The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-07-12


 more appeared on the troubled waters. At last they gave it up and rowed for shore. On the way Magwitch told Pip that he and Compeyson had gone under, locked in each others arms, and that he had finally disengaged himself only to strike the keel of the steamer in rising He was deeply cut in the head and severe ly injured in the chest.
 He was taken to prison, suffering great ly. Pip at once set all agencies to work to gain him a pardon. He wrote a petl- tion to the home secretary and visited men in authority finally sending a peti- tion to the King himself.
 Every day he sat in the hospital with the prisoner, who lay in his bed quite still and patient Once or twice his desperate reputation was mentioned by visitors in his hearing. At such times he smiled anu turned his face on Pip with a trustfui look, as if he were confident that Pip had seen some small redeeming touch in him, even so long ago as when he was a little child. As to all the rest, he was humble and contrite, and never com plained.
 He was sentenced to death but 1t was plain to see that his sentence had already been pronounced by greater Judge As the days went on, he lay placidly looking up at the ceiling. Whenever he heard Pip's voice his face brigntened, and he would answer with slight pressure of the hand.
 Are you in much pain today7' asked Pip.
 T don't complain of none. dear boy"
 You never do complain"
 He had spoken his last words. He smiled and Pip understood his smile to
 mean that he wished him to lay a hand
 h ct Ia did and MaRWitch
 laid both his hands upon it. Dear Magwitch," said Pip stopping to him. 'I must tell you now at last You had a child once whom you loved
 and lost.
 Magwitch looked affectionately at Pip
 and pressed his hand to signify yes
 "She lived and found powerful friends. She is a lady now and very beautiful. And I love her!
 With one last effort the convict raised Pips hand to his lips. Then he gently 1 let it sink with his own hands resting
 on it. The placid look at the white cell | ing came back and passed away and his ] head dropped quietly on his breast. 1 When all was over, Pip went home and ] succumbed to the long strain. What i happened around him in the days that
 followed, he did not know. For long
 weeks he raved in delirium. It had been
 March when they dropped down the river |
 again awolxe to conscious thought-awoke | to find Joe sitting by his bedside. It l was Joe who had nursed him, Joe who l had paid his debts when his creditors | levied on him and appeared with orders l of arrest, Joe who now said, with a pair | of very red eyes: (Which dear old Pip,
 old chap, you and me was ever friends. 1 And when you're well enough to go for l rlde-wot larksn'
 1 And when the day came, it was Joe | who wrapped him up and carried him 1 into it as he had once carried the small helpless creature around the marshes: When Pip recovered his strength. he l sold all he had paid his creditors and | went to Cairo where Herbert was manag- | ing me of the branches of his growing 1 firm. He took a clerkship there and F l was not until many years afterwaroA when he became third partner in the | concern, that the secret of Herberts part | nership was divulged-
 1 Having prospered modestly but suffi- | ciently. Pip longed once more to visit | England. He had heard that Estellas | husband had died after being very cruel l to her. Although he had long ago given | I'D all hope of her love, he felt in him | a strong desire to see the scenes or ms
 old sorrows and joys.
 His first visit was to Joes. His sis l ter had died, and Joe was married to 1 pretty, good, charming little Mrs. Gargery When Pip entered the little | room, which he had not seen In Il
 years, he found Joe smoking his pipe | in the old place; and fenced into the corner by Joe's leg, and sitting on the l very same little stool that Pip used | to have, was another little Pip.
 we gave him the name for your | sake. old chap" said the delighted Joe.
 We hoped he might grow little bit like you, and we think he do.' | That evening after dinner Pip walked | forth to the old Havisham house; lone- lv and deserted now silvery mist hung orer the old garden. While he | was looking down the walk he saw a l solitary figure approaching him. As it drew nearer, he saw it was the | figure of woman. He was about to turn aside when it faltered and uttered I his name.
 "Estella," he cried.
 The freshness of her beauty was | gone. but it's charm remained. And what | he had never seen before was the sad | dened softened light of the once proud l eyes. And what he had never felt be- | fore was the friendly touch of the once l insensible hand.
 | q have often thought of you," said Estela There was a long, hard time when I kept far from me the remem- | brance of what I had thrown away when I was quite ignorant of its worth"
 You have always held your place in my heart" said Pip.
 He took her hand in his, and they went out of the ruined place. The even | ing msts were rising now; and in all | the broad expanse of tranquil he saw | the shadow of no parting from her. Next Sundays one-page classic will
 be "silas Manner" by George Eliot.