Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1909-11-05
CHAPTER x.--tcontinued.,

had been secured, David's part in this
drama became comparatively easy. lie
listened to the brief conversation in
which by a Reconstructed chain OF
fictitious r~easonings the judge rfyeted
upon the too eager mind of the child
wife the conclusion that she was free.
When his arch villain had concluded
his arguments every suspicion had
vanished from her soul, n as he rose
to depart she took him by the hand
and babe him a kindly and almost af-
fcctionate farewell. DO not afflict
yourself with this painful memory.
h aid gently.
II shall O need to afilict myself
he replied; my m Will afhlct
me. for 1 am as guilty as If the result
had been what I had expected; and II
in the coming year you n a moment
now and then in which you can lift up
n prayer for a man who has forfeited
his claim to mercy, 1 beg you to de-
vote it to him who from the depths of
his heart wished you JOY. Goodbye
With many assurances or her par
don, Pepeeta followed him to the door
and bade him farewell. When she re-
turned to David her face was lumin-
GUS with happiness, and ne
had begun already to experience a re-
action and to suffer remorse for MS
successful infamy, 1t was only X a
drop Of poison in the ocean OF MS JOY.
did I not tell you that all "ouid
be well?" she cried, approaching MIN
and extending both her hands. But
how sudden and how strange 1T is. IL
is too good to be true. 1 cannot real
lie that / am free. I am like a little
ol1,,< itc n opa mems
through the door which it's mistress
hand has opened. and knows not What
to think. 1t wishes to go; but 1t Is
frightened. What shall 1t do, DaVlo.
Tell 1t! Shall 1t fly?"
IT also am too bewildered to act and
almost too bewiidered to think" he
said, with unaffected excitement ana
anxiety, for now that h time and OPP
portunity for him to take SO momen-
tous a step had come, his failed
him. It was only with the mos vlo-
lent effort and under a most pressing
necessity that he pulled h1mseit TO-
gether and continued:
'"The little bird must fly, and It's
mate must fly with it. There are too
few hours before daylight and we
must not lose q single one. But are
YOU 6uIS lIldS yoA = ANA
your mind made up? Will you go with
me trustfully? Will o accept what
ever the future has In store"
She took his in her strong arms,
printed her first kiss upon his lips,
and said: II will go with you to the
ends of the earth! I will go with you
through water and through fire! The
future cannot bring me anything from
which I shall shrink, If it let's us meet
1t hand in hand!"
Silently and swiftly they gathered
together the few necessities Of a sud-
den Journey. stole out of the quiet
building and hurried away to a livery
stable. In a few moments they were
rafting down the rough cobble-stone
pavement to the river. The ferryman.
who had been retained for this very
purpose, pretended to be asleep. They
aroused him, drove onto the platform
Of his primitive craft and fioated out
upon the stream. AS the boat swung
clear of the shore they heard music
issuing from the cabin windows Of a
steamer under whose stern they were
passing. 1t was the Mary Ann" They
listened. The music a for a mo-
ment and a deep voice called out
"B-b-bravo! Another song!"
They recognized 1t instantly, and
Pepeeta pressed close to the side Of
her lover.
You hear it for the last time" he
whispered.
The swift current seized the boat,
twisting 1t hither and thither till 1t
seemed to the now trembling fugitive
Q symbol Of the stream of tendencies
upon which he had launched the frail
bark containing their united lives.
Il wonder II I am strong enough to
stem it," he asked himself, as the boat
grated on the beach.
Can we find a minister who will
marry us at this time of night?" Da-
vid said to the ferryman, although he
had been careful to ask this question
before.
Two blocks south and three east,
second door on the right hand side"
he answered laconically. az he receiv-
ed the fare.
Such adventures passed often
through his hands and their ways were
nothing new. The fugittves drove hur-
ftedly to the designated house, knocked
at the door. were admitted and in a
few minutes the final act which sealed
heir fate had been performed.
CHAPTER XII.
When he awoke the next morning
from . revel, the doctor crawled back
TO h hotel az ri he could. his head
with pain. his wits dull and
his temper wild. Stumbling up the
long fight Of stairs which seemed to
him to reach the sky. he burst open
his door and entered the room. It was