Rocky Ford enterprise., 1900-08-10

1T Is ]. dear father" she said
gently. ~ came as soon as could
! would have been here long before II
l could have got train: but | am
here. and shall not leave you now
Thank Cod" said the feeble voice.
Margaret. drawing back a little. could
plainly see death written on the cold.
grey face. In the duliins 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 ind
him dying.
James Crawford's had never been
the face of u strong man. and there
was little resemblance between father
and daughter: yc. 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 dauSh-
ter. who had always had for him that
kind Of proecting love which strong
though she be his daughter.
She knelt beside him now. soothing
him with hands OF tenderness and
womaniy comfort: but the dying man
tossed rcstiessiy from side to side.
Give me something to strengthen
me. Meg" he said. calling her by the
old name no other had ever sivcn her.
There Is somcthin. on the table
there: II Will give me strength for n
few minutes to tell you what have to
tell"
Margaret poured ou, little Of the
liquid and held II to his lips. a faint
glow came into the grey face and dim
ming eyes. and In a few seconds he
began to speak. In low bu; distinct
tones.
II have a confession to make. Mar
xarct. before die. I cannot so into
the other world. Into the presence OF
INFINITE Holiness. with so great sin
unconfesscd. II Is fearful th!nS to
die. Meg. One would willingly give
all one possesses. or ever did possess.
TO undo all the pas; then: but we can
Motive cannot! oh. my God. there
Is no forgiveness OF sins In that sense
none. nonc!"
A terrible sickcninE fear had slowly
risen In MarEarc,'s heart as he spoke.
Was II true. then what had aiSa,s
been said about her fathcrT II 50. II
seemed to Margaret at that moment "a
II she desired nothing else but to lie
down and die beside him: but the next
momcnt her womaniy desire to help.
to comfor, the poor rcpcninnf 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 !s forgiveness.
The dull eyes looked at her with
pitifui expression of appeal.
"lf I had made restitution ] might
then hope for pardon: but ! have made
none. have lived rs II had never
done that fearful wrong. Margaret.
listen while I tell II. for time Is grow
Ing short"
But why tell It. dcar7" she pleaded
gently. close to his ear. DO I not
know already what II was7 You were
guilty two years ago. rs people some
times said"
mo. mo-" he said. with gasp.
You are mistaken. Meg.
II was no, that. was guiitless there:
I knew nothing OF the fraud.
Thank God," cried Margaret quick
Is. But the weak. chill. 'rcusilous
hand stopped her.
"Guiltlcss OF that: but greater sin
lies on my shoulders. Margaret. Yes.
far greater. because the man l robbed
trusted me as his own brothcr-ycs.
even to the end.
Listen, for I must speak quickly
I, is ten years since 1t all happened.
Margaret. was then manager OF the
branch of the Western bank In Gas
COW. as was later on. You were onl!
a school girl OF IL at the time.
81 had an old friend who had been
n acboolnatc years ago. He had been
abroad. but had come home some
mon,hs before, and he called to see
me. lie told me he had large amount
to invest--it is not necessary TO say
how much.
AT tina, time. Margaret. was IN
desperate straits. I knew that IL
money was not Forthcoming very
shortly should lose my position ior
the bank depended very much on this
branch of II. and had been sent 10
work up connection.
MY friend wished TO invest h,s
money in some mining shares. put
meantime. for scchrit;. placed IT with
me. A terrible temptation seized me.
II I could only secure this money
could keep the bank at'osat'
"An opportunity came. inc de.''
always sets such opportunities tor
men. One day my friends son. young
Cleland--"
A strange sound. half cry. nall SOD.
-. Ainrrnrnt's linN. nnt the