The news=record. [volume] (Enterprise, Wallowa County, Oregon) 1907-1910, 1909-11-10
The Redemption
Of David Corsoh
BY CHARLES FREDERIC GoSS
by Bowen MerrmC

unknown future and hesitated before
untried paths.
Already the strange experiences
through which he had passed began to
seem to him like a 'half-forgotten
dream. The refiuent thoughts and feel
ings of his religious life began to set
back into every bay and estuary of
his soul.
With a sense of shame, he regretted
his hasty decision, and was saying to
himself, II will arise and go to my
Father" for all the experiences Of life
clothed themselves at once In the IA
miliar language Of the Scriptures.
1t is moro than likely that he would
have carried out this resolution. and
that this whole experience would have
become a mere incident In his life his
tory. II his destiny had depended up
on his personal volition. But how few
Of the great events Of life are brought
about by our choice alone!
Just at sunset he crossed the bridge
over the brook which formed the boun
dairy line of the farm, and as he did SO
heard light footstep. Lifting his
eyes, he saw Pepeeta, who at that
very instant stepped out of the low
bushes which lined the trail she had
been following.
Her appearance was as sudden as an
apparition and her beauty dazzled him.
Her face, flushed with exercise, gleam-
ed against the background of her black
hair with a sort of spiritual radiance.
When she saw the Quaker, a smile Of
unmistakable delight flashed upon her
features and added to her bewitching
grace. She might have been an Dread
or Dryad wandering alone through
the great forest. What bliss for youth
and beauty to meet thus at the close
Of day amid the solitudes Of Nature!
Had Nature forgotten hehself. to
permit these two young and impress
sionable beings to enjoy this pleasure
on lonely road just as the day was
dying and the tense energies Of the
world were relaxed? There are times
when her Indifference to her own most
inviolable laws seems anarchic. There
are moments when she appears wan
tonly to lure her children to destruc-
ton.
%
they knew not how long, with an in
comprehensible and delicious Joy, and
then looked down upon the ground.
Having regained their composure BY
this act, they lifted their eyes and re-
garded each other with frank and
friendly smiles.
Il thought thee had gone." said Da-
vid.
I'VE stayed longer than we expect
ed," Pepeeta replied.
Has thee been hunting wild fow-
ers?" he asked, observing the bouquet
which she held in her hand.
Il picked them on the way"
Thee does love the woods?"
"Oh, so much I am a sort of wild
creature and should like to live in a
cave"
Il am afraid thee would always turn
thy face homeward at dusk, as thee is
doing now" he said with a SMILE
"Oh, no! I am not afraid! I 20
because I must"
The path was wide enough for two.
and side by side they moved slowly
forward.
The somber garb in which he was
dressed. and the brilliant colors of her
apparel, afforded a contrast like that
between a pheasant and a scarlet tana-
ger. Color. form, motion-all were per-
feet. They fitted into the scene with
out Jar or discord. and enhanced
rather than disturbed the harmony OF
the drowsy landscape
AS they walked onward, they vague
ly felt the influence Of the repose that
was stealing upon the tired world: the
intellectual and volitional elements of
their natures becoming gradually oui-
escent, the emotions were given full
sway. They felt themselves drawn to-
ward each other by some Irresistible
power. and, although they had never
before been conscious OF any incom-
pleteness of their lives, they suddenly
discovered affinities Of whose exist
ence they had never dreamed. Their
two personalities seemed to be ab-
sorbed into one new mysterious and
indivisible being, and this identity gave
them an incomprehensible Joy. over
them as they walked. Nature brooded
sphynx-like. Their young and healthy
natures were tuned In unison with the
of the world like perfect In
struments from which the delicate An
gers Of the great Musician evoked n
melody of which she never tired. re-
serving her discords for a future dav
On this delicious evening she permit.
ted them to be thrilled through ana
through with JOY and hope and she ac-
companied the song their hearts were
singing with her own multitudfnous
voices. "Be happy" chirped the birds:
be happy" whispered the evening
breeze; be happy" murmured the
brook. running along by their side and
looking up into their faces with laugh
ter The whole world seemed to re-
sound with the refrain. BE happyl
Be happy! for you are young, Are
young!" Pepeeta first broke the ST.
lence.
Il had never heard of the things
about which you talked" she said.
Thee never had? How could that
bot thought that every one knew
them,"
I must have lived in a different
world from yours"
And thee was happy7"
I thought SO until heard what you
said Since then I have been fuli Of
care and trouble. I wish 1 knew What
you meant! But have seen that
wonderful light!-
Thee has seen it?"