Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1896-03-05

a ~ -
or To bear than a dead one! because we
are each of us a living sorrow to the
others" said Hollis Elverton, gloom
lily.
"Oh, this is terrible. But why Is IT
best that we all should die-I in my
youth. and you and her in your prime
OF life, p~rematurely. as though we were
not fit TO cumber the carthy'
Because we are not fit TO cumber the
earth-the dust should hide u.s. cried
Hollis Elverton. with such Il sudden
change OF voice and manner, such a
savage energy of one and gesture,
such a fierce gathering Of the brows,
glare OF the eyes and writing of the
lips. that his daughter, looking upon
him, suddenly shrieked aloud, and V
cred her face with her hands, for she
feared that she was in the presence of
a mailman. If not even in the power OF
a demoniac.
Alma he continued, sternly and
pitilessly, in spite of her condition,
this horriics you: yet, though the
words should Kill you, | repeat them
il is better that we should die and re-
turn To- dust!'
He wishes indeed to kill me when
hn uses such awful words thought
~. shuddering girl, rs she shrank more
and more into herself, and covered
nearer and nearer TO the ground.
Alma, there is a misfortune so I'M
natural that it has been forever name
less in all languages; so degrading that
il infects with a worse than moral lep-
rosy all connected with il; so fatal that
nothing but the death of the victim can
cure it: nothing but the resolution OF
the body into its original elements, and
it's resurrection in another form of be-
ing, and into another sphere of life, can
r~egenerate it. Alma, such Il dire mis-
fortune was mine, and hers, and
yours!"
"Oh, this is horrible-m0St horrible.
But what is it, then? Give the fatality
some name" cried Alma. distractedly.
Il told you it was nameless, but not
cureleSs; for death is the certain rem
edy. Therefore die, Alma, die!'
Father, / am called a Christian,
though most unworthy of the name;
and nothing on earth would induce me
to cast away my Makers gift of life"
Nor do l mean that, either. For
though hoping, longing and praying for
our deaths, | would not lay s~acrileSiouS
hands on my life. hers Or yours; for
murder and suicide are crimes of the
deepest dye. and | would not burden
my soul with eve n yenial sin; yet,
Alma, die If you cam
.'Oh. heaven! / do not know what you
mean, my father"
why, this. If ever you are III
again, do o call in a physician. H.
not take medicine. do ~ take any
means TO keep Oft the death thar nlIy
come to you, naturally. easily. kindly.
as an angel Of mercy. Promise M
this"
NO. my father. I cannot. For not
only docs my conscience forbid me TO
destroy my own life, but il coremauIs
me to do all can TO preserve IL; and |
would no more be guilty OF negative
than of positive suicide" said Alma,
firmly, though m~Ournfully.
Then life. worse than death. must
he on your head! You are warned.
But remember. you who prize this
earthly life so highly. do not deprive
your mother 90 the comfort she finds
in the superstition Of my death. 10y the
reufotest hint of my existence reit-
Grated Hollis ElvertOn. earnestly.
Father. you have my promise. and
you may rely upon ii. But. sir. there
is one Of whom neither you nor | have
Yet spoken. One whom we should both
conSider-onc, indeed, who is much to
be piticd in his widowed. child.eSs
and desolatc old age. ! mean sGGT
aged parent. my grandfather. Lord
ElvertoE. Surely lie. at least. would
rejoice 10 hear that his only son still
lives. and, il necessary. lie would
keep your counsel as faithfully as |
shall. VIII you not communicate with
him " comfort his aged heart with
the news Of your continued lifcE"
Never broke forth Hollis Elvcr-
ton. in a fury, that again frightened
his gentle daughter almost into "A
Swoon. Il have no father: | know
nothing of your grandfather. and new
or. in this world. in Hades or in
Heaven, will | see. speak To or ac-
knowledge Lord ElyeTton again, Nev-
or! 50 save me, Heaven, in my utmost
strait
"oh, sir. he is your father, do not
speak of him SO bitterly falterad
Alma.
Girl. ] told you a few moments
since that there were ~miSfortuncS SO
nionStrOuS as TO be nameleSS: so
shameful as TO be contagious. 50 fatal
IA to be curcless except by death. and
now add TO that. that there are sins SO
great ms To burst asunder all ties of
kindred. destroy all the sympathies
of humanity. and i%nvalidate all obi
cations Of duty. Ask me no more
questions, for | find that you are will
ing the very spirit from my bosom, but
answer me this: Since the fatal night
that drove me from my home forever.
has that old man ever dared to cross
the threshold of Edenlawn:''
But once. my father; but once. as |
truly believe. | have never seen him
there. but / heard that, within n few
W, eks after your flight and my birth,
he came to Edenlawn lutte one after.
noon, and was eloseted with my
vzMhyL
81 llLnT dsyIlIsA ~