Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1909-08-27

rs II to himself, Il want to be punish
ed !"
There are two great crises in the hff
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 ha rdly knew
when he had realized the first. but he
was conscious now that he had passed
the second. 1t had carried him lk, a
high tide to a point OF rest; but II WIS
a point of helplessness, too.
1T isn't for us to punish you,' the
bishop began, "and l do not see that you
rave transgressed any law
That Is it that is it! 1t would be
easier" moaned Wheaton,. John turned
away. James Wheaton's face was rot
good to see.
Eyes, 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, l can't" He still
crouched on the floor, with his arms eX-
tended along the bench.
But that is the manly thing for you.
If you have acted a cowardly part. now
is the lllue loI you " 'htibe' ""' 49,"
must change on the field of battle. | can
imagine the discomfort of facing your
old friends that you will suffer keen hui
initiation: that you may have to begin
again: but you must do it, 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
to Saxton, wishing him to speak.
The bishop is right. You must go
back with us, Wheaton," Put he did not
say that he would help him. John Sax
ton neither forgot nor forsave easily. lie
did not see in this dark hour what he
had to do with James Wheaton's affairs.
But the Bishop of Clarkson went over
to ia mes Wheaton and lifted him up; it
was as though he would make the physi-
cal act carry a spiritual aid with it.
"We can talk of this to better purpose
when we get home" he said. You are
broken now and see you future darkly;
but | say to you that you can be re-
stored there's light and hope ahead for
you. If 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 Rlv-
err. and the little party waited for it on
the station platform, surrounded by
awed villagers, who stood silent in the
90 Ja,th md q mvSfnrv which
they but dimly comprehended. Officers
of the law from Clarkson came with the
train and surrounded Bishop Delafeld,
Wheaton and Saxton as they stood with
Grant Porter by the rude bier of Wary
Raridan. The men answered many ques-
tons and the sheriff of the county took
the detectives away with him. Margrave
had sent his private car, and the return
ing party were huddled in one end of it,
save John Saxton, who sat alone with
the body of Wary Raridan. The train
was to go pack Immediately, but it wait
ed for the west-bound express which fol-
lowed It and passed the special here.
There was a moments confusion as the
special with its dark burden was switch
ed into a siding to allow the regular
train to pass. Then the special returned
to the main track and began its home
ward journey.
John sat with his arms folded, sunk
into his great-coat, and watched the gray
landscape through the snow hat was fall
ing fast. The events of the night seemed
lyike a hideous dream. 1t was an incon-
ceivable thing that within a few hours so
dire a calamity could have fallen. The
very nearness of the city to which they
were bound added to the unreality of all
that had happened. But there the dark
burden lay and the snow fell upon the
gray earth and whitened it, as if to
cleanse and remake it and blot out its
color and dread. The others left Saxton
alone; he was nearer than they but late
in the afternoon, as they approached the
CITY, Captain Wheelock came in and
touched him on the shoulder: Bishop
Delafield wished to see him. John rose,
giving Wheelock his place, and went
back to where the old man sat staring
out at the snow. He beckoned Saxton to
sit down by him.
"Where's Wheaton, the bishop asked.
John looked at him and at the other
men who sat in silence about the car.
He went to one Of them and repeated the
bishops question, but was told that
Wheaton was not on the train. He had
been at the station and had come aboard
the car with the rest but he must have
returned to the station and been left.
John remembered the passing of the
west-bound express, and went back and
told the bishop that Wheaton had not
come with them. The old man shook his
head and turned again to the window
and the flying panorama of the snowy
landscape. John sat by him, n neither
spoke until the trains speed diminished
at a crossing on the outskirts of Clark
son. Then suddenly, hot at heart and
with tears of sorrow and rage in his eyes,,
Saxton said, SO that only the bishop
could hear:
Hes a towards"
The Bishop Of Clarkson stared steadily
out upon the snow with troubled eyes.
CHAPTER XIII.
Porter insisted that Margrave should
mot have the Traction Company at any
price, though the general manager Of the
TranscontinentAl was persistent in his
offers. As Margrave did not care to deal
with Porter, who was not, he complain
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