Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1909-12-31
CHAPTER XXI.

Quietly, gently, briefly as he could,
David narrated the events of the past
few months, and as he did so she drew
in short breaths or long Inspirations
as the story shifted from phase to
phase. and when at last he had fin
ished, she clasped her hands and gazed
up into the depths of the sky with
eyes that were swimming In tears.
Poor doctor. poor old man." Pepee-
ia sighed at last. ooh! How We have
wronged him. how we have made him
suffer. He vas always kind! He was
Rough, but lie was kind. Oh! why
could ! not have loved him? But I
did not. I could not. My heart was
asleep. 1t had never once walked from
Its slumber until 1t heard your voice.
David. And. afterwards-well I could
not love him! But why should we
have wronged him so? How base 1t
vast How terrible! I pity him. I
blame myself-and yet I cannot wish
him back. What does all his mean
for us, David? Perhaps o can see
the light now, as you used to! l think
from your face and your voice that
you are your old self again. oh! IL
you can see that inner light once
more, consult it. ASK II II there is
n reason why we cannot be happy
now? Tell it that our Pepeeta is too
weak to endure this separation any
longer. ! am only a m David!
I cannot any longer bea life alone. 1
love you too deeply. I cannot live
without YOU"
Waiting long before he answered, as
II to reflect and be sure, David said
1 quietly but confidently, "Pepeeta, I
cannot see any reason why we should
not begin our lives over again, start
ing at this very place from which we
made that false beginning three long
years ago. We cannot go back. but,
In a sense. we can begin again."
but can we really begin again."
she asked. How is 1t possible? I do
not see! We are not what we were.
There Is so much of evil in our hearts.
We were pure and innocent three
years ago Is 1t not necessary to be
pure m innocent? And how can we
be with ali this fearful past behind
US? We cannot become children
again."
II have thought much and deeply
about It," David responded. II know
not hi subtle change has taken
place within me. but I know that it
has been great and real. My heart
was hard, but not 1t is tender. 1t was
full OF despair, and now It is full of
hopeA ! am not as innocent as I was
that night when you heard me speak
In the old Quaker meeting -house. or
rather / am not innocent in h same
way. My heart was then like a spring
among the mountains! 1t had a sort of
virgin innocence. I had sinned only
In thought, and in the dreamy 'imagi-
nations Of unfolding youth. 1t is diff
ferents now; q whole world of realized.
a~ctualized evil lies buried In the depths
OF my oul. It is there. but 1t is there
only as q memory and not as a living
force. There must in some way, I
cannot tell how, be a purity OF guilt
AZ well as OF innocence, and perhaps
Il 10 q purity OF a still higher and
inner kind. There was a peace Of
mind which I had az an innocent boy,
which / 10 not possess nov but I
have another and deeper peace. There
was a childish courage;s but 1t was the
courage OF one who had never been
exposed to danger. There is another
courage in my heart now, and It is
h courage Of the veteran who has
barred his bosom to the foe! I know
not by what strange alchemy these d.
verso elements OF evil can have be-
come absorbed and Incorporated into
TINS newer and letter lie. but this !
90 SNOW ana notning can q me
oouDt N-tnas wniie ! am not 80 good
YET ! am Oetter' whiie I am not 80
puie, YET ! am purer. YES Pepeeta,
I think W can go back on our track.
we can GO DoFn aealh. we q once
more oe iitt!e cniidren. ! reel myself
z lisSie CHILD night who. q Few
oAys 80. was nAe an Ola man. bowed
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