Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1888-02-25
ASIN NOT TO BE FORGIVEN
BY LIZZIE W. cHAxrur.
TIT

By LIZZIE W. cHAxr1r,
III.
Halssy sat thinking deeply lar into the
night. He reviewed every possible plan for
avoiding confession and for keeping up his
assumed character, but he saw that this was
impossible. Orient had told him that she
was TO return home upon the morrow; and be
had agreed to accompany her. On the jour.
ney the explanation must be mazda. Every
moment OF delay made 1t more difficult. and
be bitterly regretted that be had not bean
more honest with her. However, to have
firmly made up his mind to throw Off tbs
mask was something of relief and he awoke
the next morning with q hopeful feeling, and
his usual confidence that Some way things
would come out right.
As he was not to lay aside his rols
during the morning, he determined to
deepen the good impression which he had
made upon Orient, and to selec: the sermon
which he was to preach before the fellowship
meeting solely with reference to her tastes.
de hesitated some time between ''Buddha
and his Philosophy Of Despair,"a discourse
q Dr.. N%ewnans, and THE Parallels of the
Talmud," by the Rev. Charles Eaton, but
finally settled upon the first as more co,nplt.
mentary to her intellect. He was a little dis.
turbed to notice, on taking his place in the
pulpit, that Orient was not in the choir. the
eldest Miss Pearce occupying her place at
The organ. All through the sermon he kept
his eyes fixed upon the door, hoping to see
her enter, but only to be disappointed. Ho
knew, too, from the strong stare with which
his bearers confronted him, that his audience
did not care a penny for Buddha or the re.
igion of India. Only Miss Pearce seemed in
in the least interested, for she had Just read
"-Mr. lsaacs," and had, beside, her reputation
as.a philosopher at stake. The business meet
ing was called Immediately after the sermon.
and Halsey, leaving it to its deliberations as
to his eligibility, hurried over to the parsou.
age. He was informed by the servant that
Miss Corcoran had left town on tho noon
train. He was struck with sudden apprehen.
sion.
Il understood that she was going on the at.
1ernoon train
The servant believed that she did intend to
do SO, but bad changed her mind. Halsey
next asked after the doctor. He had driven
his niece over to the station and had NOT vet
returned; he would come soon; would not tina
gentleman wait! Halscy concluded that he
would do SO and was shown into the doctors
study. A volume of sermons by Henry Ward
Beecher lay upon the desk, open to the very
one which &c had abridged for his PRAYER
meeting ak. The doctor had evidently
looked 1t up from u haunting suspicion that
Its resemblance to Beecher's style was not en-.
tirely accidental. Orlent's sudden leave ta.-
tIg was explained; she had found this, and it
was enough. She did not wish to see him
again. He rose quickly and left the house. not
caring to face the doctor nop. He walked
across the fields TO the deacon,s house. II
was deserted, for the discussion over his case
Was very warm Il the uleetiny not VET
over. lI1 sat down anil wrote an iIEpas
stoned let-e" 10 Orient. making a clean braas,
Of everything and begging her mercy. As
he sealed it he noticed that the congregation
We're disr-rsin-. and the deacon soon after
entered the ys>,n.
I'm powerful sorry ne said, "but there
was p good dad :f fcelin'. and the motion tc
give YOU q call Was lost. You see your ser.
moa yesterday evcnin' wasn't considered
quite orthouol.'
Halsey wrote the doctor an explanation
Tor the sake OF his friends good name, but he
did not fee! obliged to confess to the deacon,
who conreyc! him to tho station, and wa:
profuse i'll his regret over tho vote Of the
church. At tho station he mailed his lette,
to Orient, end returned to his friend Steele,
whom he ouna in a much moro hopeful
atate. The fcvar had been broken, but he
was vNE:: weak. You must hclp US keer
his n..ii in IL cheerful, calm condition.
tho local doctor said to Halsey,
before he yeit up to his room. When An.
drew Steele inquired about his friends OK.
p~cric:lce a. Ramorh Gilead, Halsey old him
that be had explained the state of affairs to
the pastor and had simply read three ser.
mons: that OF coarse under the circumstance
there could be 10 call to the passionate, nor
did he see how bis interests could be affected
very much ever though DR.. Corcoran must
understand that his health was not in 80 favor
able y state as ho could wish.
Il made the best OF everything" Hal.
soy assured his friend: sit is only u little
longer waiting, aud 1hsy will be willing
enough to DC that"
Thank you,n Andrew Steele murmured,
ind closing his eyes he slept as peaceful as a
child. When he awoke his mother handed
him a lettor. "You look as if you were able
TO read it." shs said, and l suspect it is from
your friends, the Corcorans."
1t was from Orient: the young man ,ecog.
nized the graceful script at.once, though he
Ind only received one letter from her. He
opened it with trembling eagcrness. But what
did it meant SEa had always imagined him
the sole of honor. She had loved him for his
goodness aud unworldliness: it was hard
to give up her ideal OF him, but now every.
thing was changed. No explanation Of,
either side was necessary. he must under.
stand, end she could not forgive.
Believe mo- she wrote, that my own un-
happiness is greater thsn any you can suffer.
10 have cherished un ideal as I have done.
and allowing to cluster about it all that was
hottest and tenderest in my thought is not a
Slight thing. The discovery that I have been
utterly mistaken has given me u shock from,
which I shall never recover. have been in
a dream and the awakening has been cruel.
only hope that l shall never hear OF you
again as occupying the sacred desk. For ma
at least ard against love you have committed
tho objectionable sim"
Andrew Steele lay dazed. Hts mind was in
too weak q condition Tor him to connec: his
friends readings at Ramoth Gilead with this
letter. 1t was rs il he had received a heavy
blow upon the head. He lay stunned q long
time, but when Halsey anne in he had arisen
from his bed and was preaching wildly to
An imaginary congregation on the sin tina.
hath never forgiveness. Halsey lei him
to his bed and compelled him to lie
down. Then ho noticed tho letter, read
ans colcsaled it. He saw that it va
mailed from II way station and had been
written on the train, and therefore before
Orien. had received his letter of confession.
Why had lie delayed making it when he was
with her? Ail regret was useless now. He
laid his and on his friends pulse. He had
no fe'AJ, and his hopes rose, but he was wildly
.tlel;rESs and incOherent. and the mothey