Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1897-08-10
proved the flight of Demetrius.

proved the fight of Demetrius.
He is certainly faithful" said Miss
Nancy.
Why are you not lying DOWN." |
asked, "everely,
II could not rest while--while the
thunder is in the air. Mamma has just
given Inc the key to the puzzle. She
has told me that Mr.. Burlington is a
madman-that heI has terrible grudge
against father, and wishes to murder
poor Mark. How horriblel"
Very horrible" / said, gravely.
And you," she continued, were sent
down to stand between Mark and this
dreadful monster. l did you an in
justice. Forgive me-"
She held out her hand frankly, with
an air of good-fellowship which argued
the Lack of tenderer sentiment.
"But the monster" she continued,
with aslight SILVER, sis surely helpless?"
THAT, Miss Nancy, we do not know.
We think So"
Mamma also told me that he had
once tried to murder father, and in
stead had killed his partner. could
see that the mere telling of the story
upset her terribly. Oh, Mr.. Livingston,
my heart misgives me when think that
I'm responsible for this man being here.
What have ! done in my folly and con-
ceit?"
Her distress was most painful to wit
ness; and naturally offered some
crumbs of comfort, pointing out that
she had acted according to the dictates
of her heart, woman's wisest counsel
or, and doubtless for the best, ulti-
mately.
why has this man," she asked, fierce
ly, been suffered to heap such wretch
cdness upon the heads of innocent peo.
ple?"
was silent.
"Have you nothing to say?" she de-
manded, hotly.
There is reason in everything" 1
answered-"the memorable logic of
cause and effect. l believe that the an
swer to most of our questions may be
found, if we search patiently. The
problem of human suffering is to be
solved, but not by random guesswork.
The sufferings of such a woman as your
mother are to be evidence of future
state of existence"
She listened attentively to my crude
response, a softer light suffusing her
fine eyes. The thought struck me that
both of us, she as we'll as l, had taken
life too lightly and needed the discipline
of reflection. To me personally things
in general had begun to assume strange
proportions; some of my mountains
dwindled to mole hills, and vice versa;
substance melted into shadow; the ideal
absorbed the real. The process is often
rapid, and, like trip across the English
channel, most upsetting.
Yesterday" said Nancy, after sig
nifcant pause, 81 particularly noticed
the sunset. The lire of surf, with the
light behind it, was purple, not white;
and yet knew, of course, that it was
white. 1t is SO with the human souls
we meet; their color depends upon the
light, and our own eyes deceive US
And there are always the two roads
one leading to Heaven-on earth,
| mean-and the other to"
''The land of regret. May you never
set foot thcre!"
l spoke warmly.
"Thank you; you would"
Turn myself into sign post for
your sake. Most assuredly."
We gazed calmly and dispassionately
into each others eyes. Perhaps, all in
all, it was the bitterest moment of my
life, for saw that she had guessed my
secret and remained unlnovcd; and yet
the leaven of sweetness was there.
(To be continued)