The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1902-11-07

riously, her face was calm. She pre-
tended to have missed wholly the i'm
port of his last words and she said:
But surely to a man like you many
countries offer many fields. With your
youth and strength and intelligence
there is almost nothing beyond your
achievement. Is it impossible for you
TO remember what you once were and
strive to be that man again? Can
you not stir the dead ashes OF your
ambitions and, finding n small spark,
stir it into flame? Can you not say to
yourself: In spite of past errors, past
%offenses. past crimes, perhaps, still
am /, and my life is all before me to
make or mar as l will Don't you
know the lines-Henley's | think: i
am the Master Of my fate, ! am the
Captain of my soul'?"
More beautiful than ever, she plead
ed with him for his own redemption
and 1t seemed to her that she must
win, because she desired 1t so. His
next words, however, were lifeless and
the fire died in her:
II might do that thing if it were
worth while. but 1t is not. In all this
world. Miss English, there is no m
to be benefited by my morality except
myself, and for myself l care nothing.
/ shall attempt to escape in all prob
ability, but merely to avoid the physi-
cal punishment for my wrong-doing.
For the disgrace Of hat punishment l
care little. l could hardly be more dis
graced than l Am. The prison garb is
warm in winter. l shall wear it, may
be, without a qualm."
THAT is not true!" She spoke
sharply, almost angrily.
Thank you for the denial. Never
theless 1t is measurably true. The
outcast, Miss English. lifts his hand
against all men and the hands OF all
men are lifted against him. Other men
make him suffer, but they can do little
to make him ashamed. They have al
ready branded him by their reproba-
ton and pursuit, and f~ashioning his
clothing according to a certain pattern
and cut seem trivial In comparison.
Aet me say. however, that you used
Just now q word which / must repu-
diate. You told mellow beautifully
/ alone know-that I might raise my
self In spite Of past errors, past Of
lenses. past crimes Errors ! have
many-what man has not? offenses l
have committed-few men are blame
less; but no crime. done, attempted or
intended. can be laid to my charge"
'Yet." she said bravely, though it
hurt her sorely, you were with the
band which crossed the river to loot
Glynn's cattle. What is cattle-theft
but crime?"
He flushed deeply. but his voice was
even and his eyes still kindly as he re-
piled:
THAT l learned for the first time in
talking to Quirino here. / was told
by Vavara that the object Of the ex-
pedition was to cross q large quantity
OF cached goods. I have been working
with another part of his men further
down the river during the three
months I have been with him and l
know nothing of his alleged cattle
lifting operations. The expedition of
the other night was the first which we
have undertaken jointly. l am a snug
gler, Miss English-or rather l have
been q smuggler-but I am not a thief.
or q murderer. l would not have re-
turned to vavara under any circum-
stances, and what l have heard here
has only strengthened my determine
tion."
She leaned forward, her eyes shin
ing, a happy smile playing upon her
lips. It was only for An instant, how
ever, and he, gazing absently through
the window, had not caught her look.
She put her hand to her mouth to hide
its expression and asked demurely:
And isn't smuggling crime?"
He did not turn toward her al he re-
piled: Hardly so. I believe. There is
! confinement penalty attached to it,
but 1t il not always enforced. In the
case OF smugglers Of diamonds or other
Jewels it Is usual to con1scate the
gems and inflict q fine. / am perfectly
willing to admit that it is an immoral
way Of gaining a livelihood, made SO
by law. As for serious harm done to
any sentient thing, there isn't any.
The government is defrauded Of a tar
ID which 1t has placed on the goods.
The people to whom the goods are sold
at q reduced rate are, to some extent,
benefited. There Is, OF course, some
harm worked to the legitimate dealer
IN such commodities. but that is only
because the government has forced
him to pay a tarif. However, right
is right and wrong Is wrong and cas-
uistry won't alter 1t. Smuggling Is
forbidden by law and is wrong. I have
followed it for three months, not for
gain cared nothing about that-but
for the excitement that came from
the peril of it. l have seen you and !
shall smnggle no more. Having seen
you | shall live in utter reputableness,
or I shall not live. I have told you
that l could not desecrate your mem
Dry"
Again he trod upon dangerous