You will not be disgraced. Geraldine will never know: the world
will never know. Char--Mr. Sanford is just as safe as I. He will never
tell," and the dark eyes looked for one moment at the man whom, in her
excitement and forgetfulness, she had almost called by his Christian
name, and who, in response to the call and the look, went to her side,
and laying his hand upon her head, said, solemnly:
"As heaven is my witness, what I have heard here to-night shall never
pass my lips."
Pressing his hand for an instant upon Hannah's bowed head, he withdrew
it, but staid at her side until the recital was ended, and the old man,
who was sinking fast, said to him, in a faint whisper:
"You know all now, and why I could not join the church. It was too late
to tell the world of my guilt. God knew it. I believe he has baptized me
with His Holy Spirit. Do you think that as His minister you can pray for
my departing soul?"
"Yes, yes," the clergyman replied, and falling upon his knees, for he
saw in the pinched face the look he could not mistake, he began the
prayer for the dying one, who whispered, faintly:
"That is good, very good.
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