The Whitefish pilot. [volume] (Whitefish, Mont.) 1904-current, 1910-03-03

John w. Harding
Copyright, 1908. by 6. W. DillinS-
ham Co.

She did not finish the sentence, but
sat gazing at him with wide eyes.
stark with agony and amaze.
II guessed you'd be kind Of sur
prised to hear from him. Since you
left Joe he's been leading a strictly
honest life. He has good job in a
bank at good salary, has saved mon
ey, and all he wants is for you to for
give and forget and start over again.
Joe's all right now, there's no doubt
about that, for I've looked up the rec
ord he's made since you've been sepa-
rated. Not only that, but he loves you
more than ever. That's gospel truth,
too, know"
Forgive and forget! Yes, I have
forgotten, and oblivion enshrouds for
giveness with it. Joseph Brooks is
dead, as dead for me as though he
were in his grave. have even ceased
to bear his name. Sometimes l have
wondered If he ever existed. If re.
member him it is as one recalls night.
mare from which one is glad to have
awakened"
She laughed a little mirthless laugh
and, plucking a fern branch, began to
pick the fronds from it nervously, let
ting them fall to the ground
That's all very well, Emma" he
objected gently, "but Joe is none the
less very much alive, and he is your
husband. You mustn't forget that
ever. And he's all right, l honestly
believe. If he did fall into temptation
he meant well. He thought he could
put the money back easily enough,
and he wanted you to have more COM
fort and be happy. The best Of us
amt no better than we should be If
you come right down to the contem-
plation of the naked fact. You know
that the book says. There is not a
just man upon earth that doeth good
and sinneth not To me the man who
is real sorry for having done wrong,
especially when his wrongdoing had
such pardonable motive as Joe's had,
is as good as he was before he did the
thing"
"You are the one man know whom
I would never have suspected Of har-
boring treasury Of such homely plat
itudes," she said scornfully.
"If it were only a question Of for
giving man who had sinned SO weak
~ as that, but it isn't" he went on.
"More is involved-his dissolution and
salvation by duty If not by love. EN-
ma, you are Joe Brooks wife. You
| took oath before God-and you meant
1t then-to stick by him in adversely
as in prosperity, to help him in time
Of trouble. Your place is by his side
now. Yours is the only hand that can
guide him right"
She rose and placed both Of her little
gloved hands on his shoulders and
looked into his eyes.
do you believe what you are telling
me, Jimsy Smith," she asked gently
"Do you, speaking from your inmost
heart order me to return to the arms
Of that MANI"
He rose, holding her wrists firmly
against his shoulders and speaking
with intense earnestness:
Emma, there are some things OF
| this earth that we're called on to do
ordained by an all wise and mercifu
Providence. We may not like to d.
them, but it Is not a matter of inclina
ton. We have to make our decisions
by the rule Of right or wrong. Is j
right or is it wrong? It's an arbitrar!
rule, but l guess it works out for tn
best in the end. 1t has always seemet
to me SO. Therefore l say go back t.
Joe. your husband. Joe pleads to you
heart that was his. Tell her. he said
that I'm more sorry than l can ex
} press; that I'm sorry and miserable
Tell her that there is no light in lif
without her. Those were about hi
words"
He released her wrists. She had lis
. tened to him at the last with averte
face that was bloodless and locke
CHASTITY under it's coat Of sun tan. Sh
walked away wrestling with herself
Smith stood as impressive as fat'
But ON his brow u dampness had gail
, cred, and she had seen the sweat beaC
ooze there as he spoke.
r The little cool clad form with ii
clinging skirt returned slowly.
"Jimsy, why did he charge you
tell me these things?'
"Why? l don't know. Because II
his friend and yours, l suppose. B.
cause there was no one else could
g it."
"And, like the good man you ar
:. you were governed in your decision b
the rule Of right and wrong"
"That was about it, If you cut o,
the qualification Of me-"
"And, having been Influenced to a
), sumo this role of ambassador by
sense Of duty and loyalty. feelin
bound to do SO for the very reason thu
would have deferred man of ord
!, nary moral caliber, you would hay
a adhered to the rule though every VOL
;, Of your counsel had been to you as Il
scar Of a white hot iron and its ute
T.