The news=record. [volume] (Enterprise, Wallowa County, Oregon) 1907-1910, 1909-10-06

l could" he passed his hand over his
face. and his fingers crept nervously to
his collar, "but 1t wasn't any use 1t
wasn't any usel' He turned again to
the bishop. II heard you preach a ser
mon once. 1t was about our opportuni-
ties. You said we must live IN the open.
l had never thought of that before" and
he looked at the bishop with foolish
grin on his face. He stood up suddenly
and extended his arms. Nov want
you to tell me what to do. / want to be
punished This mans blood is on my
hands. want to be punished!' y And he
sank to the floor in a heap, repeating,
as II to himself, II want to be punish
edv"
There are two great crises in the life
Of a man, One is that moment Of dis
closure when for the first time he rec
ognizes some vital weakness In his own
character. The other comes when, under
stress, he submits this defect to the eyes
of another. James Wheaton hardly knew
when he had realized the first, but he
was conscious now that he had passed
the second. 1t had carried him lik1 a
high tide to a point Of rest; but It WIS
a point Of helplessness, too.
ut isn't for US to punish YOU" the
bishop began, "and do not see that you
have transgressed any law"
"That is It that Is 1t 1t would be
easierr moaned Wheaton. John turned
away. James Wheaton's face was not
good to see.
"Yes, It would be easier" the bishop
continued. II can see that In going back
to Clarkson many things will be hard
for you
II can't! Oh, I can't" He still
crouched on the floor, with his arms ex-
tended along the bench.
"But that Is the manly thing for you.
II you have acted a cowardly part, now
Is the time for you to change, and you
must change on the field Of battle. can
imagine the discomfort Of facing your
old friends; that you will suffer keen hu-
initiation; that you may have to begin
again; but you must do 1t, my friend, If
you wish to rise above yourself, and you
may depend upon my help"
The old man had spoken with empha-
sis. but with great gentleness. He turned
70 Saxton, wishing him to speak.
~ he bishop Is right. You must 20
back with us, Wheaton" But he did not
say that he would help him. John Sax
ton neither forgot nor forgave easily. He
did not see in this dark hour what he
had to do with James Wheatons affairs.
But the Bishop Of Clarkson went over
to James Wheaton and lifted him up; 1t
was as though he would make the physi-
cal act carry a spiritual aid with 1t.
1--WE can talk Of this to better purpose
when we get home," he said. "You are
broken now and see your future darkly (;
but say to you that you can be re-
stored; there's light and hope ahead for
you II there is any meaning In my
ministry It Is that with the help Of God
a man may come out Of darkness into
the light again."
There was a moments silence. Whea-
ton sat bent forward on the bench, with
his elbows on his knees and his face in
his hands.
''They are waiting for u.s." said Sax
ton.
A special train was sent to Great Riv-
er. and the little party waited for It on
the station platform, surrounded by
awed villagers, who stood silent In the
presence Of death and mystery which
they but dimly comprehended. Officers
Of the law from Clarkson came with the
train and surrounded Bishop Delafield
Wheaton and Saxton as they stood with
Grant Porter by the rude bier Of Wary
Raridan. The men answered many Ques
tions and the sheriff of the county tool
the detectives away with him. Margravt
had sent his private car, and the return
Ing party were huddled In one end Of 1t
save John Saxton, who sat alone with
the body Of Wary Raridan. The trair
was to 10 back Immediately, but 1t wait
ed for the west-bound express which fol
lowed t and passed the special here
There was a moments confusion as tn,
special with Its dark burden was switch
ed into siding to allow the regulhl
train to pass. Then the special returned
to the main track and began Its home
ward journey.
John sat with his arms folded, sunl
into his great-coat, and watched the gra.
landscape through the snow that was fall
ing fast. The events Of the night seemed
lyike a hideous dream. 1t was an incon
ceivable thing that within few hours 8,
dire a calamity could have fallen. TIL,
very nearness of the city 10 which the!
were bound added to the unreality Of al
that had happened. But there the darl
burden lay; and the snow fell upon tn,
gray earth and whitened it, as If I,
cleanse and remake 1t and blot out 1T
color and dread. The others left Saxtol
alone he was nearer than they; but lat
In the afternoon, as they approached tn
city, Captain Wheelock came in an,
touched him on the shoulder; Bishol
| Delafeld wished to see him. John rose
giving Wheelock his place, and wen
back to where the old man sat starin,
| out at the snow. He beckoned Saxton I,
sit down by him.
where's Wheaton, the bishop asked
John looked at him and at the othe
men who sat in silence about the car
He went to one of them and repeated tn
bishops question, but was told tha
| Wheaton was not on the train. He ha,
been at the station and had come aboar,
the car with the rest but he must hav
| returned to the station and been left
John remembered the passing Of tn
west-bound express, and went back an,
told the bishop that Wheaton had no
come with them. The old man shook hi
head and turned again to the window
and the flying panorama Of the snow,