The Lamar register., 1903-11-18


Sadler nodder his grisly head slow
| ly. He wasn't so frank spoken as
Smith nor perhaps so kind-hearted un-
der his rough speech. Smith said
many rough things. but he would have
done much also.
And young Green. holding Dolores
warm hand closely in his to assist her
up the rough. seldom trodden path un-
der the bending boughs and ghastly
mists, was thinking of the many years
she had lived there in the stolid set
tlement with not one friend in all the
world save, it might be. the rough. un-
spoken kindness of Jim Lode and
Cinthy. And with his kindly eyes up
on the grave. beautiful face he could
but wonder how such life could yield
such marvel of womanliness and
tenderness.
1t was strange freak of hers, no
doubt this wish to once again stand
upon the brink OF her fathers death,
but how could he, loving her. dissuade
her from desire so intense as this
was shown by the pleading of the dark
eyes? And SO they had come. and,
standing in the very place where she
stood years before. with the misty,
mysterious gulf at her feet and the
broken glimpses of blue heaven
through the floating mist touch of
grief and pleading and tenderness
came over the pure, pale face that
caused this man, loving her. to bow his
head as one invo!untarily bows the
head before the chancel with the
touch of an indescribable holiness
brooding above. And he removed his
hat. standing so, with his hand upon
her round arm as she stood immova-
BILE searching the terrible death below
her. as though for the solving of the
bitterness of her life. as though for
the solving of her own harsh heart
lessness in accusing her father when
none other save the man at her siee
and others with wicked intent. charged
him with crime. And there was an
agony dawning over the pallid face
and wide eyes that hushed all other
thought for the time in the heart of
her friend-all thought save an intense
desire and longing to take her into
his arms and soothe this agony of bit
terness and shield her all her life
long from any touch of pain, any touch
of life's harshness. But he waited ST.
lently with bent head. his hand upon
her arm. while she fought-and won
perhaps a struggle that few are called
upon to fight. that few would con-
quer. Then the eyes. widened with
agony. were lifted from the depths of
horror and mystery seeking the brok-
en- bits of blue heaven through the
mist of the tangled pines upon the
height. and an indescribable grandeur
and beauty gradually grew upon the
lifted face and in the depths of the
grave eyes as though the peace sought
had been won. and the bitterness of
years was buried never again to be
resurrected in all the life before her,
never again to shadow. as it had done,
the love and life of this friend beside
her. And he. guessing in part the
thoughts in her heart, made no move
ment save a more tender hold upon
the steady arm he held. And he waited
for her to speak
All her life passed her in review as
she stood there conscious even though
the bitterness of this warm, kindly
friead at her side-all the bitterness
and pain and humiliation and struggle
of her life. all the thoughts and sor-
rows and struggles. and when at last
she turned facing this friend. the
change upon her face was as though
an angel had touched her standing
there, and life's suffering had passed
from her. life's struggles and pain. and
left only the touch of heavenly fingers
upon the eyes and mouth.
One of her slow. radiant smiles
broke the sadness of her face as she
laid her hand upon the hand on her
arm as she said softly, new intona-
tion even in the low voice;
You mustn't be so good to me,
Charlie; ought to suffer alone some
times. You cannot realize how much
| deserve it."
He laid his other hand warmly over
this soft hand on his arm, a new light
on his face. and in his eyes that
caused sudden dropping of the face
in the light of the sunset
You deserve to suffer-" there was
an intensity in his voice born from
watching the suffering on her face,
and from the suffering in his own soul
You deserve to suffer. Dolores John
son. If the e is need for your suffer
ing how much more should | suffer
who was equal with you in thinking
the unkind thoughts? Come away
from this terrible place, Dolores
leave all these old bitter memories
here in the weird shadows and mists
only fit for them. and give your life
to my keeping. tell me you love me as
4 love you-give me the answer to the
question | asked so long ago. Lorie.
under the light of your heavens, un-
der the tender light of your stars ere
you left me for your new life and pos
sible forgetfulness.'
She met his eyes eravely and square
ly. though the newIiisht of tenderness
was still in them as she said. slowly,
with almost her old slowness:
The happiness of a mans life does
net altogether depend on the love of
woman. Charlie