The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1910-02-24

"Do you bciicpc srhcs rou arc telling me,
Jirsn S.lsnigr
about that. .tr I've looked up the rec
ord he's made siilce you've been sepa.
rated. Not only that. hut he loves you
more than ever. That's gospel truth.
too. know"
''F6rgive and forget. Yes. l have
forgotten. and osllyion enshrouds for.
giveness with II. Joseph Brooks II
dead. as dead for me as though he
were In his grave Il have even ceased
to bear his name. Sometimes I have
wondered II he ever existed II | re.
member him Il Is as one recalls a night.
mare from which one Is glad TO have
awakened
She laughed little ulrthlcss laugh
and, piucking fern branch. began to
pick the fronds from II nervously. let
ting them fell TO the ground.
That's all very well. Emma" he
objected gently. but Joe Is none the
less very much alive, and he'll your
husband. You mustn't forget that
ever And he's all right. I honestly
believe. II he did fall into temptation
lie meant well. He thought he could
put the money back easily enough.
and he wanted you 70 have mere com
fort and be happy. The best Of Us
ain't no better than we. should be II
you come right down 10 the contem.
plation of the naked fact. You know
that the book says. There Is not q
just man upon earth that doeth good
and sinneth not To me the man who
= real sorry for having done wrong.
especially when his wrongdoIng had
such a pardonable motive as Joe's had.
is as good as he was before he did the
thing
~You are the one man I know whom
] would never have suspected 81 bar.
boring a treasury OK such hofncly plat.
itudes." she said scornfuily.
III Il were Only a question Of for.
giving man who had slnned 50 weak.
~ as that. but Il lsnf.'. he went ON.
More Is involved his absolutlon and
salvation by duty II not by lorc. En-.
ma. you are Joe Brooks wife. You
took oath before Gca-and you meant
1t then--fo stick by him IN adversely
as In prosperity. 20 help him IN time
Of 'Souble. Your place Is By his side
now. Yours Is the only hand that can
guide him right"
She rose and placed both ~ her little
gioved hands on his shoulders aud
looked into his eyes.
"Do you believe what ron are tellIne
me. JImsy smiihy' she askei gently
DO y0u. speaking from your lnmosi
heart. order me TO return 10 the arms
Of that mnny'
lie rose. holding her wrists armly
against his shoulders and speaking
with intense earnestness:
Emma. there are some things on
This earth that we're called on 10 do.
ordained Ivy an all wise and mercIful
Providence. We may not like 10 do
them, but II Is not matter % IncIIna.
ton. We have 20 make our decisions
by the rule OF right or wrong. Is I'll
right or Is II wrong7 It's an arbitrary
rule. but I guess Il works OUT for the
best in the end. u has always seemed
10 me 70. Therefore I say 20 back 10
Joe. your husbaiid. Joe pleads 20 your
heart that was his. Tell her he said.
that I'm more sorry than I can ex.
press: that I'm sorry and miserable. |
Tell her that there Il no light ia life |
without her, Those were about his |
words"
He released her wrists. she had lis. |
'ened 20 him nc the last with averted |
face that was bloodiess AMI looked |
chastity under It's coat u sun tad. She /
walked away wrestling with herself.
Smith stood rs Impassiye as fate. |
But on his brow a dampness had gath
red. and she had seen the sweat beads |
'oze there a. he spoke.
The little cool clad form with its |
'ilnging skirt returned slowly.
"Jimsy. why did he charge poa 10
Ell me these thlngsT'
Why ! don't know. Because I'm
lis friend and yours. I suppose. Be.
'ause there was no one elss could DO
{"
And. like the good man you are.
'ou were governed IN your decision By
be- rule Of right and wrong.
"That was about n. IL you cut out
be qualification of me-"
and, having been Influenced to AZ.
uine this role Of ambassador By a
'efse Of duty and loyalty. feeling
~ nd TO do 80 for the very reason that
you'd have ccterrcd man OF onII.
any moral cnlibcr. yUu wonid have
dtored 70 ~ rule though every word
I your couiisel bad been 90 you as tls !
ear of q While bot iron ard its utter.
nes had been DEATH
f'r The first time m her life she saw
lo1k Of sicfincfs PISS over bis face.