The news=record. [volume] (Enterprise, Wallowa County, Oregon) 1907-1910, 1910-02-16
tion. my Lowell But it is too laes-too

led his face in the green turf and
burst into a convulsive passion of
tears. such tears as come once or
twice. perhaps, in the lives Of most
men, when they are passing through
the awful years Of adjustment to the
incomprehensible and apparently cha
otic experiences of existence.
Like thunderstorm, these convul-
sions clear the atmosphere and give
relief to the strained tension of the
soul. At length, when his emotion had
spent itself In long drawn sighs. Da-
vid rose In a calm and tender frame
of mind. plucked a bunch of violets
from the grave and reluctantly turned
away.
On foot. and leading his horse, he
entered a quiet and secluded path
which led past the rear of the farm.
He had not consciously determined
what he should do next; but his heart
impelled him irresistibly toward that
little bridge where he had encountered
Pepeeta on his return from the lum-
Der camp. 1t was at that place and
that hour, perhaps, that he had passed
through the deepest experience of his
whole life for it was there that the
full power of the beauty of the woman
In whom he had met his destiny had
burst upon him. and 1t was there that
for the first time he had consciously
surrendered himself to those rich emo
tions which love enkindles in the soul.
He threw the horses bride over the
limb of tree, leaned over the hand
rail Of the bridge and looked down In
to the water. The stiffness of the
world, the slumber-song of the stream,
the haunting power Of the past super
induced mood Of abstraction 30 COM
mon in other, happier days.
Oblivious to all the objects and
events of that outside world, he stood
there dreaming of the past. While he
did so, Pepeeta, following her daily
custom, left the farm house to take
an evening walk. She also sought the
little bridge. Perhaps she was sum-
moned to this spot by some telepathic
message from her lover; perhaps 1t
was habit that impelled her. perhaps
1t was some fascination in the place
itself. She moved forward with the
quiet step peculiar to natures which
60 oShoAeiNO W tiO SiittlliI VI lIc BT6dL
solitudes Of the world, and came Noise
lessly out from the low buses behind
the lonely watcher AS she stepped
out into the road, she caught sight Of
the solitary figure and her heart, an
ticipating her eye in its swift recognt-
ton, throbbed so violently that she
placed her hand on her bosom. as IL
to still It.
David" she said, in low whisper
She paused to observe him for a
moment and, as he did not stir, began
to move quietly towards him as he
stood there motionless-a silhouette
against the background of the darken-
ing sky. She drew near enough to
touch him; but so profound was his
reverie that he was oblivious Of her
presence. 1t could not have been long
that Pepeeta waited. although It SEEM
ed ages before he moved. sighed and
breathed her name.
She touched him on the arm. He
turned, and SO met her there, face to
face.
1t was an experience too deep for
language, and their emotions found ex-
preston In single simple act. They
clasped each others hands and stood
silently looking into each others eyes
| After many moments of silence David
asked: why do you not speak to me-
| Pepeeta2"
MY eyes have told you all," she
said.
But what they say is too good to
| be believed! You must confirm their
mute utterance with living word" he
cried.
Il love you, love you. love you." she
replied.
You love mel I bless you for It
| Pepeeta, but there is something else
that must know"
What can It bef Is not everything
comprehended in that single word7 Il
is embracing as the air 1t enfolds
life as the sky enfolds the worldi"
"Ahi Pepeeta, you loved me when
we parted, but you did not forgive
mel"
| She dropped her eyes.
| "Have you forgiven me now?"
TT is not true that did not forgive
you." she replied. looking up at .his
face again. There has never been ir
my heart for single moment any
sense Of q wrong which I could no,
pardon. It has been one of the awfu
mysteries of this experience that !
could not feel that wrongI When !
tried to feel 1t most. my heart woult
say to me, you are not sorry that hs
loved you. Pepeetal You would rathe,
that all this agony should have be.
fallen you than that he should MOI
have loved you at ALT 1t is this feel.
ing that has bewildered me, David
Explain II to me. Let me know how
could have such feelings In my hear,
and yet be good. 1t seems as II |
ought to hate you; but I cannot
love you. love you. love you"
But Pepeeta. If you loved me. why
did you leave me? do not compre.
hend. How could you let me stand ir
the darkness under your window and
then turn away from 1t into the awfu
blackness and solitude to which
| fiedf"
do not reproach me. I thought n
was my duty. David"
Il do not reproach you. only wan
to know your inmost heart"
Il do not knowi There has been al
the time something stronger than my.
self impelling me. I grew too weak Il
reason ! felt that the heart had rea,
sons of Its own. too deep for the mint
to fathom. and yielded to them
-