"Have you seen father or mother, sir? I thought that perhaps they would have come to see me; and little Gracie, how is she?"
Then Mr. King told Frank of his father's accident, and that his little blind sister would never be well again.
"Ask them to think kindly of me sometimes, Walter. I know I have not been a good son to them, and I can't expect them to care much about me. How differently your mother would feel towards you, Walter, if any trouble came to you. Ask father to forgive me, sir, and tell him, if I am spared, I will try and be a better son to him hereafter; and Gracie, poor little Gracie, I little thought I should never see her again! I was never a kind brother to her; you were far more like a brother to her than I was, Walter."
Walter could scarcely speak for tears, but he put into his old companion's hand a small parcel, consisting of a neat pocket Bible.
"Will you keep it for my sake, Frank, and will you promise to read it for my sake too?"
"I will promise, Walter,—and, Walter, I want to confess something to you. It was I who left the tools out that—"
"Hush, Frank," interrupted Walter; "I'd rather not hear anything; indeed I would. I think I can guess what you would say, and I forgive you from my heart, and may God keep you in the right way for the time to come!"
"There's only one right way, remember, Frank," said Mr. King.
"I know that now, sir, and Walter has chosen it."
Mr. King and Walter remained some little time longer with Frank, and then came the moment of parting, and the prison doors were bolted and barred, separating the two young lads who had for so long a time spent the greater part of each day working side by side.