Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1909-12-16
CHAPTER X.-(Continued.l

fad been secured. Davids part In thl:
drama became comparatively easy. II,
listened to the brief conversation II
which by we'll constructed chain o
fictitious reasonings the judge rivetet
upon the too eager mind of the child
wife the conclusion that she was free
When this arch villain had concluded
his arguments every suspicion haC
vanished from her soul, and as he rose
90 depart she took him by the hand
and hade him a kindly and almost af-
rectionate farewell DO not aftlic'
yourself with this painful memory
she said gently.
Il shall not need TO afflict myself,
he replied; my memory will aftiict
me, for | am as guilty as il the result
had been what l had expected; and II
an the coming year you find moment
now and then in which you can lift up
a PRAYER for a man who has forfeited
his claim to mercy, | beg you to de-
vote 1t TO him who from the depths OF
his heart wished you Joy. Goodbye.
With many assurances OF her par
don, Pepeeta followed him to the door
and hade him farewell When she re-
turned to David her face was lumin-
GUS with happiness, and although ne
had begun already to experience re-
action and to suffer remorse Tor MS
successful infamy. ii was only like
drop of poison in the ocean of his JOY,
Did | not tell you that all would
be well ," she cried. approaching him
and extending both her hands. But
how sudden and how strange it is. 1t
Is too good to be true. l cannot real
TIE that l am free. l am like little
bird that hops about its cage, peeps
through the door which its mistress
hand has opened. and knows not what
TO think 1t wishes to go: but 1t Is
frightened What shall 1t do, David
Tell it, Shall 1t fly"
Il also am too bewildered to act and
almost too bewildered to think ne
said. with unaffected excitement ana
anxiety, for now that the time and op-
portnnity for him to take so momen-
tous a step had come, his heart failed
him. 1t was only with the most vio-
lent effort and under most pressing
necessity that he pulled himself to-
xether and continued:
Inc lllllS DlIu lluol n.y. oAiN 49,
mate must fly with 1t. There are too
few hours before daylight and we
must not lose a single one. But are
you sure that you are quite ready! is
your mind made up? Will you go with
me trustfully? VIII you accept what
ever the future has in store"
She took his in her strong arms.
printed her first kiss upon his lips,
and said: Il will go with you to the
ends OF the earth l will go with you
through water and through fire. The
future cannot bring me anything from
which 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 tourney. stole out of the quiet
building and hurried away to 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 10 be asleep. They
aroused him, drove onto the platform
of his primitive craft and floated out
npon the stream. AS the boat swung
clear of the shore they heard music
Issuing from the cabin windows of
steamer under whose stern they were
passing. 1t was the Mary Ann" They
listened. The music ceased for a mo-
'ment and a deep voice called out
BIB bravo. Another song"
They recognized it 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 it hither and thither till it
seemed to the now trembling fugitive
a symbol of the stream OF tendencies
upon which he had launched the frail
bark containing their united lives.
Il wonder if | am strong enough to
stem it," he asked himself, as the boat
grated on the beach
Can we find 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, as he receiv-
ed the fare.
Such adNenturers passed often
through his hands and their ways were
nothing new. The fugitives drove hur-
riedly to the designated house. knocked
at the door, were admitted and in
few minutes the final act which sealed
-heir fate had been performed.
rIIAp,rED "