The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1907-08-24
CHAPTER V-contInusA
W4pZHZ1p RE1N2Y HcZT


CHAPTER v-contlnued.
Like the others, you think ! have
forfeited the right to one word OF
sympathy" -,
more than all the others. should
think" she answered calmly, without
aesitation.
EYES," said, YEARLY, "you have
elaced q placard on my back, as they
ased to put high paper cap on the
boys IN school On the cap the school
masters used to write the word
Ounce on the placard you have
written the word Coward And yet
I am not quite coward. Do you re- |
fuse to see that am simply one OF
those men whose fate it has been to
be tried to the. uttermost? Forgive
me; / am appealing to your sympathy
after all. You resent that. 1t is quite
,aatural. 1t was moment OF weak
aess." Again pushed back my chair.
She regarded me half curiously'
Perhaps she noticed l was haggard
and pale. Perhaps in spite OF herself
she was little sorry for me.
"Oh, l suppose" she said, very
gently. that there is something 10
ne said in the defense Of everyone.
8y and by / may feel less bitter to-
ward you, Mr. Haddon. shall re-
.,ember that you did not spare your.
self-that you might not have told
me"-her voice fell to whisper
everything" =.
sThank you for saying so much. II
there were any reparation L would
make it. You should know that"
"Reparation!" Her eyes flashed.
~How can you speak of reparation?
aAnd is there no atonement posi-
ole. even for the most wretched!
She looked down at me almost
sternly. for she had risen at the ques.
ton. Then. as II thin veil had been
drawn from her face. l saw the gentle
pity of womanhood reflected there. A
strange sweetness came into her voice
as she spoke slowly, almost unwili
inxly. It was a mystical message o.
comfort she was bringing to me. SCI
was suggesting way of hope after all
because Of you life has been los
to the world. leave out the per
sonal loss to myself Because o
your weakness. to call 1t by the mos
charitable name. the world Is TN
poorer for one strong soul"
"Yes," I said, humbly, yes"
But IT," she spoke more eagerly
y .lf through you life were saved 70
the world--if It were to be HE 10
life"
A moment I stared at her, uncon
pretending. She had suggested wa
of escape so romantic that to one III
ing in this twentieth century It ma
seem absurd. But the very audacit
of the suggestion appealed to me.
eyes," / cried, passionately, Il vi
derstand. 1t Is to be life for a life
In some way, no matter how. am
save life for the life that has bee
cost through me-"
"At least that should restore yo'
velf-respect," she asscnted almo
coldly. She wished me to understar
that whatever l might or might n
do was no concern Of hers. But
was not to be discouraged.
and II am so fortunate as to
romplish this"-I held her ey
steadiy-"will you. l should 81
rather, will the world, your world.
member that? Shall then stand
the same plane as other men in yo
respect!"
II vouch nothing for the world, al
certainly not" she added, haughti
for myself"
1 felt an emotion that was very ne
that of triumph. 1t is extraordina
how in the most sacred of momer
the passion to conquer. to subd'
obtrudes itself. Henceforth, wheth
this woman would have it so or n
there was a bond between us. s
had suggested a way of escape!
cepted it with passionate gratitude.
swore to myself, as I stood before b
that I would not rest until l had
complished the sacred task she .
set me. / answered with a boldn'
that surprised even myself:
From this day my one object
life shall be to make the reparat
you have suggested. But when Z
Is done you will know 1t"
saw her hand tremble as she Zig
" touched her hair. 1t was not
much embarrassment that brou
the slow blush to her cheek as AM
She turned from me without WI
watched her disappear with
strange exultation.
~.,aorEp Ni