The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1898-06-03

| eaAo IA4S Is NY opportunity. you nave
disappointed and surprised me to-day.
Why did you say it was all one to
you whether you went or stayed? Why
are you the only man among us who
seems to be perfectly Indifferent
whether we are rescued or not?"
Can man always give a reason for
what is strange in his manner or his
words?" Wardour retorted.
HE can try" said Crawford quick
ly, when his friend asks him"
Wardour's manner softened.
That's true" he said. II will try.
Do you remember the first night at
sea, when we sailed from England in
the Wanderer?"
"As we'll as if it was yesterday"
IA calm, still night" the other
went on thoughtfully. "No clouds, no
stars. Nothing in the sky but the
broad moon, and hardly a ripple to
break the path of light she made in the
quiet water. Mine was the middle
watch that night. You came on deck,
and found me alone"
He stopped. Crawford took his hand,
and finished the sentence for him.
"Alone-and in tears"
The last 1 shall ever she'd" War
dour added bitterly.
Don't say that. There are times
when man is to be pitied, indeed. if
ne'can shed no tears. Go on, Richard"
Wardour proceeded-still following
the old recollections, still preserving
his gentler tones.
Il should have quarrelled with any
other man who had surprised me at
that moment" he said. "There was
something, l suppose, in your voice,
when you asked my pardon for dis
turbing me, that softened my heart.
l told you that had met with a dis
appointment which had broken me for
life There was no need to explain
further. The only hopeless wretched-
ness in this world is the wretchedness
that women cause"
And the only uralloyed happiness"
said Crawford, "the happiness that
women bring"
That may be your experience of
them," Wardour answered. "Mine is
different. All the devotion, patience.
the humility, the worship that there
is In man laid at the feet of woman
She accepted the offering as women do
accepted it easily, gracefully, I'M
feelingly-accepted it as matter of
course. I left England to win high
place in my profession before I dared
to win her. l braved danger and faced
death. staked my life in the fever
swamps OF Africa to gain the promo
ton that only desired for her sake
and gained it. I came back to give her
all, and to ask rothing in return
but to rest my weary heart in the sun
shine of her smile. And her own Inns
the lips l had kissed at parting
told me tslat another man had robbed
me of her. I spoke but few words
when heard that confession, and left
her forever The time may come
told her, when 1 shall forgive Won.
But the man who has robbed me of Won
shall rue the day when you and he first
met Don't ask me who he was,
have yet to discover him. The treach-
cry had been kept secret; nobody could
tell me where to find him; nobody
could tell me who he was. What did
it matter? When I had lived out the
first agony 1 could rely on myself
could be patient and bide my time"
"Your time? What time?"
"The time when 1 and that man
shall meet, face to face. l knew it
then; I know it now-it was written
on my heart then, it is written on NV
heart nOw-we two shall meet and
know each other! With that convic-
ton strong within me, volunteered
| for this service, as would have volun-
teered FOR anything that set work and
hardship and danger, like ramparts,
between my misery and me. With that
conviction strong within me still, |
tell you it is no matter whether 1 stay
here with the sick or go hence with
the strong. shall live till have met
that man! There is day of reckoning
appointed between us. Here in the
freezing cold, or away in the deadly
heat-in battle or in shipwreck-in the
face of starvation, under the shadow
of pestilence-I, though hundreds are
falling round me, shall live! live for
the coming of one day! live for the
meeting with one man,
He stopped, trembling, body and soul,
under the hold that his own terrible
superstition had fastened on him.
Crawford drew back in silent horror.
Wardour noticed the action-he resent
ed it-he appealed in defense OF his
one cherished conviction to Crayford's
own experience Of him.
Look at met he CRIED Look how
have lived and thriven, with
the heartache gnawing at me
al home, and the winds of
the icy north whistling round me
here! I am the strongest man among
you. Why? have fought through
81 T. u j.