Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1910-01-20
CHAPTER xvII.-CContinued.)

practice OF Its central and fundamar ia
virtue.
MY friend" he said with a new sol
emnity in his manner you are on tn
threshold of another world; how dar
you present yourself to the Judge 0
all the earth with a passion like thi
in your hearth"
In the momentary rest the beggaI
had recovered strength enough to re-
ply: 1T is t-t-true am on tht
threshold of another world! l didnf
use to b-b-believe there was one, but
do now. There must be! Would II
b-b-be right for such d-d-devils as the
one that wrecked my life to g-g-go un-
punished? Not if l know anything
They get away from us here. but II
eternity is as long as they ss-say il
is, I'll find D-D-Dave Corson If it TT
takes the whole of it, and when l If
find him" he paused again, gasping
and strangling.
And so you really mean to die with
out bestowing your pardon upon those
who have wronged your"
Il swear it,"
With heavy heart Mantel left him
and hurried home to report the inter
view to David. He found him just
returning from his work. and conveyed
his message by the gloom of his coun-
tenance.
Has anything gone wrong?" David
inquired, anxiously, as they entered
their room.
Casting himself heavily into a seat
and answering abstractedly. Mantel
replied" Each new day of life renders
1t more inexplicable. man no soon
er forms theory than he is compelled
to abandon it 1 fear it is a labyrinth
from which we shall none of US es-
cape"
DO not speak In parallels" David
exclaimed, impatiently IF anything
if the matter. tell me at once. Do not
leave me in suspense. cannot endure
it Is he worse? Is he dying?"
He is both, and more" Mantel an
swered. still unable to escape from the
gloom which enveloped him. Il have
at last drawn from him a brief but
terrible allusion to the tragedy of your
lives"
What did he say? Quick. tell mel"
He said that he had been wronged
by those whom he had benefited. and
that he would spend eternity in re-
Venging his wrongs"
'Horrible!" cried David, sinking In
to chair. Did he show no mercy?
Was there no sign of pardon ?"
None! Granite is softer than his
heart. Ice is warmer"
David rose and paced the floor.
Pausing before Mantel he said, pit
eously. Perhaps he will relent when
Pepeeta comes!'
"Perhapsl Have you heard from
herr"
mo. but her answer cannot be much
longer delayed. for I have written
again and again"
Something may have happened"
said Mantel, who had lost all heart and
hope
DO not say it." David exclaimed, be-
seechingly. TT is long distance. She
may have changed her residence. She
may be sick"
"Or dead" said Mantel, giving ex-
preston in two words to the fullness
of his despair.
-Tmpossiblel" exclaimed David, his
face blanching at this sudden articula-
tion Of the dread he had been strug-
Cling so hard to repress
They passed out into the night to-
gether and hurried away to the beg
gar's room. Each was too burdened
for talk and they walked in silence
Arriving at the house, they ascended
the stairs on tiptoe and paused to lis
ten at the door. Il will leave 1t ajar,
so you may hear what he says, and
then you can Judge If 1 am right"
said Mantel, entering quietly.
He approached the table and turned |
up the lamp which he had left burning
dimly. By its pale light David could |
see the great head lying on the pillow, |
the chin elevated, the mouth partially |
open, the breast heaving with the |
painful efforts to catch a few last hut- |
tering inspirations. Nesting close to |
the ashen face and licking the cheek |
now and then With his little red |
tongue, was the terrier.
Mantel's football. quiet as 1t was, dis
turbed the sleeper, who moved. turned |
his head toward the sound and asked
In a husky and but half-audible voice,
who is there?"
1T is L How are you now? A little |
better?" said Mantel, laying his soft,
rool hand upon the broad forehead.
wet already with the death damp.
Il am getting weaker. It won't-last
long" he answered painfully.
Il do not want to bother you, but I
cannot bear TO have you die without
talking to you again about your fu-
ture: I must try once more to per
suade you not to die without sending
some kind word to the people who
have wronged you"
The expression OF the white face un-
5erwent a hideous Transformation.
IF you do not feel like talking to me
about a matter so sacred and personal.
would you not like to have me send
for some minister or priest7"
The head moved slowly back and
forth in a firm negation.
Tn every age. and among all men.
Il has seemed fitting that those who
we're about to die should make some
preparation to meet their God. Have
Fou no desire to do this7 II there alb
solutely no word OF pardon or OF kind
ness which you wish L send TO those
who have injured you. as a sort Of leg
scy from the grave7"
''Nonsi" he whispered hercely.
Suppose that your enemy should