The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1910-06-23

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Il do not fear now" he said. Il
am like the man they sing about
I fear no foe in shining armCr
bright can face anything. Olive,
there is no happier man in the world
than /; nay, nor half so happy.
| fel as though | We're king of
the world Now let us talk quietly" d"
He sat down by her side, and
looked steadily into the fire Out
side the wind walled its way across
the park, but he did not seem to
heed it. The flames from a log of
wood in the CRATE shot up the
/ chimney. and although he seemed
to be gazing at them he did not
see them.
IT'S all so wonderful he said.
What is, Radford?"
MY happiness. | am not worthy
OF it. Yes | have been bad fellow.
! No, | have not been the wild rake
about town, my vices have lot run
4 in that direction. But | have been
selfish brute; I've been fellow
without hope, mercy or faith. I've
cared nothing for others. If "A man
stood in my way, I've showed him
aside. I've seen only the worst in
life, and I've acted on what | saw.
| was drink-sodden, too. was
slave to vile habit. But for the
fact that drink made no visible inn
preston upon me, | should have
been one OF those drunken sots that
have to be put to bed every night.
l.y.l In,
No. | scornei God, and religion, and
morality, and | sold myself TO the
devil of my own selfishuess. Yes,
did, know it. And yet you love
me You, you. of all women, YOU
Yes, she replied. and there was
an uneasy look in her eyes, but
you have repented, Radford"
And ii | had not?'
Then, she said, Il would not
have promised to marry you
You mean that?"
Yes, ! mean that. | could never
truly love a man whom | did not
respect And | could not resepct
such a man as you were, no matter
how clever | might think you to
be. Even although | might love a
bad man, ! would never marry MIN
He knew she meant what she
said. aud while it saddered him,
it made him rejoice also. She had
driven all his old theories to the
winds. Whatever might be true with
other women, this woman was
prompted by true thoughts, inspired
by high ideals
He was silent for a while.
Yes" he said presently, ami you
are right. What you say is right.
And | want to believe, Olive some
times | do, do now And want
to be "A good man, yes, good man.
You'll help me, wont you?'
I'm do all that a woman may,
Radf rd; but only God can make
man truly good"
It's wonderful, that Christian sto-
~" he said.
And you believe #, don't you,
Radford?"
Again he was silent.
Il will not tell lie even for you,
Olive he said. do | believe it?
Yes, in a way. | believe in its sub
lime ethics, | believe in Chirst-in
way. Oh, yes; He was a wonder
full man, aye, a Divine man. | be
lieve, too, that He has ennobled
the whole thought Of the world
about God but for the rest-l
don't know. Still, you know what |
promised you; if there's "A God, Iii
find Him. That is all | can say,
Olive, except that I'm going to try
to be a good man. Faith in man,
in human motives? Don't press me !
too hard, Olive. Are you cOntent?'
There was manifest sincerity in
his voice, his eyes We're love-lit. |
What wonder, then, that Olive con |
fessed her cortentment, and her hap
piness?
Shortly before midnight he left |
The Beeches. For an hour before /
he said goodnight he seemed to
forget all sad thoughts He talked !
cheerfully with John Castlemaine, /
and Mr.. Sackville, the minister OF
the church with which both Olive !
and her father were associated. AL |
dark clouds seemed to have lifted. |
In less than twelve hours from that
time he and Olive would be man
and wife. Before the next day had |
come 10 an end. they would be on |
their way to Italy, the land of sun /
shine and song The future revealed I
itself to him in glowing colors. He /.
saw himself climinb the hill of fame /.
with Olive by his side. 1t was al ,
most certain that the general cleo |
tion would take place in less than |
two months from that time, and |
even if it did not, it couli not be |
postponed later than the following /
autumn. Then he would enter Par .
lament, and after that his position .
was assured. Already the eX-Cabinet /
Minister who had spoken with him /
at Taviton had told him that he /
expected great things from him in /
the House, and had also suggested .
certain questiors to which he should .
give special attention. Moreover. .
they were questions in which Olive .
was deeply interested: housing the .
poor. the drink curse. and others
OF a similar nature.
These things" sail the eX-Cabi- .
net Minister. "are bound to be .