confessed to God."

"And mademoiselle--"

"She sat at the foot of the couch when I went in, with her hands
clasped in her lap, and her eyes fixed on the poor gentleman's face;
now and then a tear rolled off her cheeks--but she did not know it.

"Presently the dying man beckoned to her. She stole softly to the head
of the couch, and laid her little white hand in his withered fingers.

"'Marie,' said he, 'dear Marie, I shall be gone--soon.'

"The poor girl burst into tears, and gathered up the palsied hand of
the old man in both hers, as if she would not let him go.

"'Marie,' continued he, very feebly, 'you will want a friend.'

"Again the poor girl answered by a burst of tears. She could say
nothing.

"'I have seen Remy,' continued the old man, still addressing the girl,
who seemed startled at the name, notwithstanding her grief. 'He has
suffered like us; he has been ill, too--very ill; you may trust him
now, Marie; he has promised to be kind. Marie, my child, will you
trust him?'

"'Dear father, I will do what you wish,' said the girl, weeping.

"'Thank you, Marie,' said the old man, and he tried to carry the white
hand to his lips, but he could not. 'And now, Marie--the little
locket?'

"Marie stepped softly across the chamber, and brought a small gold
locket, very richly wrought, and put it in the old man's hand; the old
man raised it toward his face.

"'A little more light, dear Marie,' said he.

"Marie stepped to the window and removed the yellow placard.

"'A little more--light, Marie,' said the old man, feebly. He was
getting lower and lower.

"Marie set the door ajar, and, stepping to the window, she pulled a
little handkerchief from her pocket, and tried to rub some of the dust
from the glass.

"'Light, Marie; dear Marie--more light!' He said it scarce above his
breath, but she heard it, and looked at me. I shook my head. She saw
how it was, and caught the stiffening hand of the old man.

"'Dear, dear father!' and her tears streamed over it. Her sobs roused
the old man for a moment.

"'Marie,' said he, and he raised his hand with a last effort, till it
rested on her head, 'Marie--God bless you!'

"I could hear nothing now but the poor girl's sobs. The hand of the
old man grew heavier and heavier on her head. She sunk down till her
knees touched the rough floor of the chamber, and her face rested on
the couch. Gradually the hand of the old man slipped down and lay upon
her white, smooth