Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-06-13
TIE SAGE BRUSH PARSON
BY A. B. WARD.
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mournfulIy. "You hate to tell me that I
"a faiiurer' she exclaimed; "in what
way7"
In every way" he returned bitterly. DO
you thank cannot see how utterly made
quate am to the work herc7"
How can you talk like that?' she cried.
She threw of her heavy fiower-trimmed
hat and pushed back her soft. bright hair
with an impatient gesture. II viii not
let you talk like that" she said earnestly.
1T is false wrongi YOU with your power,
your influence"
He shook his head "A feathers weight
against these forces here he said de-
jectedly.
Your eloquence. your apostolic fire." she
continued.
He scofred. Very pretty. no doubt. but
"Promethean, then" She smiled. Il do
think you are more OF Olympus than Of
How pale he was. How sad the lines
about his mouth, How pathetic the ap-
peal in his eyesl She must give back the
stir. the sparkle he had brought with him
to this dreadful PLACED Then II had been
the music that enkindled him. II should
be again. The song. the song. he must
You've never asked for the verses I
was to write for your melody" she said,
flushing.
did you do them?'' he inquired. why
didn't you tell me7 When was it?'
Almost year ago." she answered,
Haven't kept the secret well7 Would
to the piano and struck few chords.
"B fiat" he called. Yes. that's right,
that's right He was drumming an ac-
compartment on the arms OF his chair His>
lips moved with hers, but 1t was her voice
which sang:
''Arong the silent ways there came
troubadour troubadour.
As out OF darkness shines a flame,
And in bis hand no harp he bore.
He sang of Joy In overflow,
He sang the Pain mankind must know.
AMI they who listened to that voice
With 1t did mourn. with 1t rejoice"
He was at her side In an instant. They
are one" he said exctedly, words and
notes. You have caught the sound. You
have expressed--my meaningi You have
told-my secret. A troubadour, a trouba-
dour-that is what l ana troubadour,
masquerading as a priest of Godt'
Startled. confused, she drew back from
the instrument and looked up at him. He
was trembling from head to foot.
Il thought the work was making me
over" he painted. Il deceived myself; I
am the same. unchanged. Conservation,
endeavor, nothing will change me. 1 could
be scared with hot irons. / could be rent
asunder. But IT would avail nothing. I'm
der 1t all. under the affection and SYM
pathy l have had for these people, the de-
sire to help there has been something in
me-
He broke away abruptly and walked to
the window.
She turned toward him implorfngIy
Think think of the good you have
DONE" she calculated.
l.
what real. permanent. lasting good? What
saloon have / closed? What den nave I
cleansed7 I'm kind mean WELL am
a good nurse but-do / convict the sin
ner7 Do heal the broken hearted? Have
l sent great searching waves OF penitence
and resolve through this unholy town.
No; they come-to hear me say startling
things! They come-to hear me singi" He
laughed. The bitterness of that laugh!
Don't" she cried; Il can't bear IT."
What single life have 1 renewed" he
What one heart have changedT \
Mine" she answered solemnly. Mine,
Wait there is another verse. have never
sung 1t aloud. but will now. will now.
You shall see you shall know; IL shall be
proved to you" TREMENDOUSLY. catching her
breath between the words, but resolutely,
she sang:
But more than this thou savest me.
O troubadour. o troubadour,
All that | hoped and meant to be
Like flooding wave returns once more
l take the Joy, dare the Pain.
Content TO be myself again.
My heart shall be thy Instrument
With the last word she was on her feet,
confronting him. as he stood facing her.
All but he was alive now, With the life
of stars and suns and wild meteoric flames.
All the great vitalizing forces of the I'M
seen were gathered into him. Prometheus,
indeed. he was. and no apostle-Prome-
theus, with the stolen fire stored In his
own slender body. reed that had been
shaken by the wind.
His glowing eyes deVoured ner. Sne couid
feel the tingling touch of his wonderful
hands, although he did not stir.
Now / will be strong in this" she heard
him say. His voice thrilled her through
and through Never I'm all her life OF many
passionate wooings had she known any
thing like the presence, the touch, the de-
mand. the response. And yet he had not
stirred!
''He weakiingy' her heart exulted. He
is stronger than the STRONGEST
He loosed his hold, renounced her. with
long, fiuttering sigh. Il must CO." he
said.
81 will order the horses and drive you
home" she returned, her head high in air.
He sprang to open the door for her. The
gesture was one of alteration. She left the
room on wings.
1t was a relief to feel the mouths of the
spirited horses champing the bit at the
other end OF the rein. Some tangible, out
ward grasp of life that strove and sped
pulse beside her. Joining her to the pulse
of the universe, she journeyed like star
through space He was not whit behind
her in keenness of realization. Everything
had been revealed to him, instantly, with
out corner of concealment. He knew the
past its doubts and questions. as he knew
himself now and this woman beside him.
Her boarded emotions. her pent-up ener-
gies flooded in on him, and filed him, all
his dry channels and empty spaces, sing
ing as the tide sings when 1t invades the
land. Hitherto she had been, with his
mother, representative of womankind. now
he knew her at last and forever, the
woman.
stood with uncovered head, watching her
drive away. Della? What of Deiia2 Della
had chosen her own way. III she had
not! Let the worlds crashl In the
midst of the confusion OF the spheres they
two would have met and mingled.
ITO he continued tomorrow.