The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1899-06-15

tongues spoke respecting me. Well, you
knew thsm to be liars, but you were
willing enough to listen to them AFTER
ward, when their tune was changed.
But what does 1t matter what lot OF
gossiping, tittle-tattling women say
about man? He Is strong to bear II,
and can laugh at them for their pains.
And you. we'll, you could defend me In
my absence, but you could find no wor1
in defense OF her who is dearer to me
than my life-than hundred lives, II l
ment spoke to you of my love for her.
Why did you do so? You threw doubts
then upon her goodness, as you have
thrown doubts this night upon her pur-
ity. II you had done what you should
have done when Mabel returned home,
if you had gone boldly into her house
and spoken to her plainly, all this mis-
cry, all this torture, might have been
avoided. But you had condemned her
in your heart from the first, and were
only too willing 10 believe all the bad
things that were said of her. You,
woman who, for my sake, if not for
her own, should have defended her, a
young and inexperienced girl, from the
malicious tongues of slanderers and
liars, who were striking at my life and
my happiness, sided with them against
dcpnse.i - - - 80
What could have been in Mabel's
mind on that happy Christmas night,
three years ago, to cause her to win
from me a sacred pledge of trustful-
ness in her faith and love, / cannot
with certainty say; but some shadow
OF fear was upon her. Perhaps she
suspected you were not her friend; per-
haps, with the knowledge that her
own mother was against me, she dread
ed that circumstances might occur in
my absence to cause a breach between
us. and she wished to strengthen both
herself and me. Anyway, she drew the
pledge from me, and she gave me hers,
and l believe in her faithfulness with
all my soul. The harder task of faith
fulness is yours she said, as she kissed
me; and she told me that while | was
absent from her she would have three
talismans with her-hope. faith and
love L should never doubt .ne said.
My love for you and faith in you have
become part of my life.' Listen now
to the words / spoke to her; they are
craven on my heart: Henceforth this
good season holds more sacred place
in my heart because it has brought me
the priceless blessing of your love- be-
cause, also, of the lesson it has taught
ME, the lesson of faith, to live forever
undimmed in my SOUL Well, whis-
pering these words to her from my
heart of hearts, shall I, on this ami
versary of that happy night, bitter as
it is to me, prove them, even by the
shadow of suspicion, to be false? No.
Henceforth | have but one task before
me. When that is done, and not till
then, you ard /. mother, shall meet
again.
She crept to me, and laid her weak
hands upon me.
What are you going to do, Amos?"
Il am going to act toward my wife
and child as my father, Amos Beecroft,
would have acted toward you and yours
had you been slandered in his absence
as my wife has been in mine. l will
never put foot inside this cottage again
until find her; and when she is be-
fore you, and you are face to face, you
shall ask her pardon, for the wrong
you have done her."
II ask her pardon noww sobbed my
mother. Il have been weak and
wrong-I see it! l ought to have done
as you said. No. no, Amos; do not
leave me without a word of pity and
forgiveness AS / kneel to you / will
kneel to her, my SOM" Her tears
choked her utterance.
God forgive you for what you have
done!" | answered, not looking at the
PROSTATE form at my feet, land send
comfort TO us both. go away tonight
crushed and desolate man, and there
will henceforth be no light in my life
till have found my wife and child"
Thus in the blindness of my grief /
spoke, throwing, in my unreason, all
the blame upon my old mother; and
as l stepped out into the cold and win
try night, her mournful cry, ooh, Amos,
my SOM" crept after me like wailing
wind. / knew that ship was lying at
Gravesend ready to sail for Australia,
and for that | was bent. / trudged
doggedly through the snow, hating
but once, outside house in which, not
withstanding the lateness of the
night, merry-making was going on.
What caused me to pause was wom-
ans voice singing the very song my
wife had sung on our wedding night:
Though friends be Gliding.
And waves dividing,