Tempest and Sunshine

Dr. Lacey's brow grew dark and his manner excited, as he replied, "Forgive

you! In time I may learn to do so, but to forget will take me my lifetime,

and yet I blame myself not less than I do you for having been so duped."

A low sob was Julia's only answer as Dr. Lacey arose to leave, announcing

to Fanny his intention of visiting Joseph Dunn, who was said to be dying.

As he entered the house where Joseph lay, tossing in feverish agony, the

sick man's eyes glared wildly upon him as he shrieked, "Why have you come

to taunt me with my crime? Is it not enough that the room is full of

little devils who creep over my pillow, and shout in my ear as they hold

to view the letters I withheld? I did not do it alone. She bribed me with

gold, and now when I am dead, who will take care of my mother? She will be

cold when the winter winds blow, and hungry when the summer corn ripens."

Dr. Lacey drew nearer to him and stooping down, whispered, "Is your mother

very poor and you all her dependence?"

"Yes, yes," answered Joseph, whose almost only virtue was the love he bore

his mother.

"Fear not, then," said Dr. Lacey, "I will care for her; for though you did

me a great wrong, you saved me from being today the most wretched of men."

That night as the October sun went down there was heard beneath that

lonely roof the piteous cry of a widowed mother, for Joseph, her

first-born, her only child, was dead. Next day they buried him, as is

frequently the custom in Kentucky, beneath a large shade tree in the

garden. Many words of sympathy were spoken to the bereaved mother, but

none fell so soothingly on her ear as did those of Dr. Lacey, who was

present at the funeral, and led the weeping mother to the grave.

After the burial was over he whispered to her, "I will surely remember

you, for, erring though your son may have been, I owe him a debt of

gratitude." So saying, he walked hastily away toward Mr. Middleton's,

where he was met by alarmed faces, soft footsteps, and subdued whispers.

In reply to his inquiries, he was told by Aunt Judy, that "somehow or

'nother, Miss Julia had got wind of Mr. Dunn's death, and it had gone to

her head, makin' her ravin' mad, and the doctor said she wouldn't get

well."