The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1890-02-14
shrinking, almost covering on the
ground, she had heard those scathind

* VI u1AllOSV SoNGllll0 OH lIlt
ground, she had heard those scathind
words, spoken with SO deliberate q
passion, not under the ephemeral ex7
element of a passing anger. Her brain
was dizzy with the strain laid upon her;
but as once nor he moved. and would
have passed her by, as those awful
words fell from the ruthless lips. She
gathered strength from despair, She al
most flung herself again before him,
clinging with a frantic clasp to his
hand-a clasp that would not be denied.
No, no! oh, no, no, Philip" SHE
cried out with a very passion of agony
that sent the blood flushing to his brow.
You are human, you have passions
and feelings, you are not a thing of
stone. Oh. take back the words: it
cannot-must not be! 1 have suffered;
is it not an agony to know that l am
lost; despised in your eyes and the
worlds, to be scorned? And I have not
sinned, l am guiltless. And if-if-"
she stopped, conyulsively choking back
the anguish that almost mastered her;
IF | were all you deem me. there was
one who sinned-whom they would not
nave stoncd-and Christ forgave-"
Have you cver read" Philip inter-
rnpted, through his clenched teeth, that
the man wronged forgave? | trow not.
Yes, | am human. a man with passions,
whose very strength is my curse.o He
paused q moment; she had bent her
face down, her fingers twining still
around hi5hand: the touch that brought
back Il thousand softer memories. Yet
was he touched, moved at last to u
shadow of relcnting; moved by that de-
spair, by the love that never could die?
Ii it were so, the very potency of the
| inN-110 t1pu1inr rntl,onS hny,l.r,nI
him to yield no pity. Ii it were indeed
so, he would not give way to such q
gentler mood.
He bent down, and with firm though
gentle hand %unclasped the slender fin
gers that had little strength to hold him,
and put her back; and then her tears
ceased, she rose up, her features white
and set as marble; in the large eyes a
steadfast s%ternnesS as she faced him
and spoke, locking her hands over her
breast.
Observation-Disclosures she said,
the words dropping slowly from her
pale lips. when you, Philip st. John,
shall stand all stripped of that pride.
that honor which makes your priceless
mantle here, when you shall be ar
siiaii stand, how shal, you dare appeal
for mercy, who give no mercy here:
Mercy. that was all-all l pleaded.
Well, [ have asked in vain, now 1t is
all over. l will trouble you no more.n
Like II who has no more strength
left to battle against fate. she sank into
Il chair near the table, and laid her face
down on her crossed arms: and that
mute despair sent a rush of passionate,
r~egretful pity, sorrow-almost tender.
ness-back to the heart of the mar who
a few short moments before had beer
immovahle as the rocks that have braveG
a thousand tides.
He paused, wavcred, and then tool
one short step back TO her side.
give but one denial-one word o.
explanation-and / will listen" he said
his low voice shaken with the trembling
agony of a yearning that was scarcely ;
thought. Tell me Il thing that il
false in all the past"
She lifted for a second her weary
Swallowed eyes to his. Il transient CLEAN
of hope in their depth, but it faded
quickly, and once more the head droopet
down.
81 cannot" she said, hopelcssly. $.
cannot deny| have no explanation t.
give-one thing is false, and that 20,
will not believe"
lie turned from her, yelling his face
90 De IL, ne saiu, noafSeiy, ant
passed out.
Had he heard, or in fancy had Ii,
seemed to hear. the whispered cry tina
has been, and will ever be the %restles
appeal from the helpless to the Helper
GLOW long, oh. God! how long?n
Hours had passed YEARLY away, tn
sun had sunk, and the evening lay mii'
and cool on tree and Hover, when Eric
st. John lifted her head and locke,
round the twilight room-lookcd with
wayne expectation of seeing the MAJ
who had left her-left her in bitteres
SorroW.
But she was alone as she would eve
be, no change could come to her; if AL
mold died and she were released iron
the oath that lay. a burden almost to
heavy to bear. on her soul, she nigh
tell Philip all she had done; but wonlt
, he forgive this? for she was doing hin
a bitter wrong. Could lie forgive tn
. semblancc of sin?