again put
forth a blossom?'

'Hush! hush!' interrupted his wife, in a whisper; 'if you _have_ suffered,
you have gained at last what you have always prayed for; while _he_, the
one who caused it all, has paid the penalty of his misdeeds. Remember what
his fate was.' She pointed to the picture: 'Remember too, the fate of his
only child. George, George! his punishment has been terrible, even in
_this_ world!'

'You are right, Mary--GOD forgive me! I'll think of it no more. _He_ and I
were nursed in the same arms, and watched by the same fond mother. From
the bottom of my heart I forgive him. It would be sacrilege to her memory,
for me to harbor an unkind feeling toward even a stranger, if she had
loved him.'

He was silent for a moment, and then addressing Harson, enquired:

'Who is this Mr. Kornicker?'

'A poor fellow, with little to help him through the world but careless
habits and a good heart.'

'What character does he bear?' inquired the other.

'Such as might be expected from his position,' replied Harson; 'full of
flaws, but with a vein of gold running through it. Nature has given him
fine feelings, and fortune, unluckily, has placed him in a situation where
such feelings are impediments rather than otherwise. But he is a noble
fellow for all that.'

'Where can he be found?' asked his guest.

Harson probably anticipated the object of this inquiry, for he said with a
laugh:

'He has been taken care of; he has been placed where the means of
livelihood and competence are in his grasp, if he will but work for them.
And what is better yet, he seems disposed to do so, although not much can
be expected of him at first. I do not think,' added he, 'that it
contributes to the happiness of a young man, with a long life before him,
to be altogether idle. I will do all that I can to help him; but he must
work. It will be more easy for him as he gets used to the traces.'

The stranger acquiesced in this remark, and then added: 'I will take his
address, nevertheless, for I must see him when I return to the city, which
will be very shortly; but you seem to have anticipated me in every thing.
Even the lawyer, Mr. Holmes, declined to be paid for his services. He said
that _this_ was not strictly a business matter, and that what he had done
was out of friendship for you, and that I had better pocket the fee and
drop the subject; at the same time, he said he was going to dinner, and
asked me to join him, which I did, an