Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1893-09-07

COuluu y possibly UulDk any less or
me than l do of myself II putting
an end to my unhappy life will make
reparatiOn for what l have done, l
say do it! Don't stand there and re-
view the whole cursed thing though,
for what is passed can't be helped.
In Gods name. Ivison," he cried,
tierceiy, throwing his arms above his
head in his wild, dramatic way,
''what can I do now:"
''NOthing; you couldn't convince
him that you had wronged me; and
l can not deny what you said. ALL
can say to him is the past is dead and
buried: and he shrugs his shoulders
and says it is very life-like CORPSE.
You did not lie; no you did what is
sometimes much worse and a good
deal harder to do-you told the truth.
When-but there is no use in sayin.
anything else. Good night" aud
lvison closed the door softly behind
him.
Inc other man stood still until he
heard him pass out into the street.
Then, with groan, he sank into his
chair and buried his head on his arm.
From his earliest boyhood he had
been a sensitive, painstaking creature;
careful and conscientious to such a
degree that he became bv-word in
his own family: of high-strung and
intensely nervous organizations; and
with temperament as changeable as
the weather and often affected Ly it.
He was not handsome man; he was
tall and thin, and STOPPING; his eyes,
deep and hollow, were always fever
ishly bright; his chin was pointed
and his lips thin-giving one the idea
of cruel streak in the man which
he is nowise possessed
All his life he had had to fight his
way slowly from one position to an
other-so slowly that even he became
impatient at times; and when Ivison,
taking pity on him one day as he
bent over the books at his fathers
office, recommended him for an easier
place and larger salary, the poor
fellow was so overcome that he quite
lost his head and nearly tainted where
he sat with astonishment. AS nerv-
Gus and as given to details as sick
woman, he magnifled every small
thing which came to him, and jumped
at conclusions with rapidity which
would have put to shame any men,
Der OF the opposite SEX But in a
moment of forgetfulness he had
spoken; and in two minutes he had
ruined the life of almost his only
friend.
For while as he lay there after
Ivison had gone, he could hardly un.
derstand it all, but gradually through
the distorted lenses OF his scrupulous
nature he saw what he had done, and
he wondered dimly how God would
punish him. Not for moment did
he think of blaming Ivison or asking
himself why the man had not made
his life purer, so that he would have
had nothing to disclose to Her father;
with characteristic unselfishness. he
told himself the fault was entirely
his, and that the SIN he had com.
mitted was dCnable-unpardon
able; and hardly knowing what he
was doing, he pulled the little bible
which lay before him under the light
! and turned to the Commandments tt
see if it was there. But before he
found the place, he came to a pass
age which seemed to burn itself into
his brain: "An eye FOL an eye, a
tooth for a tooth. life for life. y
A life for life. He started to his
feet as if some one had spoken his
name, and turned to his desk. There
he drew sheet of paper to him and
wrote:
What told you of Ivison yesterday is
| lie from beginning to end. l had a purpose
then in bearing false witness against him
| for love your daughter, and in a moment
of wild hope that l might win her, l said
/ what did. 1t is Il lie, repeat; the man is
as pure as yourself and his record as free
from stain. That you take him back again
at once is the prayer-the commanded the
man who tried to ruin his life. Show this
to him, and remember that these are the
last words OF one who. before you reat
them, shall be expiating his crime in tn {
other world
To this strange note he signed his
name and put it in an envelope.
TIT will convince him; it must, u
he said, turning to small drawer
and opening it. 'Iyison shall be re.
stored, but ="
He took from the drawer a tiny,
pearl handled revolver, and, going to
the fireplace again, stood looking
thoughtfully into the blaze.
II have lied," he whispered to
himself ied about Her. "A life
for life.' A life for a lie"
Then he pulled the hammer of the
revolver slowly back and cooked it.
X
AS Ivison started home from the
theater that night. he hesitated at
the corner of the street, and then
turned back and walked slowly to-
ward the other mans rooms. A
curious feeling had cone over him
while he sat watching the playa
feeling as if he had done something
terrible wrong and some thing for
which he could never make repara-
tion. AS the performance went on,
the feeling became stronger. until he
found himself restless, and distracted,
ana wishing he were out of the place.
in the cool night air WHY he ShOuld