Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1896-11-26

emphasis OF people
who take the downward view, a very bad
citixne.
When his wife died he seemed to awake
with sudden shock to the issues of life
and the fact OF death. L;e had loved her
with Gil that marvellous depth of tender
meas, that inconsistent fervor which some
times urderlies the weakest natures.
In the newness Of his grief he foreswore
his old ways and habits. He knew him
self to be weak. He fsne!ed the way to
strength Of resistance lay along the road
Of self-exile to strange scenes and un-
familiar faces-that road well worn by the
restless feet of those VINO fly from the
battle within to wage an unequal struggle
\ with the allies without
He loft his little son, made doubly dear
to him BY the sense of loes, with his wife's
cousin, gave to her what money he could
spare for the child's support, promised to
send more at regular intervals. and de-
parted westward.
More than year later he reused him.
4elf a. IL the finger Of Fate had touched
him. He remembered, with an anguished
regret, that he had failed again; that for
months he had drifted from place to
place. he himself sea -cely knew where or
how. He remembered that his promised
remittances for the boy had ceased. He
saw himself broken in strength, in health,
In spirit. He felt suddenly overpowered
with the consciousness o. his own weak
ness. and, % drowning mans arms
reach wildly ont toward any illusion of
help, his thought went ont toward his
child.
It seemed to him that the love Of his
boy could save him. The miracle Of sal
walton became to him possible. wherein q
little child, strong In love and innocence
and faith. should lift the fainting, failing
manhood of the man.
A passionate yearnlng seized him Ia
fold again to his heat The little form, ia
feel ABOUT his neck the clinging arms, to
hear again the lisring words which came
to his weakened memory like distant
echoes in dream. And then he remem-
bered the day when FIRST the child was
laid In his arms: he remembered the
thrill the wonder. the firrt pride of faith.
erhood. Then, in broke1 glimpses, as
fair landscape 10 seen between blurs oil
mist, there came to him memories in swift
succession, Of the growth. the incidents
of the child's few years.
II must 50 to him." whispered the man
with gasp, as he liftesl his head from
his hands. His face was flushed, tears
stood in his eyes. His resolution was
carried out with feverisb haste. and be
turned his face to the East.
His wife's relative had little excuse fol
him. She had long considered him 1
hopeless vagabond. So when he appeared
& suddenly, 40 from the possible, and, ii
q her opinion, better, dead. she was not pre-
\ pared 10 receive him with especial cordial
IT.. The story was soon told The DO,
had died months before. He slept By hi
mother. No one had known where to ad
dress the father, who was supposed t,
have forgotten he had 4 son. She wa,
really not much surprised at the apath,
with which the father listened. It wa,
consistent with her estimate Of his char
acter. She had 40 means Of knowing
that his faculties were stunned. But sh,
s. was astonished beyond measure when, Ii
her money for the expense Of caring 70
and burying the boy.
rs hat quite alp he kept asking, an,
then. abruptly but quickly, he said
s'(7ood-by, I'm going bsck."
sgs He knew that his hope was dead; b
s4elt the certainty of fall now that nothin
US retna inad TO him to lean upon. But b
thought of other things
q sleety mist filed the air, sparkling i
~ street lights like macy shower .
brillianta. The particles stung his fac
lie elm aFrowS. His features wer
tense ana rieid. His eyes were hot an
y s{lry and his head ached with dull, ID
& sastent. maddeu3ng pain He passed th