The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1907-10-17
CHAPTER V.-contInusd.
.ApZEYZlQ KENyY NsSEX
0OHReT7Z 20 Il QA9a.f717Y 8 Ce1NQzto1

CHAPTER V.--contlnued.
like the others. you think I have
io~fejted the right to one word OF
y patty"
Wore than all the others. should
th.0k," she answered calmly, without
/, tation.
Yes" said. YEARLY. you have
placed a placard on my back. as they
Used to pat a high paper cap on the
boys In school. On the cap the school
lsters used 70 write the word
Ounce on the placard you have
written the word Coward. And yet
am not quite a coward. Do you re-
.use 20 see that I am simply one of
those men whose fate II has been 10
be tried 20 the uttermost? Forgive
ne; am appealing TO your sympathy
after ell. You resent that II is quite
natural. 1t was a moment of weak
hess" Again pushed back my chair.
She regarded me half curiously.
Perhaps she noticed | was haggard
and pale. Perhaps in spite of herself,
she was little sorry for me.
oh, suppose" she said. very
gently. that there is something TO
be said in the defense of everyone.
BY and by I may feel less bitter 90
ward you, Mr.. Haddon. ] shall re-
member that you did not spare your
self--that you might not have told
me"--her voice fell 60 a whisper
everything"
Thank you for saying so much II
there we're any reparation | would
make it. You should know that"
"Reparationi" Her eyes flashed.
How can you speak of reparation?"
And Is there no atonement posi-.
Bile. even for the most wretched?"
She looked down at me almost
steruiy. for she had risen at the ques-
ton. Then. as II a thin veil had been
drawn from her face. saw the gentle
pity OF womanhood reflected there. A
strange sweetness came into her voice
ms she spoke slowly. almost unwili-
ingly. II was a mystical message of
comfort she was bringing to me. She
was suggesting a way OF hope after all.
Because of you life has been lost
to the world. leave out the per
yonai loss to myself Because of
your weakness, TO call it by the most
charitable name, the world is the
poorer for one strong soul"
EYES," said. humbly, yes"
But IT," she spoke more eagerly,
IF through you a life we're saved for
the world-if It were to be a life for
Q life
A moment l stared at her. uncom-
pretending. She had suggested way
OF escape so romantic that 10 one liv-
Ing in this twentieth century II may
seem absurd. But the very audacity
Of the suggestion appealed to me.
Yes" I cried, passionately, 81 I'M
derstand It is to be life for life!
save a life for the life that has been
lost through me-"
at least that should restore your
selfrespect," she assented almost
coldly. She wished me 20 understand
that whatever | might or might not
do was no concern OF hers. But
was not TO be discouraged.
"And II I am so fortunate as TO ac-
complish this"I held her eyes
steadily-"wiil you. should say
rather. will the world. your world. re-
member that? Shall I then stand on
the same plane as other men in your
respectT'
Il vouch nothing for the world, and
certainly not" she added. haughtily.
"for myself"
felt an emotion that was very near
that of triumph. It is extraordinary
how in the most sacred of moments
the passion 20 conquer. to subdue,
obtrudes itself Henceforth, whether
this woman would have 1t so or not.
there was a bond between us. She
had suggested way of escape, &C
cepted II with passionate gratitude. l
swore 10 myself, as stood before her.
that would not rest until had &C
complished the sacred task she had
set me. | answered with a holiness
that surprised even myself:
From this day my one object in
lie shah be TO make the reparation
you have suggested. But when that
is done you will know IT,"
saw her hand trembIe as she light
ly touched her hair. II was not so
much embarrassment that brought
the slow blush to her cheek as anger.
She turned from me without a word.
watched her disappear with
strange exuitation.