier.
with the load taken on his conscience
Bart an me both hare . BIZ d gold
saved up. and We can pay ron well Tor
he trouble Of staying. II won't Be
long por. anyway. YouTn get camp
rnflons thrown 10. an It's a. healthy
here Ia he foothills a. you'd find Il
nnywhere: better stay with Bari, SIR,
TIL tho endfs
Rrasped Rube 6awyer's honest,
ro11hcned hand II win remain on
one condition that Jon win not even
think Of fntnre payment an ont
here W + needed vacation, the climate
agrees with me and can hunt and
fish. while a. the same time can help
you nurse your dying oomrale-
The miners eyes glistened You've
got . heart. air. an am glad Of f.
Nov. take . look 81 Bart He's a. fine
lad ~ you'd wish 70 see; or. at least.
was before this wasting away began"
Together we entered the place. which
vas part tent. part dngout On low
cot b. the door lay man still young
IN years. his face and form bearing the
traces Of great physical beauty. re-
member thinking what he must have
been IN health and strength, and then
suddenly his eyes werc turned upon
ma They were large. gray and pierre
ing. such eyes Is are never forgotten.
And be extended thin, shapely hand
In welcome.
.You are tho minister from the east
that Bart heard Of below and prom
ised 70 bring me II he could Wen. IL
was mighty good 81 you 70 come. I be-
long IN the east, too, you sec New
Yorfs my state. and
1T i also mine,r interrupted.
pressing his long, white fingers
.sBut you'll get back TO Il again, an
] won'ti', he cried. with a frown. spve
rot 70 die here IN the Mubas foot-hiIIa.
an Rnbe has promised 70 bury me Just
outside of camp. I've lain here ak
months an over, an It's a long, long
death. Better die at once, an done
with I'll"
'sYou are quite ready 70 die2"
asked, looking him full In the face.
His boyish gray eyes fell beneath my
glance.
mo, l ain't sir. an that's why
wanted you 70 comet I've got good
deal 10 say and something to do before
the last chapter ends I'll read ron the
book Of my life II you've. mind 70
listen. some day. But how long can
you stay2"
As long ns you think you need me,
answered And honest Rnbc Sawyer
seized my right hand IN grateful
acknowledgment while Barton Je-
rome feebly graspcd my left
.You resemble my father The. latter
said. after a pause "fic Is Fulton
county jerome. Must be living there
Jet, anyway hope sol Ever been in
Albany
nodded In the affirmative.
II was born and raised there the
young man continued. II think
But violent spell Of coughing came
on, and ! hastily withdrew. fearing he
might BE- tempted to begin talking
again.
..Barts Is bad case" said Rube
Sawyer. with 4 sigh. ''The valley doc
tor says he can't live week. So you
wont have long TO stay, after all"
HAS your friend heard from home
lately7r ! asked
"Bart never gets letters from no
body, sighed Rubc again IAN he's
got mother, for he told mo 50. /
reckon she loves him a sight, too. II
Isn't every mother that has such son
for looks You should have seen him
when he first came to the hillA
Straight as an arrow, and six foot tall,
II an inch An then such bright eyes
and curly hnirl | liked him at first
dght an like Dart yet. But he's got
some secret that was eating his life
away from the start 'Tain't the eli
mattel The rest's-aii sound and healthy.
Bart's just fretting 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 q kind
turn when well An, now he's dyingl
Ny, myi hate to think thatl Therc'll
be folks In the east as will be awful
sorry TO hearl He may tell ron oil
about himself an then, again, he may
not But Rube Sawyer doesn't care to
know. I've nursed Bart like d brother,
though I've none myself I'd do IL
again just for the smile and kind word
he can give
There were tears In the miners eyes.
and. while he brushed them away.
turned in to the cot. pretending not TO
see. Barton Jerome was lying in an
uneasy slnmber. his clcar-cut face
turned towards me. had time then to
study II carefully, and tried to read
the story Of his wasted young life.
What had he been2 What had he done?
Why was he dying there alone, content
70 make no sign? These questions
came again and again There were
weak lines on his clean-shayen face,
telling that he had been easily 10.
hnenced for good and evil He must
have been brought up carefully and
prayerfully. But he had carly gone
astrayl knew that, even then. His
hollow cheeks and sunken eyes were
surely the ravages of former dissipa.
ton and wrong-doing They Mad not
come in day.
And Barton Jerome spoke aloud, as
he tossed upon his hard cot;
y took It. mother, md I've got TO gol
rather viii soon find il outl Don't
kiss mel don't deserve
lie awoke, with shuddering sigh.
and his large eyes were Fixed upon me.
WHO are you'll Oh, yes. / rernemherI