| OCR Text |
Show 372 UICH ARU 1-IURDIS. wise and well enough; it is to be hoped that yon ·will _be su:· fered to perform them. At present, how('ver, our busmcss IS with whit is past, of evil, not with what is to como, of p:ood. You say that you were set on by another _to FC('k my. confl.dcncc - that another 1ucpnred the lies by wlnch you cflcctN1 your object. 'Yho was that other 1 W ho was tl1at mnslcr-spirit to which your own yielded such sovereign con_trol over truth and reason, and all honesty 1 Answer me that, tf you would prove your contrition." "Pardon me, sir, but I may not tell you that. I may not betray the confldence of another, even though I secured your pardon by it." "Indeed! Dut your principles arc late and reluctant. 'l'his is what is cn1lcd • honor among thieves.' You could betray my honor, and the confidence of a man of honor, but you can not betray the confidence of a brother rogue." u 1\'Iy wrong to you, Colonel Grafton, I repent too deeply to suffer myself to commit a like w!·ong against anot_her, howenr unworthy he may be. Let me accuse myself, Sir; l et me, I pray you, declare all my own offences, and yield myself up to your justice, but do not require me to betray the secrets of another." "What! though that other be a criminal - though that other be the outlaw from morals, which you sl10uld be from society, and trains l1is vipers up to sting the l1ands thnt take tl1em into tllC habitations of the unwary and the confiding! Your senso of moral justice seems to be strangely confounded, sir." ''It may be-T feel it is, Colonel Grafton, but I am bound to keep this secret, and will not reveal it. It is enough that I am ready to suffer for the offm1cc to which I h:we weakly and basely suffered myself to be instigated." "You shall suffer, sir j by the God of Heaven you shall suffer, if it be left in this old. ann to inflict due punhshmcnt for your treachery. You shall not escape me. '!'he sufferit1gs of my child shall determine yours. Every pang which she endur~s shall drive the steel deeper into your vitals! But proceed, sar, you have more to say. You have other offences to narrate-! will bear you." I know, " I feel that !ou will not h eed my repentanc~. CAPTIYlTY. 373 too, why_ your indul~cnce sl10uld be beyond my bope. I do not ask forg1veness, wlnch I know it to be impossible tlmt you sboul!l gTant j I only pray that you will now br-liove me Colonel Gr:li"ton, for before licavcn I will tell you uothin·~ but the truth." 0 '·Go, on, sir, tell your story; yom· exhortation is of little usc, for the truth needs no prayer for its prop. It must stand without one or it is not truth. As for my belief, that can not c{fcct it. Truth is as certainly secme from my doubts, as I am sorry to think she has been foreign to your heart for a long scasotJ. If you have got her back there, you arc fortunate, thrice fortunate. You will do well if you can persuade her to remain. Go on, go on, sir." "Yolll: unmca~urcd scorn, Colonel Grafton, helps to strengthen me. lt as true, 1t can not lessen my offence to you and yours, but it is no small part of the penalty which slwuld follow them; and holding it such, my punishments grow lighter with every moment which I endure them.'' "Trust not that. I tell yon, VVilliam Clifton, or whatever else may be your true name- for which I care not- thnt I have that tooth of fire gnawing in my heart, which nothing, perhnps, short of all the blood wlLich is in yours can quench or satisfy . Think not that I give up my hope of revenge as l consent to hear yon. The dcl:ty but whets the appetite. I but seck in thought for the sort of punishment wiLich would seem most fitting to your offence.'' " I will say nothing, Colonel Grafton, to arrest or qualify it - let your revenge be fuJI. rrJLe blood will not flow more freely from my heart, when your hand shall knock for it, than docs my present will, in resignation, to your demand for vengeance. Let me only, I pray you, say a few words, which it seems to me will do you no offence to hear, and which I feel certain it will be a great relief to me to sp eak. ·will you hcnr me, sir1" rrhc humility of the guilty youth seemed not without its effect on the heated, but noble old man, who replied promptly: "Surely, sir-God forbid that I sh ould refuse to hear the criminal. Go on-speak." "I am come of good family, Colonel Grafton-" began the routh. |
