Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-24
CHAPTER XVII.
The Confession.

Rix Parkinson had been a handsome
man, but now disease and the shadow of
death were upon his countenance; he had
long sunk into chronic lethargy, and only
his eyes. that shone from a wasted and be-
sotted face, retained some natural beauty.
He was wing, but vitality still flashed up
In him. and no physician could with GER
tainty predict whether week or a month
might still remain to him. Parkinson's
home adjoined that wherein young Samuel
Prowse lived with his mother; and this
woman IL was who of her charity minister
ed to the sufferer, and carried out the doc
tors orders.
Blood is thicker than water" said a
neighbor. why for don't the mans rela-
tions come to him.
But Mrs. Prowse shook her head AN
Christianty's thicker than blood she
swered An as for the poor souls rela-
tions-why, It's surely given to the Chris
tan to scrare kinship with all the sick an
the sorrowing? 'Tis glory an our
duty both to do it,
This good woman knew Minnie Sweetland
well and had known her since her child
hood. Now she opened the door of Parkin-
sons cottage to the widow and Titus Sim.
He m ready and waiting said Mrs.
Prowse. 'He've just awoke from long
sleep an be strong as lion for the min
ute. and out of pain seemingly. Come in
an let him say what he will to you while
strengths with him."
where Rix Parkinson sat up in bed with a
blue shawl wrapped round him. At his
elbow was table with bottles and a Bible
upon it.
You be come? Well. I'm glad of it.
won't waste words, for my wind grows
scanty Sit here. young woman. please; an
you leave us. mother. But don't go far.
God bless your gentle hands! I don't like
10 see you out of my eyes so long as they
be open"
Mrs. Prowse smiled at him and departed
Sim sat on one side of the sick man and
Minnie took her place upon the other
For moment he was silent breathing
slowly and looking up at the ceiling. Then
he spoke.
They've given me the credit fer lot of
night work in the free trade way with
hares and pheasants as | didn't do: but
against that, rcbody's never blamed me
Tor a lot of things as l did do. For in
there was only one name ever crorped I'D
In that-your husbands. 1 seed him took
away after you was married: and laughed
and said In the open street, 'Lucky's the he
that gets that she" Meaning YOU young
woman. But Gods my judge If it had gone
further / should have told what / know
about 1t. IT'S only them as be careful of
their skins that come to Ia I'm in the world
II you don't care a curse what becomes of
you. the devil makes you his own care Two
men was in the row when Adam Thorpe
got his last dose. and ! was one of EN-.
i other be going strong still, but he don't
come into this story: and his name ban't
Daniel Sweetland; an II wasn't him as
E. shot Adam Thorpe. l done it. I didn't
go out to do 1t but twas him or me as 1t
CHANGED. had to stop him. or he'd have
stopped me. He bested me once afore-
long ago-an / wasn't going to let him do
1t again. So l shot him and fired low.
hoping to stop him without killing him But
his time had come. So much for that l
went my way and made little doubt but
the police would smell out the truth for
Id done nought to hide it. But l heard
coined the news that Thorpe was dead and
that Dan Sweetlands new gun hau been
found alongside the place where he was
shot That interested me- and I began to
wonder what my pal had been up to- There
was no chance to AK him just then Twas
his affair. anyway. not mine. And then
1 began to take a new interest In my life
ana md out what a id fine thing il
was TO be alive and free They nabbed
Sweetiand and | watched EN- do 1T. II 1t
had come to hanging. I'd have given myself
up for him; but instead of that. he gived
'em the slip. And the rest you know Now
he's dead, they tell me. and, as l shall be
after him afore the corn's ripe / want to
clear his memory for evernore. He had no
hand In that job. and, so far I know
wasn't within miles of the place. The mat
ter Of the gun be my pail shoulders
He denied 1t when l taxed him. But right
well 1 know that he put it there for his
own ends. III say no more about that
But God IL Heaven can witness that I'd
never have let EN- hang Daniel. Nv pal
and me had one or two other little affairs
afterwards. as we'd had many before: then
my health gived away, an now I'm rotting
alive and shan't be sorry to go. AK any
questions you like. Mr.. Sim here will tes-
tfy to what I've told you. I'll swear afore
my Judge that every word be true. AS to
Thorpe. didn't go that night to kill him:
but If there was man should have liked
20 settle with, twas him. l slept no worse
for II. If your husband had Lived an got
penal serHtude twas my intention to tell
you the truth on my deathbed. as 1 have
now; but not otherwise-unless they'd
given him the rope. Then I'd have con-
fessed an took 1t. That's the living truth
He's died afore me. after all; but now you
know how twas. his memory's clear, and
you can tell the world all about 1t so soon
as / be gone"
There was a silence, then Parkinson
spoke again.
I'm not hopeful to see Dan up-along,
. for twould be awful 'dashus for the like
of me wi my sporting career to count on
heaven, but I've done what can to atone
Anyway. II I do come up with Daniel
Observation-Disclosures It's the good place or
the bad-this I'll tell him: that his memory
be clear an that it's known to Moreton
he was guiltless. Twill be a comfort to
the man, l should think-wherever he
bideS."
Minnie Sweetland. For a moment pure
thankfulness filled her SOUL then there
came gratitude into II. To dwell upon the
past was vain; to ask this perishing wretch
why he had kept silence when her husband
was taken from her; to wiring her hands
or weep for the woeful past-these things
at any time were deeds foreign to the
womans nature. Her mind practical.
1t had in II now no room for more than
thankfulness and gratitude. She uttered a
wordless. silent prayer-a thanksgiving
that flashed through her heart in throb;
then she turned to the patient and took
his hand between hers.
May merciful Lord be good to you for
this" she said gently. May you rest
easier and die easier for knowing you've
righted my innocent husbands memory