Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1901-11-08

considerably. He bore it All in 81
lence and with patience, for he was
Strong was Gideon; but the soul with
in him. grew hard as steel, He. forget
nothing.
It was asgreat pity, for he had an
excellent nature; but the best of nas
lures viii not Bear shutting up. An
assumption of taciturnity' developed
into taciturnity. He put on the pessi-
mist's spectacles, apd saw nothing
but ife's little ironies. And then one
day it was all shattered, and Gideon
hecsae a new man with living fire
within him. He loved a woman.
This was his great chance. He told
himself that where love is life is, after
all, priceless thing. And Gideon
loved with all the strength of heart
and mind. He even dared to hope, in
spite of his inveterate shyness. 1t
was as if some spirit had. troubled
him as Bethesda's Pool was troubled
in old time. But when he would have
stepped down someone had been be-
fore him. His love returned into his
own Blossom. 1t was terrible; but the
strength Of the man closed over. his
despair. Gideon was no coward to
weep or vince, but he turned a death
ly eye Heavenwards. Destiny might
break, it should never bend, him.
After this, Gideon Beth shut him
self up with his books. Fifteen years
passed and carried him beyond the
prime of life, and made Of him a tall,
spare man with. slight stoop, a
dropping white moustache, and a clear
eye. Fifteen years spent with the
thoughts of other men had not
changed his individuality to any ex-
tent The face was a little more COM
posed in it's sternness, that was all
When DIR. Ross entered the room
Gideon was buried in a deep wicker
| chair, with a reading lamp PLACED be-
hind his, right shoulder, and books
everywhere He now turned to look
at ibis visitor. The doctor was one
of the few men with whom he cared
| to converse, and the former did. not
hold the privilege lightly.
"Sit down." said Gideon, closing his
book over his thumb and pointing
it, at chair. The doctor thanked
| him genially, though inwardly trou-
| ing the subject upon which he had
called. "That's fat book you are
ireading," said he..
| spencer"
"Ah! Fairy Queen or 'Philoso-
phy'?"
LIDO not read poetry"
I 'Then conclude it's the philoso-
pher. I do read poetry; and very sad
some of it is, too"
| "You waste your time"
| The doctor smiled. .There was a
man named Longfellow-"
sQuite SO; we all read him when we
are young"
| s'-who has made for himself a
place in thousand hearts. But when
L read poetry was not speaking SO
much of printed words. Be patient
with me for five minutes. have
been studying the. opening chapters
of a.child's life. She is a; little girl,
age Ii. Five years ago she lost her
father
1 Gideon's father had not been quite
worthy Of the name. so to this re-
mark he. paid srnan. attention.
'And two years LATER" continued
DR.. Ross, s"her mother"
Gideon Beth's face grew stern, as
it always did when he judged Provi-
| dence.
'sThe child was left alone with an
elder sister. This sister was a plucky
lgirl, and the wolf at the door didn't
brighten her." ..
'sAh!" said Gideon, who had fought
that wolf himself. He remembered
! that in the day he had been more than
equal to the combat. The wolf fights
best at night.
"a week ago the sister was taken
precious life, but / failed: The child
lis now frfendless."
Gideon Beth's eyes flashed suddenly
and he brought his clenched. fist
heavily down. "Alone in the world!
And this case but one of manyi Who
cares? Nobody, no .one!"
so mighty mani" said the doctor
beneath his breath, as he heard these
ordinations of bitter spirit. An6
, then he wondered who was the more
friendless of the two-the child OF
the man. He concluded that it wa.
not the child. And more than ever he
pitied the solitary man who, needed
the love OF some simple nature to ex
pand and sweeten his own.
Gideon's passion passed as quickly
as it had risen. "Why do you tell me
this?" he demanded. us this your
poetry?"
ST call it so. Some day we shall
better understand its metre"
Gideon shrugged his shoulders as h.
. replied: "You have strange views
Tell me what is to be done abou