The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1890-04-18
strong. to Civ. way, What shall I do' Oh

strong o1 to gi ~, ssy' What shall d0' Oh
wildly up and down the banks Of the river,
wringing her hands and crying
He 10 20 proud and happy in bis reviving
fortunes. He expects so much from me; alas!
hs has no other child but me; and am about
to turn all the sweetness Of HE love to gall
and bitterness! to ehange all the glory Of his
triumph to the deep dishonor ot-;0h,
con not die? Death! Deatl. you are this
night. az always battening on reluctant
prey! Leave your unwilling victims tonight
-restors the dying to tho loving, and come
and take me, who am a shame to the dead
and u curse to the living! Come AMI take
the gift of fate Alas Death will not come!
he turns away from too willing victim!"
She paused and gazed modify down into
the depths Of tho river. The water just be.
low her was very deep. ind clear. and still.
els suicide, she said. musingly. 1.-THE one
great, Inst, and objectionable sin-the sin
70. Ie which there is no pardon. because for It
know that. l never snw n command
in the Scripture forbidding suicide Aud
the old classic moralists often looked
upon 1t as an act of virtue. All.
know that it 10 not net Of virtue, but neither
can 1t he in all cases m objectionable sin!
uio " eAp!nte my sn! uio 10 enve my
fnther from the deep dishOnor Of my lie! l
die. oh Heaven! repenting that must die!''
exclaimed l.ionne. and ruising both hands
above licr head, she lenpe,l from the bunk
She felt herself suddenly and powerfully
checked, ind she fell back into the arms Of
Vulcan the Dwarf.
You sllall not die! There is no pardon
with stern solemnity.
oh, Vulcan! Vulcan! you know not what
you hive done!" exclaimed Li0nne, in voice
Of despair, and she cast herself down upon
the sands.
~ do know. my child! know that have
saved you from changing transient trouble
into =, o. eternal misery There is no repentance
ooh, Vulcan! Vulcan! which is worse, death
or dishonor?"
DEATH" said tho old man. sturdily-
when it is the death OF u suicide. hut
there Ia no need. Lionne. for tho one or the
other. All. my child, my child. whom have
known longer than you have known yourself
my child, whom tor sixteen yours hive
carried in my arms-conflde in your old ser.
want and no will save you! Confide in the
poor old brute, who asks no better than to
lay down his life in your service!"
"Oh, Vulcan! Vulcan! yon know not what
you ask! You know not why ought to die"
o, ~ know 70 all my child and knowthat you
81 ought to live! Oh. yea ought to live
for vengeance"
Vengeance is mine, and will repay, saith
the Lord"
"Oh.h.h!" nspirated the lost one, in low,
quick, fierce tone, that thrilled to the very
marrow Of the hearers bones-"Oh.h-h! may
the judgment fall from Heaven. u thunder.
bolt OF fire on hi. naked llead-scathing!
burning! blasting! biting through brain and
heart, and blood, until his whole nature
shrivels up M a worm In the fan,es!''
As slne spoke her look was terrible; her eyes
blazed, her lips glowe.l, her face was white as
the light aslIes on u living coal Ono might
almost fancy tho vengeance she Ind invoked
darting, fork-tOngued serpent oil fire, from
her lips. to strike its fangs deep in the heart
of her detroyer.
"I.ionne! Lionne! for the Savior's sake
hush! hush! Your very breath is enough tu
wither nll the fair heritage of this fur day.
cried Vulcan, in horror.
Il know it. oh, know It. Oh.h, know
it; ! could cast my body into burning flames
aud not feel them, lccause of tho fiercer fire
sumo my foe-mind, and soul, and spirit;
flesh. and blood. and bones!''
"Oh, my child, for the Lords sake, he pa-
tent
Don't tnlk to me o'pntience. or OF the
Lord! am not patient. and am not o child OF
the Lord! ] nm u child of Satan, Ind will live
to do the work OF my father!''
"Oh, my girl, my girl, you utter blasphe-
mies!"
Eyes, child of Satan am l! Could not
now live in his fircs?"
"Poor child, you are mad. God will not
hold you account ahle for these ravings!" said
Vulcan, gazing piteously upon her.
Lionne. fellrd by her own fierce passions,
had fallen again upon the sands, where she
writhed like crushed worm.
Vulcan stood, and folded his hands, and
prayed for her.