Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1909-11-26
ance; but her memory did not at ono

Has something dreadful happened?
Tell me-" she entreated, gazing with
agitation into the calm eyes that look
ed down into hers.
II cannot tell thee whether thee has
ever seen us before, but we have seen
thee so much for Il few days that we
feel like old friends" aid Dorothea,
pressing the hand she held, and smil-
ing.
Pepeeta's eyes wandered about the
room restlessly for q moment and
then some dim remembrance of the
past came back.
Did come here in a great Storm"
she asked.
Thee did. indeed. The night was
wild and cold"
Did 1 fall on the threshold? ?"
Upon the very threshold. and let us
thank God for that, because if thee
had fallen at the gate or in the path
we should never have heard thee"
Pepeeta struggled to a sitting pos
ture as her emo clarified, fixed her
wide open eyes upon Dorothea and
asked, pathetically. Where is he?"
Il do not know who thee means"
said D~orothea, laying her hand on the
invalid's shoulders and trying gently
to push her back upon her pillow.
David" she exclaimed, David Tell
me if you know, for it seems to me 1
shall die If I do not hear"
Il do not know, my love. 1t Is a
long time since we have heard from
David. But thee must lie down. Thee
is not strong enough to talk"
Are we alone?"
Yes. all alone"
We'll. thenI I will begin" Pepeeta
| CniI and in q yninn clnl-aI with
ton, the poor sufferer breathed out
the tale of her sin and her sorrow.
She told all. She did not shield her
self, and everywhere she could she
softened the wrong done by David. 1t
was a long story, and was interrupted
only by the ticking of the great clock
in the halfway. telling off the mo-
ments with as little concern as when
three years before it had listened to
the story told to David by his mother.
When the confession vas ended the
tender-hearted woman kissed the quiv-
ering lips.
Have you forgiven me-" Pepeeta
asked, Selling the face in her thin
hands and looking almost despairingly
into the great blue eyes.
AS / hope to be forgiven" Dorc'hea
answered, kissing her again and again.
A look of almost perfect happiness
diffused itself over the pale %counten-
ance
TT is too much-too much. How
can it be? 1t was such a great %wrong!"
she exclaimed.
Yes, it wa5 a great wrong. Thee
has sinned much, but much shall be
forgiven if thee is penitent, and l hin
thee is. Nc love nor pardon should
be withheld from those who mourn
their sins. Our God is love! And so
we are ignorant and frail. 1t is a
cad story, as thee says, but it is bet
ter to be led astray by our good pas
sions thai by our bad. 1 have noticed
that it is sometimes by our hottest in
stincts that we are betrayed into our
darkest sins. 1t was heavens bright
} est light-the light of love-that led
thee astray, my child, and even love
may not be followed with closed eyes!
But thee does not need to be preached
to-"
Astonished at such an almost divine
insight and compassion, Pepeeta ex-
claimed, How came you to know so
much OF the tragedy of human life, so
much OF the souls weakness and guilt;
you who have lived SO quietly in this
happy home?"
by consulting my own heart, dear.
We do not differ in ourselves so much
as in our experiences and temptations.
But thee has talked enough about thy
troubles. Tell me thy name? What
shall we call thee?"
MY name is Pepeeta."
And mine is Dorothea."
"Oh! Dorothea," Pepeeta exclaimed.
do you hin we shall ever see him
again.
Il cannot tell. We had made many
inquiries and given up in despair. And
now when we least expected news, thee
has come! We will cherish hope
again. We were discouraged too cas-
ily."
"Oh! how strong you are-how COM
forting. Yes. we will cherish hope,
and when I am well I will start out,
and search for him everywhere. I shall
find him. My heart tells me So"
But thee is not well enough, yet"
Dorothea said, with a kind smile, and
until thee is. thee must be at rest in
thy soul and, abiding here with us,
await the revelation of the divine
will"
"Oh, may I stay a little while? It
is so quiet and restful here. I feel like
a, tired bird that has found a refuge
from a storm. But what will your
husband say when he hears this
story?"
Thee need not be troubled sbout
hat. His door and heart are ever
open to those who labor and are heavy
laden. The Christ has found a faith
full follower in him, Pepeeta- 1t was
he who first OWNED thy story"
Then you knew me?"
I'VE had conjectured."
Then I will stay. oh, I will stay a
little while, and perhaps, perhaps
who knows?" she clasped her hands.
her soul looked out of her eyes. and a
smile OF genuine happiness lit up her
sad face.
Yes. who knows?" said Dorothea,
gently. r~earranging the pillows ard
bidding the invalid fall asleep again.
CHAPTER XVI.
In due time the vessel upon which
David had embarked arrived at her
destination. the city of New York, and
the lonely traveller stepped forth IN
noticed and unknown into the metropo-
lis Of the New World.
With an instinct common to all ad-
v%enturers. he made his way to the
RoUerv Amid its nerpatual excite