Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1903-01-29

me, lHTee times, IN the PERSIAN deS-
ert, | have cured wounds still worse,
and the Holy One hath given me the
power of healing; and, if He wills, the
young man shall recover That is
what he said, Katherine"
Forever will love the Jew. Though
he fail. will love him. So kind he is,
even to those who have not spoken
well, nor done well, to him."
At this moment the family returned
from the morning service, and Bran
| rather defantly drew his sister to his
side. Joris was not with them. He
had stopped at the Kings Arms" to
ask If Capt. Hyde was still alive; for,
in spite of everything, the young mans
heroic cheerfulness in the agony Of
the preceding night had deeply touch
ed Joris. No one spoke to Katherine;
even her mother was annoyed and hui
inflated at the social ordeal through
which they had just passed, and she
thought it only reasonable that the err
ring girl should be made to share the
trial.
AS the time went on poor Katherine
Van Heemskirk shivered and sickened
III the presence of averted eyes and up
lifted shoulders, and in that chill at
mosphere of disapproval which sep
arated her from the sympathy and
confidence of her old friends and ac-
quaintances.
1T is thy punishment" said her
mother, bear it bravely and patiently.
In little while, it will be forgot" But
weeks went on, and the wounded men
slowly fought death away from their
pillows, and Katherine did not recover
the place in social estimation which
she had lost through the ungovernable
tempers of her lovers
But nothing i'll lasts forever; and in
three months Neil Semple was in his
7 office again, wan and worn with fever
and suffering, and wearing his sword
arm in a sling, but still decidedly
world-like and life-like. 1t was evil
dent that public opinion was in large
measure with him, and though in the
Middle Kirk the affair was sure to be
the subject of reproof, and of a sus-
pension of its highest privileges, yet
it was not difficult to feel the SYM
patty often given to deeds publicly
censured, but privately admired. Joris
remarked this spirit with a little as.
constituent and dissent He could not
find in his heart any excuse for either
Neil or Hyde; and, when the elder en-
larged with seine acerbity upon the
requirements of honor among men,
Jcris offended him by replying:
We'll, then, elder. little | think of
that honor which runs not with the
laws of God and country"
Let me tell you, Joris, the voice of
the people is the voice of Cod in a
measure; and you may see with your
ain cen that it mair that acquits Neil
o. wrong-doing. Man, Joris! would
you punish fair sword-fight wi the
hangman?"
"A better way there is. In the
pillory would stand these men of
honor, who of their own feelings think
more than of the law of God. A very
quick end that punishment would put
to a custom wicked and absurd"
"Weel, Jorls, Wen hae no quarrel
anent the question. Here comes Neil,
and We'll let the question ia to the
ground. There are wiser men than
either you or l on bath sides"
Joris nodded gravely, and turned
to welcome the young man. More
than ever he liked him; for, apart
from moral and prudential reasons, it
was easy for the father to forgive an
unreasonable love for his Katherine
Also, he was now more anxious for a
marriage between Neil and his daugh-
ter. 1t was indeed the best thing to
of her own people; for by making her
his wife, Neil would most emphatically
exonerate her from all blame In the
quarrel. Just this far, and no farther,
had Neil's three months suffering
aided his suit,-ne had now the full
| approval of Joris, backed by the
weight Of this social justification.
But, in spite of these advantages,
he was really much farther away from
Katherine. She had heard from Bran
the story of the challenge and the
fight; heard how patiently Hyde had
| parted Neil's attack rather than re-
turn 1t, until Neil had SO passionately
refused any satisfaction less than his
| life: heard, also, how even at the point
of death, fainting and falling, Hyde
had tried to protect her ribbon at his
breast. She never wearied of talking
| NTH IN thn cnhinnt che oh
of it all day, dreamed of it all night.
And she knew much more about 1t
than her parents or Joanna supposed.
Bran had easily fallen into the habit
Of calling at Cohen's to ask after his
| patient. At first he saw Miriam often I;
ard, when he did, life became a heav-
emily thing to Bran Van Heemskirk.
Katherine very soon suspected how
matters stood with her brother, and
gratitude led her to talk with him
about the lovely Jewess.
But for some weeks after the duel
she could not bear to leave the house.
1t was only after both men were
known to be recovering, that she ven
tured to kirk; and her experience
there was not one which tempted her
to try the streets and the stores. How
ever, no interest is living interest in
a community but politics; and far
more important events had now the
public attention. During the previous
March, the Stamp Act and the Quar-.
tering Act had passed both houses OF
Parliament; and Virginia and Massa-
chusetts, conscious of their dangerous
character, had reused the fears Of the
other Provinces; and convention OF
their delegates was appointed to meet
during October in New York. 1t was
this important session which drew
Neil Semple, with scarcely healed
wounds from his chamber. The streets
| .-cra r,ninu .r.ith hn H.l.nrs crulnn tho