Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1909-12-10
cuApTER xyII.-(Contlnued.)

CsaI W piSsLu iho dAi cbta ~ 49,
practice of it's central and Fundamental,
virtue.
MY friend" he said. with a new sol
emnity in his manner, you are on the
threshold of another world; how dare
You present yourself to the Judge OF
all the earth with a passion like TINS
in your hearth"
In the momentary rest the beggaI
had recovered strength enough to re-
ply: 1T is t-t-true. / am on the
threshold of another world! didn't
use to b-b-believe there was one, but
do now. There must be! Would 1t
b-b-be right for such d-d-devils as the
n that wrecked my life to S-S-So IN
punished? Not If I know anything!
They get away from us here, but II
eternity Is as long as they s-s-say II
is, I'll find D-D-Dave Corson If it tt
takes the whole of it, and when l if
n him" he paused again. gaspins
and strangling.
And so you really mean to die with
out bestowlng your pardon upon those
who have wronged you"
Il swear it,"
With a heavy heart. Mantel left him
and hurried home to report the inter-
view to David. He found him just
returning from his work, and conveyed
his message by the gloom OF his coun-
tenance
Has anything gone wrong?" David
inquired. a~nxiously, as they entered
their room.
Casting himself heavily into a seat
and answering a~bstractedly, Mantel
replied" Each new day of life renders
1t more inexplicable. A man no soon
err forms a theory than he is compelled
to abandon 1t. l ear it is a labyrinth
from which we shall none Of us es-
cape"
DO not speak in parallels" David
exclaimed, impatiently. IF anything
II the matter, tell me at once. Do not
leave me in suspense. I cannot endure
1t. Is he worse? Is he dying?"
He is both, M more Mantel an
sWered, still unable to escape from the
gloom which enveloped him. Il have
at last drawn from hin a brief but
terrible allusion to the tragedy of our
lives"
What did he say? Quick. tell met"
He said that he had been wronged
by those whom he had benefited, and
that he would spend eternity in re-
venging his wrongs"
"Horrible!" cried David, sinking in
to a chair. did he show no mercy?
Was there no sign of pardon?"
None! Granite is softer than his
heart. Ice is warmer"
David rose and paced the floor
Pausing before Mantel. he said, pit
eously. Perhaps he will relent when
Pepeeta comes!"
Perhaps! Have you heard from
her 2,
mo. but her answer cannot be much
again and again."
said Mantel. who had ost all heart and
hope.
do not say It," David exclaimed, be-
seemingly. 1T is a Ions distance. She
may have changed her residence. She
may never go to the p~ostofice. She
may be sick"
.Or dead!" said Mantel. giving ex-
preston in two words to the fullness
OF his despair.
.lmpossible!" exclaimed David, his
face blanching at his sudden articula-
ton OF the dread he had been strug-
Cling 30 hardtto repress.
They passed out into the night to-
gether and hurried away to the beg
Gar's room. Each was too .burdened
for talk and they walked in silence.
Arriving at the house. they assembled
the stairs on tiptoe and paused to lis
ten at the door. Il will leave 1t ajar,
80 you may hear what he says, and
then you can judge II I am right"
said Mantel. entering quietly.
He approached the table and turned
lamp which he had left burning
dimfy. BY its pale light David could
see the great head lying on the pillow,
the chin elevated. the mouth partially
open. the breast heaving with the
painful efforts to catch a few last nut
tering inspirations. Nesting close to
the ashen fac and licking the cheek
now and then with his little red
tongue. was h terrier.
Mantels football. quiet as IL was, dis
turbed the sleeper. who moved. turned
his head toward the sound and asked
In q husky and but half audible voice.
WHO ID there!"
ut II I. How are you now? A little
said Mantel. laying his soft,
cool hand upon the broad forehead.
wet already with h death-damp.
II am getting weaker. It won't-last
long" he answered painfully.
II do not want to bother you, but I
cannot bear to have you die without
to you again about your flu
ture; I must try once more to per-
suade you@not to die without sending
some kind word to the people who
wronged YOU"
The expression Of he white face UNI
derwent = hideous Transformation.
III you do not feel like talking to me
about mater SO sacred and personal,
would you not like to have me send
for some minister or priest"
The head mcved slowly back and
forth IN q hrm negation.
TN every age, and among all men,
It has seemed hitting that those who
were about 20 die should make some
preparation to . their God. Have
you no deoire I do this? II there alb
solMtely no word*of pardon or Of kind
ness which you wish to send to those
who have injured YOU. an . sort Of leg
ncy from the Erave?"
he whispered fierceiy.
sHuppoes that your enemy should
come ~ rec you. Suppoee that a great
change had como over him: that he,
too. had suffered deeply: that your
wife had discovered his treachery and
him: that ne had bitterly repent
"a: tAAt he had made such atonement
- ~ coulazfof his sim; that It was he
who has been caring for you In these
1T hours could you mot pardon him I"
These words produced IN extraordi-
2s1SefDes4 :oas1hss dytng man. For the
ak -- -aAA