Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1898-09-29

innate hand clasp in the blackness had
aroused the inner self he so consistently
silenced.
Her heart smarted for him as she
heard the halting story of his childhood.
She could see him left orphaned, under
an unfriendly roof, no natural love ex.
cusing his faults, loneliness eating into
him. Loneliness! 1t was the word on
which his life had reared its twisted
structure.
In woros chat burned he sketched the
difference between David's place and
his in John Temples house-David,
secretly loved by him always and Bit
terly envied, David the figure in the
white light which he might adore, but
never follow He told her how manhood
came and the bitter knowledge of all
He was despised, superfiuous, and the
determination took root to fulfill the
promise of his dark origin to sink to
the level considered fitting.
A stronger nature would have logged
ly risen no doubt. But the other was
easy, natural and had not been without
JOY. The poor, the unhappy like him
self had understood and loved him. For
the rest he had glaDwn content to tear
principles to rags, revel in the mud, live
for the moment and go with flags flying
to ruin and death.
why didn't you try to do well?"
Anne asked urgently.
81 was afraid" he said in lifeless
tone. II thought it wouldn't Go for me
with the inherited tendencies Of which
was so constantly reminded. Besides,
no one cared. That was it. It's ell we'll
enough TO talk of doing right, but when
your instinct leads you to the wrong
and there's not soul ON earth to care
pin if you're fished out of the river, a
| boy--at least most boys-would get into
an easy stride on the wrong read"
"No, you needn't have gone, she
said passionately.
"Pm not trying to excuse myself"
"But your not hopeless, are your"
II don't know" he said slowly. y
ought to be- have been. But tonight
somehow l wish I could begin over
again.
He heard a sob. All Anne had felt
during the trying day and the pathos OF
this confidence had touched her beyond
endurance. She wept unrestrainedly
from full heart. She could not see
Donald's eyes nor how they grew intent
and unbelieving. 1t seemed impossible
that he should hear a woman's sobs for
him, tears for him. They were terrible
and racked him, but they were sweet
| too.
Before he could fully accept the won.
derful occurrence as true and before
Anne could control herself to speak the
grating of the wire ropes in the shaft
cautiously commenced.
A light sprang into Donald's face,
and despite the opposing forces tearing
him like teeth he pressed her hand and
said in whisper that was slow and
difficult:
eff I do make anything of myself, if
ever do, it won't be because it's right
nor for society, nor even for shame of
what am, but for you
When they entered the cage, Anne's
tear swollen face needed no explanation.
To have been kept in mine for an
hour without light because part Of
the machinery had slipped its groove
and to have CHANGED upon Red Evans
dead was enough to unnerve any woman.
Only Anne and Donald ever knew the
truth of that hour. They stepped into
the night and saw the moon filling the
place with phosphoric light, making a
glory of the drenched earth. More mar
velous than this white atmosphere Of
peace after the stormy day was the
friendship which had put forth Sudden
flower in silence and night.
~s'~.r'-.
ErN mr. SD<-rr>rr-,-y> I