The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1909-12-04
The Proud Heart of Danko
By RACHEL CAREW
Copyright. by Short Stories Co.. Ltd)

It Stories Co., LTD
trees, blinded by the cold, blue light
ming.
They halted, and in the roar of the |
forest, in the thick of the darkness, |
exhausted and angry, they turned up |
on Danko: a useless creature are |
you, harmful and hateful to us ALL |
they began. You have led US forth |
to destruction, and for this you shall |
suffer- the thunder and lightning Civ |
ing force to their words. You babe
me lead you, and obeyed,' cried Dan
ko. confronting the angry troupe with !
barred breast. have the courage to |
lead. theI efore 1 do it-and you-what
have you done to help yourselves?
You follow only. and your courage is
too weak for the strain of hardship.
You only follow-follow like a drove
of sheep These words angered the
people still more. You shall die.'
they cried, and to their clamor the
wind howled an echo, and the light
ming tore rents in the darkness.
"Danko gazed upon them, his fol-
lowers, for whose sake he had borne
such toll and suffering, and saw that
they were like wild beasts. They
crowded about him, but in no eye was
the light of kindness-to no one could
he look for help. Then anger against
the people famed in his heart only to
quench itself soon in pity. He loved
these, his companions, and knew that
without him they would perish. Then
his heart glowed anew with desire to
save them and lead them upon an
easy path, and forth from his eyes
cleaned the light of this DESIRE
The forest sang increasingly its
solemn song, the thunder roared and
the rain gushed in streams. What can
I do for my people!' cried Danko in
voice louder than the thunder. Sud.
denly he rent open his breast, tore out
his throbbing heart and held it high
above his head. 1t famed as bright As
the sun, and even brighter; the whole
forest fell silent, awed by his torch
of love for humanity; the darkness
fiuttered away from this light aud
sank trembling in the black mold OF
the swamp. The amazed people
stood as if turned to stone.
"Follow!" cried Danko, striding for
ward, his glowing heart held high "a
his uplifted. hands, lighting the way
to the people who flung themselves
madly in his wake. The roar of the
forest began again, but the sound of ii
was drowned by the rushing footsteps
of the people. Everyone ran, fearless
and fast, enchanted by the sight OF
} the burning heart. Many fell by the
| way and died even now, but without
lament or tears. Danko ever at the
: head Of the troop, his heart flaming,
flaming, and ever flaming.
Suddenly the forest opened and
fell back, and Danko with his flock
found themselves bathed in a sea OF
3 sunshine. and pure, sweet-scented
! rain-washed air from the steppe
i famed their faces. The tempest was
behind them, grumbling over the for
t est; here the sun beamed, the grass
sparkled with rain diamonds. and the
:, river glowed like gold. The setting
g sun turned the river red, like the
d blood that dripped from Danko's torn
: breast.
t THE proud, brave Danko cast his
}, dying gaze over the broad steppe, and
laughed with Joy at the sight of the
g pleasant land-then he sank down
q and died.
Il "The wondering trees began a dirge
q like murmur, and the grass, wet with
l. Dankoo's blood, whispered in sym
:. pathy, but the happy, hopeful peopIs
e took no more notice of Danko-saW
II not that he lay dead, nor that beside
a his body, on the sod, his brave heart
IS still famed.
l. "One cautious soul only saw the
l. glow, and, fearful of danger, trample6
the proud heart with his foot Their
q was the fame quenched and scattered
II in thousand sparks. These are the
"a blue lights which dance on the stepps
y before a thunderstorm"
81 AS the old woman ended her fantas
tic story, a profound stiffness feI
II over the steppe, as if it, too, wer,
IL awed by the power of the brav,
IL Danko, the bold spirit which burned
'r itself out for humanity without askin,
s. reward. Isergil sank into uneas,
lie slumber, and watching her, J. muses.
over the many legends stored in he
Sc memory-What power of human
to fancy to conceive these legends; wha
Id heroism and bravery adorned tina
" golden past!
ie And our presenr-poor in stron
Ae men and great events-rich in col
u distrust that turns everything int
~ ridicule-the miserable epoch of mis-
" cradle people with still-born hearts.