Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1906-08-17
!; FROM GLOOM
TO SUNLIGHT
CHAPTER XyIII,-CContlnued

fied me only for my money, despis!n'
me the while-whO has not since mar
rage shown me the ordinary civilit.
that a gentleman never fails to show
to a lady? He is selfish. incident
oh, Raoul, l do not like saying this
but If you saw his cruel neglect, hi
cruel oppression, if you knew how
careless he is as to the claims of jus
tice, you would be sorry for me!'
Il see" he replied, quietly. Now
tell me-. Hildred-I know you viii
speak quite frankly-do you see one
redeeming quality amid al! our hus
bands faults
Yes, there is one. l hav new
heard him speak falsely"
Uric was a truthful boy. Do you
know anything else in his favor?'
Il think she replied, that he is
te~nder-hearted. He is not cruel; he
does not like to see people suffer; he
Is cruel only 10 me-"
"True in word and tender of heart
these are two good qualities: we know
that he has a handsome face, an cas-
grace of manner, n musical voice. You
see, l am trying to discover his good
qualities. 1 will tel! you something
else. He is a spendthrift-I do not de-
ny 1t. He may Cypress the poor or his
estate-tllat l am sure is done unwit-
tinsly; but he has never yet refused
to help a comrade in distress. He has
done all kinds of foolish, mad, euse-
less actions; but no one evec told of
him that he had done Il mean one"
1T was mean to demand rent from
the COR widow whose husband was
killed in his service"
II am perfectly certain that John
! Blantyre has misled him." was the re-
ply.
1T was mean to marry me for my
money" she said, with flushing face.
"Ah! there l must yield. 1t was
mean-it was. in one sense, the worst
action of his life" said Sir Raoul.
Let us make a resume Hildred. He
is true in word, tender of heart; he
! was never cruel; he is open-handed:
/ he has committed but one mean action;
he is handsome and accomplished,
well fitted to win the heart Of any
woman. Tell me-do you think it
quite impossible to love such a char
acter?"
Il can hardly tell" she replied, slow
ly.
II think that Uric Caraveu has in
Hildred. Give to a sculptor a block
of shapeless marble, and what does he
fashion from it,
"A beautiful statue" she replied.
'True. Given a shapeiess mass of
qualities, good and bad intermixed, I
say that a good oma from them can
mold a beautiful character. Listen
/ will tell you how
He had drawn nearer to her, and
the leaves of the crimson carnation
fell at his feet; the western wind
seemed to pause and llsten-it fell
with q faint, subdued sigh.
you may run away and leave your
home, Hildred; but that will be a
commonplace ending. Do that which
is nobler, higher, better-resign your
self, submit to your fate and make the
best OF 1t. AS a handsome and noble
woman, use your influence with your
husband to rouse him frona his Slough
Of Despond Into a higher life"
She was looking at him in sheer
wonder.
"How can I influence Lord Cara
ven?" she asked.
You can do 1t by patience and per-
severance. Say to yourself that the
task of your life shall be TO make him
. good man. Instead of running away
from it, devote yourself to it. There is
much said of q woman's mission-let
that be yours, and surely there can be
no higher or holler mission than to
rouse an indolent man to a sense of
his duty, a selfish man from his self
indulgence"
1T would be a noble task she said,
thoughtfully. Gould l accomplish it,
Raoul?"
with perseverance aud self-control
that would amount to heroism, you
might" he replied. You must be the
sculptor who, from a panD Of qualities,
good and bad intermixed. must try to
produce a perfect character"
But she said, doubtyully, she does
not love me"
THAT does not matter. l prophesy
that he will love you in che end-that
when you have reused his soul from
Its sleep 1t Will turn to you naturally
as the sunflower turns to the sun. Do
you not foresee it, HildredY' And an
almost sanity enthusiasm shone on his
face.
II WISH" she said, that you would
tell me what to do, first. I could go
on II + only knew how to Begin
"Then I shall suggest this. You
wish to make a little advance--noth-
Ing very marked, but some trifling act
OF ciyility that will make amends. and
show your desire to be what children
call friends
He did not know what an effort it
cost her to say Yes" but she did
say it. and she meant 1t.
ssGatfer some beautiful sprays of
mignonette, the finest vou can obtain,
and take them to him. Say quite
carelessly. You admire ~mignonette. so
I have brought you this"
and suppose, said Mildred. that
he repays me in kind by throwing it
away
Never mind-courage and patience
must be your watchwords. All. Hill
dred. after III. our l.,.cs and dtslikes
III n - - go ne LLE - ,L-f