Shiner gazette. [volume] (Shiner, Tex.) 1893-current, 1907-11-28
ME BUILDERS
.
By Wills Go. Emrson,
AuthoE of "BueU Hampton" and
"The Smoky God. !"
Continued from last week.
CHAPTER XVII.
AN AWAKENING.


morning he ate a hearty breakfast
Notwithstanding the two severe dis
appointments of the day before.
While smoking his cigar he frankly
acknowledged to himself that he
was delighted with the picturesque
scenery of mountains, rivers and
lakes around Gold Valley. He did
not wish to leave it, for the inspir-
ed effect of the invigorating west
ern atmosphere had firmly con-
WINGED him that his future would
be successful one. Optimism is
largely matter Of health and abb
sence Of headaches.
Everything about him had an ex-
hilarating tone He rather con-
graduated himself that he was far
away from the hot, crowded city,
for while this unconventional, I'M
pulsive life of the West was in
some ways like a continuous per-
Torrance of comic opera, still 1t
was far more interesting than the
serious grand opera grind of the
East.
He was surprised. after the first
shock of disappointment had sub
sided, to find how Indifferent he
was becoming to the loss Of his po-
sition on the Banner.
During the following week most
of his time was spent with Ruth.
and the nights swallowed up the
days all too quickly, when in her
society.
One morning he awakened to a
keen sense of emptiness where COM
pleteness had dwelt, and a feeling
of restlessness where contentment
had reigned. His love for noun
tains. rivers and picturesque seen
ery was but prelude, prologue
of promise, thumbing plaintively
and yet sweetly the epilogue OF a
great. unselfsh love that had taken
. ROOF in his heart, q love for Ruth.
A sense of goodness had been
planted, and it was radiating
through his pulsing blood
God gives to the sincere lover a
10y and gentleness, gratitude and
goodness, rest and reward, hope and
heaven, peace and plenty, sunshine
and sympathy, filing to overflow
ing his very soul with the attri-
butes of nobleness.
Love is awakening, an inspira-
ton, dulling the edge of resent
ment. sharpening the eloquence Of
wit, impoverishing distinction,
guaranteeing equality and pro
claiming the omnipotence of God.
Fred's unrest dated from GER
tain evening when Ruth first sang
to him. He remembered how he
had been charmed with her full
and richly sweet voice, like the vel
yety nectar of some rare old vint-
age of ancient distillation. He
remembered she began by striking
the chords in hesitating way, but
soon the genius Of her musical ma
ture seized her with its wondrous
power, and she sang with the limo
cent and forgetful abandon of a
mountain thrush.
LOVES QUEST.
In the olden time, when the gods
were good,
Meath the Grecian skies Of sap
phire hue,
Two Parian marble columns stood
Like steadfast friends, long age
through.
Below the wave in seashell hid
Two pearls pure as angels tears
Like mated moonbeams dwelt amlC
A coral grove, in old, old years
In the splendid days of sun-love'
Spain,
Two roses bloomed in gardel
fair
AS they drank of the fountain
silv'ry rain,
And blent their sweets on tn
tranquil air.
To Venice, crowned with the gOlt
en- dome,
There came two doves on pinior
white;
Together they fashioned the
blissful home
In that fair haven of loves d