Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1909-12-03
CHAPTER xvI.-(contirued.)

lin the other face consciousness OF
the impossibility of discussing those
experiences through which they had
come to be what they We're. Such men
guard the real history of their lives
and the real emotions of their hearts
as jealousy as the combinations of
their cards. The old, ironical smile
lighted UP Mantel's features, and he
said:
I'VE seem to have a violent antipa-
thy to thin ice. Davy, and skate away
from it as soon as it begins to crack a
little beneath our feet"
Yes" said his friend, Struggling his
shoulders. ut Is not pleasant to fall
through the crust OF friendship. There
Is a sub element in every life a too
sudden plunge into which might result
In a fatal chill. We had all better
keep on the surface. I am frank enough
to say that the less any one knows
about my past, the better I shall be
satisfied"
Il wish that I could keep my own
self from invading that realm as cas-
lily as l can keep others! Why Is 1t
that no man has ever yet been able to
let the dead past bury it's dead? 1t
seems a reasonable demand"
"a liz 40 ~ pOOi C@Nloli oho HAAs
the Past. l "a watched him at his
work. and he is powerless to dig his
own grave, however many others he
may have excavated!"
THE Present seems as helpless at
the Past. I wonder If the future will
heap enough new events ver old ones
to hide them from view?"
Let a shadow bury the u n Let a
wave bury the sea-" answered David.
bitterly.
Mandel dropped his eyes in silence.
For h first time since David had
known him, his fine face gave some
genuine revelation OF the emotions of
his soul. Great tears gathered in his
eyes, and his lips trembled. In a mo-
ment, he arose, took his hat. laid his
hand gently upon the arm of his
friend, M said. David, my dear fell
low, we are skating OF that thin ice
again. We shall fall through IL - are
not careful, and get that chill you
were talking about. Let's go out and
take a walk. Life Is too deep for either
you or me to fathom. ] gave it up as
q bad Job long ago. Come. let us go.
We need the air."
They went down into the streets and
lost themselves in the busy crowd of
care encountered men. Suddenly Man
tel was startled by an abrupt change
In h manner of his companion, who
paused and stood as II rooted to the
pavement, while his great blue eyes
opened beyond their natural width
with a fixed stare.
Following the direction OF their gaze,
Mantel saw that they were fixed on a
blind beggar who sat on a stool at
the edge Of the sidewalk. silent and
motionless like an old snag on the
bank OF a river-the perpetual stream
of human life forever flowing by. His
head was bare; In his outstretched
hand he held a tin cup which jingled
now and then as some compassionate
traveller dropped him a coin; by his
side. looking up occasionally into his
unresponsive eyes. was n little terrier,
his solitary companion and guide in a
world Of perpetual night.
The face of h man was a remark
able one, Judged by almost any stand-
ard. 1t was large in size, strong in
and although he was a beg
gar, 1t wore an expression OF power,
of independence and resolution like
that OF another Belisarius. But the
feature which first arrested and long
est held attention, was an enormous
moustache. It could not have been
less than fourteen inches from tip to
tip. vas carefully trimmed and train
and although the man himself was
still comparatively young was white
snow. Occasionally he set his cup
on his knee and with both hands twist
the ends mi heavy ropes.
It was a striking face and exacted
from every observer more than a pass
Ing look; but remarkable as 1t a
Mantel could. not discover any reason
for he strained and terrible interest
Of his companion, who stood staring so
long and In such a noticeable way.
that he vas In danger of himself at
the attention OF the curious
crowd.
Seeing this. Mantel took him by the
arm. what is the matter?" he asked,
1T IL he!" cried David. drawing his
hand over his eyes like a man awak-
ening from q dream: ut is he!"
1T 10 who? Are you mad! Come
away! People are observing you. IF
there 10 anything wrong. we must
move or get into trouble"
Let me alone!" David replied. shak-
ing ID his hand. II would rather die
than lose sight OF that man."
''.Then come into this doorway where
you can watch him unobserved, for Won
are making q spectacle OF yourself.
Come, or I shall drag you.'
with his eyes still riveted on that
strange countenance, David yielded to
the pressure Of his friends hand and
they retired to q Railways whence he
Spxld watch the beggar u~nobseryed.
HE whole frame was QuiverinR with
excitement and he kept murmuring to
m uself: 1T ID ne. 1t Is he! l cannot
be mistaken! Nature never made his
dolblel But how he has changed.
Hsw old and white he is! It cannot
~ his ghost, III It? II 1t were night
lmight think 20. but Il 10 broad day
HIGHT! This nan ID living fesh and
btood and my hand Il not. after all.
the hand OF : mur@"
Edush!~ cried Mantel; you are
TALKING A1oGds"
.:Yea. I am talking aloud" he n.
6Waredy sand l mean to talk loude
yeti I want yousto hear that I am not
murderer. = murderer! Do you un-
Aerstand7 am going to rush o,t ina
70 the streets to cry out AZ the top OF
my volcS-l am not . murderer"
TArfihed ~ hie violence, ManteI
Duoosod HIM farthef hack into the doors
Nalss:: but NJ aprang soue agaln - II
NJ sveryslifo depended upon the sight
= ~ great white fAce.
: quietls Mattel cried. seixinE his
a1D With IN lron grip
s1eok at thierhand. Nantel! I have
xAHA1LIEL . =