The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1895-01-09
brutal and unlovable should Paul have

She knew that she had not; for she had
justified herself and had lived happily with
Paul
Must there not be expiation? The grapes
having been eaten, should not teeth be
set on edge? Was she guiltless of this
mans blood?
She did not reason 1t out. There was
resentment still alive with her.
divorce had been forbidden her by GER
tain rules of education which she believed
IN. SO she came at the end to the same
conclusion every time. II should have
left him. for l hated him and I should
nave taken Paul, for l loved him." This
Is what dominated the woman. Love for
her lover And Paul: He was not the
best sort of man, as has been said; but
ne felt that guilt had touched him. The
face of the dead man was before him.
The brave mantle best man with true
courage-is strong enough to carry his por-
ton of woe and disappointment. He had
not done this. He was brave enough,
however. and true enough, to feel con-
tempt for himself because he had fallen.
because of a sin, the full consequences of
winch he could not fathom. He said to
himself, over and over again: Love is
enough. But he could not convince him
sell that his summing up was true. Duty:
Has not this a place? Must not there be
a suspicion of the truth and sacredness OF
love that flies in the face of duty? Had
ne not slaughter on his soul because of
this?
He could not dismiss the question as he
mad done 50 many times before.
Donald, also, thought the matter over.
The dead man had been a charge upon him
and a care to him. He did not regret that
his sister had ceased to be the wife OF the
man to whom she was bound. II she had
come to him-and yet, he reflected, he had
advised her to stay with her husband.
knowing her trials knowing that the man
was a demon without morals and without
decency, he had yet advised that she re-
main with him.
He had been found wanting when he was
tried. His conclusions, however, were reach
ed. OF course they would marry now and
the past should be sealed book. They
should begin over. 1t is not easy to
begin over Every action, every thought,
leaves mark and impress. And of these
lives are made. To begin ever is to de-
strOy that which is indescruct bile; it is
to wipe out that which is indelible.
But this view did not occur to Donald
Graham. They will begin over, he thought.
And so he looked out into the cloud of
snow and ice sweeping down the valley OF
the Pipestem.
And so ended the first day in the cottage
on the bluff. The first day for a loving man
and woman, who had chosen FOR themselves
a method of equity and had come to con-
front new factor in the problem of the
ordering Of three lives.
which would be as happy the birds, if
all time was compasSed in the future.
All night the storm ragged. All night the
particles Of snow and ice filed the air,
borne on the wings of the wind.
Donald slept; but Paul and Louise listened
to the whistling and moaning Of the tenn
pest. 1t seemed to the woman as if there
were shrieks and cries being carried along
in the strong arms of the wind. AS if a
moan had been wrested from lips that
should speak no more and had been brought
to her by the upbearing power of this
mighty current Of the storm. She crouched
and bowed her head as if she was being
smitten with the sound She uuivered in
terror at each new blast, and rs the storm
sank and lowered it's tone for small in
terval she could hear it as it gathered the
cry afar off and hurled it down upon her,
to drive her mad with it's repetitions. She
heard the curses in the air; but over the
curses was the sound of lespair-the sound
of death.
Paul would have taken her in his arms
and comforted her. Even though his heart
might be breaking or his own soul might
be scourged in terror. yet would he have
comforted her. But she could not be paci
fed by him. To an extent he was the cause
of the reproaches and Of this guilt which
she felt lying heavy on her soul; he was
partaker and Snarer.
And SO the night passed So the storm
and tempest carried the night by and
brought morning in its folds.
In the morning there was cessation of
the violence of the storm. The world was
shut off from the cottage by the moving
white wall which encompassed it, 1.-THE
Blizzard may last three days." said Paul.
He looked haggard and worn. There were
new curves under his eyes and around his
mouth. There a different expression
of cOuntenance.
The humor Of it had vanished; the light
of it had gone out
Louise-poor WOe-begone sufferer, pay
ing with her life, as she thought, debt
which the world Overlooked across the
table at her lover and imagined that she
the sign of new resolution there.
This added to her terror
Donald Graham, after a good nights
sleep, was fresh and tranquil He saw
changes in his compaions and could partly
understand them-but not entirely.
He tried to Jolly them up to use an
expression of his; but the attempt did not
succeed.
They talked about the storm and the
probabilities to it's coming to end.
In the afternoon it seemed to be less Sc
we're The scope of vision wdened. The
stable and out buildings came into view,
and the bluffs began to show again.
AT the first sign of a change in the wealth.
er, Paul was at the stable, and presently
drove to the door with the sleigh. The
horses were not easy to manage and re-
Portable quarters.
Nothing had been said about journey,
but it seemed to be understood that one
was to be made
Donald and Louise did not keep Paul wait
ing many minutes. Louise has furnished
her brother with some of Pauls storm ap-
parel and had fortified herself against the
snow and cold. The temperature was fall
ing with the storm
Paul and Donald were in the sleigh when
she came out. She locked the door after
her and stood on the steps moment, as if
trying to remember something, and then
same slowly down and took her place be-
side her brother.
Paul was in front driving
do you think you can find the road
Paul?' she said.
mo, but 1 can keep the direction; and
the prairie anywhere is a good road" He
drove out into the storm.
Donald had no misgivng. He did not
know the danger of getting lost in a biz
card; but the storm gathered new force
and the clouds Of snow gathered around
them again, there seemed the danger mem
acing of night on the prairie.
Not always so serious a matter if the
lost ones do not lose their GOODNESS and
presence of mind.
Further down the Pipestem, some dis
lance from the Calmette cottage there
stood a house occupied by some young men
who had taken up claims and were bach
ing 1t. The house was 80 feet from the
biuf; the stable almost or the yerv
verge OF bank 30 feet high and nearly
perpendicular. At the foot of the bank there