Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1888-05-19
ASIN NOT TO BE FORGIVEN
by LIZZIE w. CHAMPNEY.


but his fault at the first was an inconside,ate
one, and the system of hypocrisy in which he
found himself entangled was entered upon
from the good natured impulse of shielding
his friend. That friend was Andrew Steele.
They had been chums throughout their col
lege course, but their paths had diverged
widely during the four years which had
elapsed since their parting under the shadow
of alma mater. Steele had studied for the
ministry, growing gentler and more melan-
choly, narrow chested and possibly narrow
minded, but always pure of soul and tender
of heart as he bent over his books Halsey,
on the contrary, had plunged at once into the
world. His aim in life was to become a
journalist. He could adapt himself easily to
circumstances, and when he found that the
highest prizes were beyond his reach he low
cred his ideal and accommodated himself to
the actual, and at the end of four years was
quite content with what he would have
spurned at the outset, a regular position as
pulpit reporter of one of the leading news
papers.
II think a little of my experience would
do you good" he said to Steele, as they sat
together in the summer on the clover under
the old orchard trees of his friends home
ut would give you a chance to improve your
style, by comparison with that of the most
eloquent and scholarly men of the day 1t
would broaden your theological ideas and
give you points in composition and delivery
II you will submit to taking few hints from
me can put you up to a thing or two There
are certain dodges that these great guns are
not above using, which are remarkably kill
ing, and l doubt whether they are ever
taught in the seminary. If you are going in
for divinity you might as we'll be at the top
of the heap, regular doubly distilled D. D.
and the pastor of a wealthy city church
have come to the conclusion that the minis.
try is better field for a smart man than
journalism, and l almost regret my choice
You see you have less competition; nearly
all the brilliant fellows take to the law, the
regular digs to medicine the long headed
ones to politics or business, those mistaken
beggars who care more for glory than gold
hang on to art or literature, while only the
chaps without any particular vocation are
left for the ministry and the book agencies
Now don't flare up Can't you see that it is
the luckiest thing in the world that it is sol
If you have clear idea from the start what
you mean to accomplish, you can just sail in
like whale among the fishes"
Andrew Steele answered quietly: "You
do not understand my aims I am physi-
cally unsuited to lead the career you have
marked out for me. / have not sufficient
health to carry out what l wish, and that is
to teach the suffering to endure"
Halsey scanned his friend anxiously. "You
do look trifie used up" he said. ~ am glad
l accepted your invitation to spend fort
night with you for l am going to take you
in hand Va will DoSS a waaly or mora in ba
woods; hunting and camping will soon give
tone to your mind, as well as to your COM
plexion, and you will bid goodby to morbid
self abnegation as soon as you land four
pound bass"
But Halsey found that he had difficult
task upon his hands. His friends melan-
choly was deeply rooted in a frail physique
The dark woods and mountain soltudes
seemed to increase his gloom He took no
interest in sport of any kind, and it was evil
dent that some settled trouble was preying
upon his mind.
"What is it, Steele?" Halsey asked
one evening as his friend sat moodily
and dejectedly regarding the smolder-
ing embers. as there lady in the
case, or is it money! Out with it like IA
man; the very telling of the annoyance
will make it seem less. I'll warrant you that
I've been in a dozen tighter places"
'It is my health,n the other replied. 81
fought for it all through my college course,
but it was of no use. Two years ago l broke
down utterly with nervous prostration.
left the seminary, and was recommended to
put myself under the care of DIR. Corcoran,
of -. 1t was a most providential thing.
He took me into his family and his good wife
nursed me like a mother. was so weak that
could only lie stin like a little child and
watch the leaf shadows of the maple playing
upon the wak. Twas with them three months,
and they treated me like son. You have
guessed that there was a lady in the case.
Before the three months were over l had
fallen in love with Miss Corcoran."
Every naturally and quite the proper thing
under the circumstances. l suppose she
brought you your cruel and read aloud to you,
famed your fevered brow and all that.
only wish such piece of good luck would fall
to me-"
"You are quite wrong. In all that time I
never saw Miss Corcoran."
Halsey whistled
"'Whom having not seen 1 love- used to
repeat to myself again and again in those
days. Miss Corcoran was in Philadelphia
completing a course of medicine which she
had begun with her fathar. They told me
that she was fitting herself to go out as mis-
sionary, and she wished to make herself use
full among the women and to gain admittance
TO the harems as physician DR.. Corcoran's
family was large one, there were others
staying in the house and was given her
room. / have never known much about
women, and all the dainty fittings of that
room were a revelation to me. 1t seemed to
bring me very near to her, and, as | told you,
used to lie and study one object and then
another, and it seemed to me that could i'm
agine from them just how she looked as well
as her tastes and mental characteristics.
There was a cabinet desk beside the window
and the carpet in front of it was
more worn than before the dressing
table. That told its story to begin with.
The decorations of the room were of an
eastern character. An India shawl was
draped to form a curtain, TuniSian prayer
rug was spread beside the bed and Daghes-
tan one in front of the CRATE There was
Moorish plaque over the mantel, and boxes
Of japanese lacquer, bamboo easy chair