so humbly contrite it made her eyes fill with slow, hot tears.
“I tried to flee temptation I tried to say ‘no,’ but I am so pitiably
weak, I couldn’t. You must despise me. But don’t give me up
entirely, for if I live, I’ll do better. I’ll go away to Father and begin
again.?
Rose tried to keep back the bitter drops, but they would fall, to
hear him still speak hopefully when there was no hope. Something
in the mute anguish of her face seemed to tell him what she could
not speak, and a quick change came over him as he grasped her
hand tighter, saying in a sharp whisper: “Have I really got to die,
Rose??
Her only answer was to kneel down and put her arms about him, as
if she tried to keep death away a little longer. He believed it then,
and lay so still, she looked up in a moment, fearing she knew not
what.
But Charlie bore it manfully, for he had the courage which can
face a great danger bravely, though not the strength to fight a
bosom sin and conquer it. His eyes were fixed, as if trying to look
into the unseen world whither he was going, and his lips firmly set
that no word of complaint should spoil the proof he meant to give
that, though he had not known how to live, he did know how to
die. It seemed to Rose as if for one brief instant she saw the man
that might have been if early training had taught him how to rule
himself; and the first words he uttered with a long sigh, as his eye
came back to her, showed that he felt the failure and owned it with
pathetic candor.
“Better so, perhaps; better go before I bring any more sorrow to
you and shame to myself. I’d like to stay a little longer and try to
redeem the past; it seems so wasted now, but if I can’t, don’t grieve,
Rose. I’m no loss to anyone, and perhaps it is too late to mend.?
“Oh, don’t say that! No one will find your place among us we never
can forget how much we loved you, and you must believe how
freely we forgive as we would be forgiven,” cried Rose, steadied
by the pale despair that had fallen on Charlie’s face with those
bitter words.
” ‘Forgive us our trespasses!’ Yes, I should say that. Rose, I’m not
ready, it is so sudden. What can I do?” he whispered, clinging to
her as if he had no anchor except the creature whom he loved so
much.
“Uncle will tell you I am not good enough I can only pray for you.”
And she moved as if to call in the help so sorely needed.
“No, no, not yet! Stay by me, darling read something there, in
Grandfather’s old book, some prayer for such as I. It will do me
more good from you than any minister alive.?
She got the venerable book given to Charlie because he bore the
good man’s name and, turning to the “Prayer for the Dying,” read it
brokenly while the voice beside her echoed now and then some
word that reproved or comforted.
“The testimony of a good conscience.” “By the sadness of his
countenance may his heart be made better.” “Christian patience
and fortitude.” “Leave the world in peace.” “Amen.?
There was silence for a little; then Rose, seeing how wan he
looked, said softly, “Shall I call Uncle now??
“If you will. But first don’t smile at my foolishness, dear I want my
little heart. They took it off please give it back and let me keep it
always,” he answered with the old fondness strong as ever, even
when he could show it only by holding fast the childish trinket
which she found and had given him the old agate heart with the
faded ribbon. “Put it on, and never let them take it off,” he said,
and when she asked if there was anything else she could do for
him, he tried to stretch out his arms to her with a look which asked