He looked at her sadly, and then placing his finger on his heart, said: ‘Is not what has been going on here, for years, enough to wither to the root every feeling of cheerfulness, so that it should never 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: