The Charles Mix new era. (Wagner, Charles Mix County, S.D.) 1???-1911, 1906-11-16
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/ weeping, lie bcnt forward anf touched
her an the shoulder,
/ why do yan weep?" he said Ia : wills,
per; what was this lad TO yeuse
lie was all thal was left To me" the
woman said. her voice wruag with an
guish; .'ihe child nnrsed from the day
Ia was born. the one link left TO ma OF all
that had oaee made life pleassn; and
good"
| Zen drew back ia his turn lie scarce
| " knew how TO control his feelings. The
| force OF emotion took oven tht, strength
| from his voice. When he would have
questioned, Sarah spoke on.
This II the colin that holds the body
Of Walter Griffith Stanton. my masters
brother she said Il put him into that
myself. | nailed the wood together. Not
woman's work as a rule, has when WON
ans heart is eaten up with grief. when
she Is SET a task that her soul turns
against. then sometimes Il woman can do
strange work. You look amazed: you do
not question. You come to seek some one
whom you though, dead. | will show you
that some one living"
Once again they stood before a door
Though he lives she said in that
dull. even tone, lit il just a flicker of life.
do not know, indeed. why be has not
died dozen times: but | prayed for his
life; worked 70 save him. not only for
his own sake. poor lad. bur because
wished 70 take away the darkness of a
great sin from my masters soul.
She pushed the dor open very quietly
and stole into the room. Here all looked
comfortable. The windows were thrown
open and the summer twilight could be
seen through them. A light was burning
close to the bed on which was stretched a
still figure~a figure whose face was turn
ed from the eyes Of those two standing
looking eagerly into the room.
Ben trod almost noiseiessly over the
carpet. and when be reached the bed he
kuett down and buried his face in his
hands. lie knelt there long time. pray
Ing wildly, offering np the gratitude of his
heart for the mercy that had been souch-
safed for tho restoration Of this creature
whom he loved
And all the while Gerald Tenby stood
leaning against the door. gazing with IN
seeing eyes at the figure of the man that
lay on the bed. Whether he were con
scious of relief or gladness 1t would be
impossible to say. He seemed to have
touched the last depths of despair few
hours before. when he had turned and
seen Ben Coop standing under the trees,
like judge, waiting to give sentence.
Ben drew him out of the room, down
the stairs again. When they were in the
hall Ben threw open the door.
y. - Ia 4.
lives. and all the rest will be easy. If
he had died | would have asked his life
at your hands. bur heaven has been good
enough to take away the worst OF your
evil. Hubert Tenby lives; the rest is
not for my hands. Cor
And then Gerald Tenby woke to the
feelings of the situation.
Where shall go2" he asked hoarseiy.
| What place Is there in life for me !?
You don't know what it is, man, TO stand
as ! do and look absolute ruin In the
face
Ben put out his hand and rested it
upon the shoulder of the other man.
There is no life 80 bad and black that
Ii cannot be changed. lad" he said. There
Is always atonement. Turn and face this
like man. The world need not know
the truth. III answer for ii that my lad
win do you no hardship-rather will he
DO yoar friend. Turn and face it, said
Ben again: make haste to render up
that which is not yours; make haste to
give back to the lad that which is dearer
to him than wealth--his unstained honor.
Be true in this, and much will be forgiven
you."