Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1909-12-30

"place your candle on the window SIN
I will wait until midnight, and II you
exringuish It then. l shall accept your
decision as final, and you will be re-
sponsible for what follows. am a
desperate man, and life without you
has become intolerable,"
Having thrust the letter under the
door. David fled hastily down the
stairway and into the street where he
began to pace back and forth like a
sentry on his beat. Never did con-
demned felon In cell watch for the
coming OF messenger OF pardon with
more wildly beating heart than his as
he ga2ed at that window up In the
wall of the gloomy tenement house.
Never did mariner on a storm tossed
vessel keep his eye more resolutely
fixed on beams from a distant ligt-
house
Finally. and after what seem un-
counted ages. the great cock struck
the hour of midnight. One, two, three
he stood like a man rooted to the
ground--four, Ave, siX-his heart beat
louder than the hell-seven. eight, nine
Is temples-ten. eleven, twelve!-the
light went out! The universe seemed to
have been instantaneously swallowed
up in darkness. He could not see the
figure that crept to the window and
gazed down upon him from behind the
drapery OF the curtains. He did not
know that Pepeeta had falle- her
knees in an agony deeper than his own,
and was gazing down at him through
streaming tears. In those few succeed
ing moments the sense Of his personal
loss was displaced by sudden and
overpowering sense Of his personal
guilt. The full consciousness Of his sin
burst upon him. He saw the selfish
ness of his love and his wickedness In
a light brighter than day.
What next" he said aloud. as II
speaking to some one else Receiving
no answer, he turned instinctively to-
ward his gambling house, and went
stumbling along through the deserted
streets. What Is man, after all. but
stumbling machine? Progress Is
made by falling forward over obsta-
ces! The poor stumbler tottered across
his own threshold into that brilliant
room where he had always received an
welcome, but which he had
not visited since his sickness. II ever
a man needed kindness and encourage
ment it was he; but his sensitive spir-
1t instantly discovered that all was
changed.
His superstitious companions had
not forgotten the broken glass, and
had heard Of his subsequent calami-
ties. With them the lucky alone were
the adorable. The gods of the temples
Of fortunes are easily and quickly de-
throned and the worshipers had al
ready Frustrated themselves before
other shrines.
The coldness of his greeting sent
chill to his already benumbed heart
and increased his desperation. He was
nervous, excited, depressed. and feel
ing the need Of something to distract
his thought from his troubles, he sat
down and began to play; but from the
first deal he lost-lost steadily and
heavily. Within few short hours
he had staked his entire fortune and
lost it. 1t had gone as easily and as
quickly as it had come.
Il guess that is about ALL" he said.
pushing himself wearily back from the
table at which he had just parted with
the title to his desolated home.
The sun was just rising. The first
faint stir Of life was perceptfble in the
,ity streets; the green -grocers were
coming in with their fresh vegetables;
he office boys were opening the doors
and putting away the shutters; there
vas a bright. morning look on the
aces which peered into the haggard
of the gambler as he
,rept aimlessly along, but the fresh,
sweet light gave him neither bright
less nor joy. His heart was cold and
lead; he had not even formed pur-
BOSE.
And so he drifted aimlessly until the
current that was setting toward the
evee caught him and bore him on
With it. The sight Of a vessel Just
putting out to sea communicated to
lis spirit it's first definite impulse and
lie ascended the gangplank without
wen inquiring its destination.
In a few moments the boat swung
oose and turned it's Prov down the
liver The hustle of the embarkat ton
distracted him. He watched the hur-
wing sailors. gazed at the piles OF
merchandise walked up and down the
leck, listened to the fresh breeze that
began to play upon the great, sonor-
,us harp Of the shrouds and the masts, |
md when at last the vessel glided out
nto the waters Of the gulf he lay down
n a hammock and fell into a long and
lreamless sleep.
ITO be continued.)