Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-06-18

and the bravest, finest man ON whom
Gods sunshine ever fell. That is why /
took my wife and two baby boys and
fed into this wilderness. That is why /
thought the shadow of these everlasting
hills would shield my face from men
and my sin from heaven. But the very
solitude that promised relief has but in
tensified the consciousness Of the crime
that has blasted my life.''
Overcome with emotion, Valentine
Kyle kneeled beside the bed and buried
his face in his hands. This startling but
ndefinite-confession overwhelmed Louis
for o moment, but only for a moment.
Springing from his chair he went over
and knelt beside his father. and. encir-
cling his neck with his right arm, he
raised his face with the other, and,
kissing it, said:
Malice never acts rashly, and your
life has atoned fer your rashness. I have
heard your sin, and, looking back ON
the past that has resulted from it, / feel
that PREPARATION has been made. But, be
that as it may, know this, my father,
my heart has gone ont more and more
TO you for this confidence. God pity the
man who ever refuses the hand of the
old father that cared for him rs you
have for me. Do not draw it away.
shall take it. Sec, father, see! am
pressing that right hand to my lips as I
often did when q child, and am bath
ing it white with the tears of my love- {"
Louis Kyle did take the trembling
hand and he did kiss it, and the hot
tears Of his plying love fell on it like
cleansing hyssop.
"Oh, my son, my son! o God, thank
thee!''
The father turned rs one turns from
| the darkness in which he has been CROP
ing to the golden ray that pierces the
gloom and marks the pathway up to the
light. His arms were about his boy
again his baby boy, though the checks
he pressed were bronzed and bearded.
| And they knelt there side by side, their
hands clasped and their heads bowed
and their suppressed sobs breaking the
stiffness.
So they were kneeling when Nora
ana her mother came back and softly
entered the room and bowed down be-
side them. Louis was the first to rise,
and he reached down and lifted his ia
Their up beside him, and there was q
light OH Valentine kyle's face that had
never been there before. The burden
had fallen of, and he felt as one who
has come to the mountain tops from the
Stygian depths.
MY brother Frederick" said Mr..
4 Rx-1n II. -
entine Weldon, after all had composed
themselves, lat the time of the great
war was q strong Union man, and as
strongly advocated the other side. Up
to this there never had been u misun-
derstanding between us-even as boys
we never Guarreled, as the best of broth
| ers are apt to do. But at the beginning
OF that terrible war men were seized
with excitement, and the stronger the
past love the stronger seemed the hate
that famed up between those that took
opposite views.
II never knew Frederick to drink be-
fore that day, and /, ever excitable and
impetuous, had never drunk so much.
was not myself. a friend had presented
me with a sword, and in my mad van
ity / had strapped it to my side ard
wore it as rode home with my brother
We got into dispute about the north
and south. He was cool, SO cool that ii
maddened me. A storm came up, and
by the flashing Of the lightning could
see his pale face and cleaning eyes,
and, as God is my judge, when we halt
ed ON the hanks of Beaver creek to sec
II the rain had swollen the ford,
Thought l saw a pistol in Frederick
hand. leo late / learned my mistake.
Excepting that cursed sword l was un.
armed How drew it and how, by the
ightning's fash, / saw it splitting
down his face seems like the memory Of
fevered dream.
He fell from his horse with CRY OF
% God. my brother!' The next instan,
Twas down and beside him. / hurled
the sword into the current Ifelt his fact
and the blood spurted ont ON my righi
arm From forehead to chin the blsds