Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1910-02-17

have been carved in marble. It was
Impossible to conceive that he had
ever been young, and there seemed a
bitter irony in the effort of such a
man to judge the cause of a love like
that which pleaded for satisfaction in
the hearts of David and Pepeeta. and
10 pronounce upon the destinies Of
those whose souls were still throbbing
. with passion.
But such was the purpose of the
man. His first words sounded on the
stillnessHlike an alarm bell and shook
the souls of listeners with a sort Of
terror.
we did not seek to try this cause
he said. TT was brought before us
by the wish of this sinful man him
self. But If we must judge, let us judge
like God! We read of Him-that he
lays righteousness to the line and
judgment to the plummet.' Let us do
the same. That great wrong. hath
been done is evident to every mind.
1t is not meet that such wrongs should
go unpunishedl These two transgres-
sosr have suffered: but who believes
that such wrongs may justly be so
soon followed by felicity? 1t would
be an encoura cement to evil-doers and
a premium upon vice! Who would re-
frain from violently rending the mar
riage bonds or sundering any sacred
tie, If in few short months the fruit
of the guilty deed might be eaten in
peace by the culprit? What assurance
may we have that the lesson which has
hJ,f v.Ho toll ~ 10
guilty heart may not be obliterated in
the enjoyment Of triumph? Why
should these youths make such un-
seemly haste? If they are indeed in
earnest to seek the truth and lay to
heart the meaning of this experience
into which their sinful hearts have led
them, let them of their own accord and
out of their humble and contrite hearts
devote a year to meditation and
prayer Let them show to others they
have learned that to live righteously
and soberly, and not to grasp i'll got
ten gains or enjoy unhallowed pleas
ures, is the chief end of human life!
The hour is ripe for such a demonstra-
tion. We have seen other evidences
among us of an unholy hungering after
the unlawful pleasures of life. 1t is
time that halt were called. If this
community is dedicated to righteous
ness then let US exalt the standard. 1t
is at critical moments like this that
history is made and character formed.
If we weaken now, If we permit our
hearts to overpower our consciences,
God will smite us with His wrath, vice
will rush upon US like a food, and we
shall be given over to the lust of the
flesh and the pride of life! To the law
and to the testimony, my brethren
This is my message This is the ad-
vice We have invited! Wait a year!
Watch and pray! Fit yourselves for
the enjoyment of your love by repent
ance."
The impression made by these SOL
emn words was tremendous. 1t was as
If eternity had suddenly dawned in
that dim-lit room, and the leaves of
the book of doom had been opened
y Upon Pepeeta this message had fall
fen like a thunderbolt. Her Oriental
imaginations her awakened conscience,
her throbbing heart had all been thrill
ed She did not move; her eyes were
still fixed on the prophet; her face was
white; her hands were clasped tightly
t1. her lap.
{. The demure Quaker maiden who had
looked love out of her dove-like eyes
three years ago when Pepeeta appear
ed for the first time among these quiet
folk, was in her old familiar seat. Her
life had never been the same since that
hour, for the man whom she loved
with all the deep intensity of which
heart so young, SO pure, so true was
had been suddenly stolen from
her by stranger. Her thwarted
love had never found expression, and
she had borne her pain and loss as
became the child Of religion of ST.
Ience, patience and fortitude. But the
wound had never healed, and now she
was compelled to be a sad and hope
les spectator of another scene which
sealed her fate and made her future
hopeless. Her bonnet hid the sad face
from view, as her heart hid its secret.
The soul of David Corson had passed
through one of those genuine and per-
manent revolutions which sometimes
take place in the nature of man. He
had completed the cycle Of revolt and
anarchy to which he had been con-
1emned by his Inheritance from a wild
and prohigate father. Whether that
lever had run its natural course or
whether as David himself believed, he
lad been rescued by an act of divine
inter- rention. 1t is certain that the
change was as actual as that which
.akes place when a grub becomes a
It was equally certain that
rom this time onward It was the men,
al and spiritual characteristics Of his
mother which manifested themselves in
lis spiritual evolution. He became his
rue self,-a saint, an ascetic, a mystic,
4 potential martyr.
When he rose to his feet. hts face
shining with an inward light and glow
ng with a sublime purpose, all be-
ieved that he was about to summon
Pepeeta to their marriage. What was
the astonishment, then, when In rapt /
words he began:
God has spoken TO us. my friends.
We have heard his voice. II is too
soon for me TO enjoy this blissl Yes,
| win waiti I viii dedicate this year
10 meditation and prayer. Pepeeta,
wilt thou join me IN this resolution7
II thou wilt, let the betrothal OF this
night be one OF soul to soul and both
our souls to Godl Give me thine hand"
Stili under the spell Of strange ap5r-