Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1909-12-30
The Redemption
Q! David Corson
BY CHARLES FREDERIC GOSS
Copy1sh by he BowenM Merrill
S-Ns So

| for years do you? Oh, how sweet 1t is
to tell 1t at last, killed him! l killed
him! | struck him with a stone.
crushed his skull and turned him face
downward in the road and left him
there so that when they found hin,
they would think that he had fallen
from his horse. 1t was well done, for
one who had had no training in crime I!
NO one has suspected it. I am in no
danger. And yet | could not keep the
secret any longer And now that
have told It, | feel so much happier.
am like myself again. l feel as II
should never be unkind or irritable any
more. The load has fallen from my
heart. Come, now, and kiss me-"
Extending his hands, he approached ID
her. AS he did so, the look Of horror
with which she had regarded him in
tensified and she retreated before him
until she reached the wall, looking like
a seabird hurled against a precipice
by a storm. Such dread was on her
face that he dared not touch her.
What is the NATTER" he said. Are
YOU afraid OF me-"
Forgive me-" she said. for seeming
even for moment to despise and alb
nor YOU. 1t was all so sudden. l do
not mean to condemn you. l do not
mean to act or feel as If l were any
less guilty than you are in all this
wrong. But when one has to face
something awful without preparation,
IT is very hard. No wonder that we
do not know what to do. We are both
guilty, David. l think that 1t is be-
cause l have had so large d share in
all the rest that has been wrong that
l cannot now feel towards you as I
think l ought. 1t is true that you
have injured me terribly and irretrev-
ably. 1t is true that your hands are
stained with blood, and yet I love you
My heart yearns for you this moment
as never before since we have known
each other. But there is voice with
in my soul that tells me that we must
part. We could not respect and there
fore we could not truly love each 9TH
er. Into every moment of our lives
this guilty secret would intrude. No,
1t is impossible. | see it clearly. Ev-
cry passing moment only makes it
more plain"
We shall not part" he cried,
springing towards her and seizing her
by the wrist. I'VE are as firmly linked
by vice as by virtue This secret will
draw us together! We cannot keep
away from each other. Let the dead
past bury it's dead! Let us be hap
py."
NO" she answered, calmly, ut Is
impossible. You need not argue You
cannot change my mind. l see it all
too clearly. We must part
"Oh. pity me-" he cried, falling on
his knees. What shall l do? l can
not bear this burden alone. 1t will
crush me. Have mercy, Pepeeta. Do
not drive me away l cannot endure
to go forth with this brand of Ca up
on my forehead and realize that
other word of love or comfort. Pity
me-"
But, my beloved, I am not acting
for myself. 1t is not my mind or heart
that speaks. 1t Is God speaking
me. I feel myself to be acting
under an influence apart from myself.
We have resisted these voices and this
influence too long Now we must obey
them"
But, Pepeeta," he continued, you
do not really think that you have the
power to suppress the love you feel
for me-"
Il shall not try" she answered
She smiled on him with unutterable
tenderness, and with her eyes still
fixed upon his haggard face began to
move slowly toward the door. He did
not stir; he could not move, but re-
mained upon his knees with his hands
extended towards her in supplication.
Like some exalted figure in a dream
he saw her vanish from his sight; the
world became empty and dark: his
powers OF endurance had been over
taxed; he lost all consciousness, and
fell forward on the floor.