Yet, should it please you to give me in
return some small share of your love, I who am childless and friendless
shall be grateful."
"That is my desire," answered Miriam hurriedly; "only, grandsire,
between you and me----"
"Speak it not," he said, with a gesture almost of despair, "or rather I
will speak it--between you and me runs the river of your parents' blood.
It is so, yet, Miriam, I will confess to you that I repent me of that
deed. Age makes us judge more kindly. To me your faith is nothing and
your God a sham, yet I know now that to worship Him is not worthy of
death--at least not for that cause would I bring any to their death
to-day, or even to stripes and bonds. I will go further; I will stoop
even to borrow from His creed. Do not His teachings bid you to forgive
those who have done you wrong?"
"They do, and that is why Christians love all mankind."
"Then bring that law into this home of ours, Miriam, and love me who
sorrow for what I did in the blind rage of my zeal, and who now in my
old age am haunted by its memory."
Then for the first time Miriam threw herself into the old man's arms and
kissed him on the brow.
So it came about that they made their peace and were happy together.
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