The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1903-12-23

sLet him come IN, whispered
the count.
<'But"
s:Never mind" he interrupted as
the woman commenced thus to ey-
postulate. ':Let him come in. By
heavens, if he is my enemy let me
see him. It may serve to arouse
me-
So the woman went to the door
again, and soon afterward Ruric
Nevel entered the apartment. He
stepped lightly, noiselessly, to the
bedside, but it was some moments
ere he could distinguish objects By
the subducd light Of the place. By
and by, however, he oyercame the
difficulty, and he started back in
horror as he beheld the features Of
his adversary How pale and sunk
en-, How deathlike and CHASTITY!
The count noticed the movement,
and he noticed the look.
ECount Damonoff," spoke the
gunmaker in low, solemn tone, "a
few DAYS since l heard that you were
recovering, and | thanked God.
But today they told me you were dy-
ing, and have come to ask that I
may take your hand ere you pass
away from earth. As God is my
Maker and my Judge, I would rath-
er lie down here and die for you
than have you pass away with a
curse Of me upon your soul or on
your lips. Forgive me for what l
have done and never again will I en-
gage in such a wicked work. For
my own life, it is my country's and
my mothers and have no right to
throw it away, and my antagonists
life is the sacred property of God,
which l have no right to touch but
in self defense. Forgive me. I"
Slowly and heavily moved the d y
ing man over, and then he extend
ed his thin and wasted hand.
"Ruric," he said, and his voice
was stronger now, for the potion
was working, Il am glad you have
come-very glad-for l have wish
ed, above all else of earth, to see
you. I could not send for you, for
/ knew rot how you might come. /
have been all wrong in the things
that have passed betwixt thee and
me. was mad and a fool. blame,
you not, but rather do 1 thank you.
for your kindness through all the
scene. Oh, l forgive you with all
my heart. And now tell me that L
am forgiven
Forgiven ?" repeated Ruric, with
a trembling lip, still holding the
counts hand within both his own.
"Oh, would to God l could call YOU
back to life! Forgiven? Oh, God,-
who reads all hearts, knows how
humble, how sacred, is my forgive
ness to you, Could l call you back
could wipe out the past from my
memory, l could die content"
Enough" returned the count
warmly. 'sThis was my hottest wisb,-
though pride has kept back its ut
terance. Oh, feared you would
gloat over my death that you
would be glad when | was gone"
"No, no. l should have been d
monster then"
soThere are many such. And yet
l wronged you by. the thought. But
l could not help it,
A moment more passed in silence,
and then the invalid resumed:
s"There is one reason why l should
like to live-I should be prepared
for better life. Since Death has
come-since I have known that he
stood waiting by my bed have
wondered at the evil life I have led.
and l have thought that if the dark
king would let me remain here a
few wears more I could be bette.
nan. But 'tis too late now. The
die is cast. Yet I have some Joy IL
this. You have shed happy light
upon my dying hour. God bless
you!''
Ruric's feelingswere easily moved.
and there was something in the deep
solemnity Of this occasion that
started his heart to tender mood.
and the last words of the dying man
flowed the cup. He bowed his head,
and, covering his eyes with one hand
while he held in the other the hand
of Conrad, he wept freely and 81
lently.
At this moment the woman arose
and left the room.
"She's gone," said the count after
he had recovered somewhat from
tbo doom emotions which had been