Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1900-06-28
CHAPTER XXI.
Endure and Die"

Ethel thought of the dark-eyed noble
soldier who had been so attentive and
| kind to her. She hoped he would re-
| join her in the drawing-room, for his
conversation interested her She
| thought much Of his story, Of that ter
rible scene under the burning Indian
children, the husband whose greatest
pain was that he could not avenge
them. Then she began to wonder how
he could ever again be light-hearted
enough to mix in the gay world, to
share its pleasures or amusements
| She fancied that the memory OF that
scene must be always with him. She
| looked up with a start; the object of
her thoughts was standing before her
His noble face was Frightened with a
beautiful, luminous smile.
Miss st. Norman he said, you
look so deeply buried in your thoughts
that, If they are pleasant ones, it would
really be unkind to disturb you"
| Her face flushed at his words. She
| knew that she was thinking Of him;
and then she caught herself wondering
why this man had the power of call
ing those burning bushes to her face
| when no other could.
May find a place near you?" ne in
CURED. Il should like TO finish that
little discussion of ours"
She made way for him, and he sat
down by her side but when the ''lit-
| tie discussion" was ended, he showed
no great desire to leave her, and she
was almost unconscious of the great
the table before them lay some ele-
gantly- bound books of poetry. He
opened one and looked carelessly
| through it.
Which is your favorite poet, Miss
St. Norman?" he asked.
The one who teaches the best les
son of endurance" she replied; the
one whose pages are full of calm cour-
age and fortitude."
He looked at her in some surprise
is endurance your favorite virtue?"
he asked.
Yes" she answered, gravely.
Pardon me, you are young; how
can you have learned to care for a
hard virtue like that-one acquired
only after years of suffering"
She thought to herself, If he knew
If he only knew"
Perhaps" he continued, with the
smile she was beginning to like so
we'll, you admire it merely theoreti-
cally. You like it so well, | trust you
may never be called upon to practice
it."
why should you wish that?" she
asked, suddenly. II thought men and
women never became thoroughly noble
until they had suffered. have read
dignifier of life
II should say that much depends on
what the suffering is he replied
thoughtfully. There can be do doubt
that that which comes from Heaven
ennobes those who bear 1t patiently
-ennobles them as nothing else can. :"
But what of those who suffer by
their own fault" she cried eagerly
who have brought the punishment
of their offenses on themselves
what OF them?"
He looked slightly surprised at her
| earnestness.
Even then" he answered, when it
is, as you say, their own fault, brought
upon them in consequence OF folly
and sin even then think such suf-
ferlng, patiently borne, ennobles man,
and woman, too; it teaches them les
sons they could learn in no other
school; it clevates them. As a rule, it
makes them kinder of heart, and more
| considerable for others"
Tell me another thing" she asked;
(which is the harder to bear, mental
or physical pain?"
| II should say mental pain. The
smart Of a burn, the anguish of
wound, the long distress of a severe
illness-all are hard to bear; but to
me they seem nothing when compared
| with mental pain. The depression Is
nothing when compared with mental
pain. The depression nothing can re-
move, the regret nothing can stifle, the
despair nothing can aleviate-all
,,.ese are far worse than mere physi-
cal pain"
She looked up at him suddenly, and
then her eyes dropped and her face
! flushed,
You were going to ask me a ques
ton" he said What is It? Your eyes
have asked Il already your lips need
not hesitate to repeat II"
II shall be afraid of yeu," she said,
blushing: you read my thoughts"
Il may guess them, he rejoined; ]
cannot read them. What was the ques-
tion your eyes asked me?'