The Yale expositor., 1900-07-13

L WOulu nave Deen mere long DelOre IL
I could have got a train; but l am
here, and shall not leave you now"
THANK God" said the feeble voice.
Margaret, drawing back little, could
plainly see death written on the cold,
grey face, in the dulling eyes, on the
damp forehead. She had left her
father a few months ago hale, hearty
men, whose hair was hardly yet
touched by time; she came back to find
him dying.
James Crawford's had never been
the face of strong man, and there
was little resemblance between father
and daughter; yet he had been hand
some, and in his youth he had been
popular man after the kind called
good fellows" And two women had
loved him much-his wife, who had
died many years ago, and his daugh-
ter, who had always had for him that
kind of projecting love which a strong
woman gives to a weak man, even
though she be his daughter.
She knelt beside him now, soothing
him with hands of tenderness and
womanly comfort; but the dying man
tossed restlessly from side to side.
Give me something to strengthen
me, Meg he said, calling her by the
old name no other had ever given her.
There is something on the table
there; it will give me strength for a
few minutes to tell you what have to
tell"
Margaret poured out a little Of the
liquid and held it to his lips. A faint
glow came into the grey face and dim
ming eyes, and in few seconds he
began to speak, in low but distinct
tones.
Il have a confession to make. Mar
garot, before l die. | cannot go into
the other world, into the presence of
Infinite Holiness, with so great sin
unconfessed. 1t is fearful thing to
die, Meg. One would willingly give
all one possesses, or ever did possess,
to undo all the past then; but we can
Motive cannot! Oh, my God, there
is no forgiveness of sins in that sense
none, none"
A terrible sickening fear had slowly
risen in Margaret's heart as he spoke.
Was it true. then what had always
been said about her father? If so, it
seemed to Margaret at that moment as
If she desired nothing else but to lie
down and die beside him; but the next
moment her womanly desire to help,
to comfort the poor repentant soul
came with full force upon her and she
laid her hand gently on his breast.
Dear, dear father, whatever you
have done, whatever sin you have
been guilty of, there is forgiveness"
The dull eyes looked at her with a
pitiful expression of appeal.
eff | had made restitution l might
then hope for pardon; but have made
none. | have lived as if l had never
done that fearful wrong. Margaret,
listen while | tell it, for time is grow
ing short"
But why tell it, dear?" she pleaded
gently, close to his ear. do | not
know already what it was? You were
guilty two years ago, as people some
times said"
mo, no." he said. with a gasp.
you are INSTRUMENTATION, Meg.
1t was not that | was guiltless there;
knew nothing of the fraud"
Thank Cod" cried Margaret quick
ly. But the weak. chill. tremulous
hand stopped her.
"Guiltless Of that; but a greater sin
lies on my shoulders, Margaret. Yes,
far greater, because the man / robbed
trusted me as his own brother-yes,
even to the end.
Listen, for l must speak quickly.
1t is ten years since it all happened,
Margaret. / was then manager of the
branch of the Western bank in Glas-
gov, as l was later on. You were only
a school girl of II at the time.
Il had an old friend who had been
a schoolmate years ago. He had been
abroad. but had come home some
months before. and he called to see
me. He told me he had large amount
to invest-it is not necessary to say
how much.
"At that time, Margaret. I was in
desperate straits. / knew that If
money was not forthcoming very
shortly should lose my position, for
the bank depended very much on this
branch of it. and had been sent to
work uD c connection.
my friend wished to invest his
money in some mining shares, but
meantime, for security, placed it with
me. A terrible temptation seized me.
If could only secure this money
could keep the bank afioat.
can opportunity came. The devil
always sets such opportunities for
men. One day my friends son, young
| Cleland----"
A strange sound, half cry, half sob,
broke from Margarets lips; but the
diving man did no. boar it. He went
on, taking no notice OF Margaret.
Young Cleland called at the bank
| He had a check nayable To himself