Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1907-06-19
CHAPTER .v.-continued.


Like the others, you think 1 have
forfeited the right to one word Of
sympathy
More than all the others, l should
| think" she answered calmly, without
hesitation.
Yes" / said. YEARLY, you have
placed a placard on my back, as they
used 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
am not quite a coward. Do you re-
fuse TO see that l am simply one of
those men whose fate it has been to
be tried to the uttermost? Forgive
me; l am appealing to your sympathy
after all. You resent that. 1t is quite
natural. 1t was a moment of weak
ness" Again l pushed back my chair.
She regarded me half curiously.
Perhaps she noticed 1 was haggard
and pale. Perhaps in spite of herself,
she was a little sorry for me.
oh, l suppose" she said. very
gently, that there is something to
be said in the defense of everyone.
BY and by l may feel less bitter to-
ward you, Mr.. Haddon. 1 shall re-
member that you did not spare your
| self-that you might not have told
me"-her voice fell to a whisper
everything"
Thank you for saying so much. If
there were any reparation l would
make it. You should know that"
"Reparation!" 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
sternly. for she had risen at the ques-
tion. Then, as if thin veil had been
drawn from her face, | saw the gentle
pity of womanhood reflected there. A
strange sweetness came into her voice
as she spoke slowly, almost unwill-
ingly. 1t was mystical message of
comfort she was bringing to me. She
was suggesting way of hope after all.
Because of you a life has been lost
to the world. l leave out the per-
sonal loss to myself. Because of
your weakness, to call it by the most
charitable name, the world is the
poorer for one strong SOUL"
Yes" l said humbly, yes"
But it, she spoke more eagerly,
eff through you life were saved for
the world-if it were to be life for
life"
A moment I stared at her, uncom-
pretending. She had suggested way
OF escape so romantic that to one liv-
ing in this twentieth century it may
seem absurd. But the very audacity
OF the suggestion appealed to me.
Yes" l cried, passionately, 81 I'M
derstand. 1t is to be life for a life,
IN some way, no matter how, l am to
save life for the life that has been
lost through me-"
AT least that should restore your
self-respect," she assented almost
coldly. She wished me to understand
that whatever l might or might not
do was no concern of hers. But
was not TO be discouraged.
And if l am so fortunate as to ac-
complish this"-I held her eyes
steadily-"will you, l should say
| rather. will the world. your world. re-
member that? Shall | then stand on
the same plane as other men in your
! reSpect?"
| Il Vouch nothing for the world. and
| certainly not she added, haughtily.
| for myself
| l felt an emotion that was very near
that of triumph. 1t is extraordinary
| how in the most sacred of moments
the passion 10 conquer, to subdue.
obtrudes itself. Henceforth, whether
this woman would have it so or not
| there was a bond between us. She
had suggested way of escape. ac-
cepted it with passionate gratitude.
swore 10 myself, as | stood before her
that | would not rest until | had ac.
compliShed the sacred task she had
set me. ! answered with a holiness
that surprised even myself:
From this day my one object in
| life shall be to make the reparation
you have suggested. But when that
is done YOU will know it,
l saw her hand tremble as she light
ly touched her hair. 1t 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 a
strange -eXultation