Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1909-05-07
Hidden
Perils
BY MARY CECIL mr.
CHAPTER XIV.

by Brent Of his masters having been on
all the afternoon.
Sine he came in he has been writin
in his own room, SIR the nan added
anxiously, and has taken nothing.
carried up a tray, but he didn't seem in
clined to be disturbed"
DR.. We're had no hesitation about dis
turbing him. He went at once to Rourke'
room, and bla med him hotly for his care
less disregard Of orders.
"Rourke, may | bring Lorraine to Sc,
you"
mo, no." Kourke answered. with
strong shuddering of his whole frame
'do MOI even talk of her tonight. Tall
Of Una, Or Have you been TO church
to-day, Atholi'
"Yes, I went in 90 my return. Even /
] have only n few minutes, ! like to &c
in when / can"
/ Yes, l thought So" 1tourke answered
very low. Tell me what Mr.. Spencer
/ told you"
He told me MUCH" said Athol, speak
ing very gently and anxiously, preach
ing from those few words in st. John
Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh
AWAY the sin Of the world"
"What is it," questioned Rourke, turn
ing his eyes fully to his friends face,
and asking the question simply, as if he
could not grasp the meaning of the words.
AthoI repeated them rcverently, while
Rourke, leaning forward in his seat,
listened with drawn breath. Then he
spoke with en- impotence which was full
OF pain,
''Oh, Athol! - he cried, "if / could have
xI,t Mo ,i-kt nnfp S,,ut chat con
night If it were not for the sin of that
one night, l could believe those words
those good words"
They are true why doubt ,hem in
any case, Rourke?' said Athol, enxiousiy.
''They are all the more precious to us
because of our sins. 1t is not certain sins
He taketh away, you know 1t is all sim"
.Athol, l want to iir:!sll my letters,
and you ought to go to Lorraine. Don't
look astonished. Mr.. Gaveston has told
me Of your engagement. / knew why you
did not wish to do 10 until-until I was
all right again. 1 ought to have had
the courage to speak of it before, but l
could not. l don't know that I can
even now. Athol, dear old fellow, don't
be hurt because | cannot say what l
ought to say. l ought to wish you happi-
ness, but what need? ! ought to say l
am glad, but | have not been glad am
not glad now, l fear-but l shall be. L
seem now as IL | had always known it
would be so, and yet-and yet the truth
came as a thunderclap--a shock that left
me, for n few moments, deaf and blind.
! hear the same words now. if | chance
20 fall asleep. and l feel it all over again.
I have so loved her. And my little
Rourke-my boy-you will remember
my life-my broken, wasted life-and it
will help You. But what am l saying?
What fear is there for any child taught
by you and Neutrality-suspicious.
%raine?'
II cannot even so to her tonight" said
Athol, not trusting himself to look upon
the suffering WEAKNESS of Rourke's face
II would rather stay here"
NO; please CO." pleaded Trenham,
with real anxiety. II must sit with you
and talk to o If you are here, and I
want to write a little longer. l am al
most well now. Athol. and shall sleep to-
night. You will come back in the morn
ing. | shall be looking for you as soon
rs the day dawns. Thank you for YOU
kindness-and help-and friend
ship. Goodnight, dear fellow
ANY message for Mr.. Galveston or
inquired Athol, not trusting |
to say more, as he saw, with in
finite pain, how Rourke struggled to make
light of his acute suffering.
mo, none,' returned Rourke, steadily
message to Lorraine-yet. She told
all she wished to say, and I remem-
Der. Why should | hurt her ever again?
1ood-niyhf. AthoI"
In the morning .Athol again went to
home.
The master had gone to his W room
'oon after midnight, Brent said, as he
loiselessly led DR.. We're into the silent
louse. He had been writing or sitting
the fire until then. He, Brent, had
,one in again and again TO persuade him
o go to bed. but he had only said there
vas plenty of time, and just chatted a bit
indy. Brent had been up all night. and
Expecting DR.. VerA
Softly the young physician entered
bedroom. Though the morning
I'M shone fair and bright without, he
ad expected the room to be in darkness
o, for a moment. the light dazzled him,
nd made him pause.
"Rourke," he whispered softly ; and as
e spoke he laid his gentle hand upon the
ossed hair. II am come back"
No answer; and Athol bent a little
Man as he was, he could not help
ut touch witch his own the lips that were
and parted under the brown
Dear fellow, do rot remember? He
lketh away the sim of the sworld'?'
The whisper reached the tired brain.
he weak lips moved with a faint and
rendering smile. 80
II Observation-Disclosures sins too. I
ave-remembered-
The r plying sunshine lay upon
face, 20 still and calm at last.
nut afar, in the fathomless blue. the beau
lful dying eyes were fixed. All suffering
,as over now the look Of keen and rest
ess agony was gone. Even Athol had
ot felt 1t could be SO soon as this that
he sharp pain would cease, and the wait
az time would come. Even he had not
messed how quickly sorrow, remorse and
vcariness could bring the end. Kneelins
,eside this friend he loved so dearly. he
whispered words of hope and prayer and
omfort, while Gods sunshine streamed
h upon the watcher and the watched.
And thus at last the end came, and Athol
aised his nand and softly closed the dark
Ilue ayes.
CHAPTER NXvI.
The faded hatchment above the chief
.ntrxnce Mt Hohve-as old as the great
:an1on below it--pfoclainaed to all whom