Rocky Ford enterprise., 1910-02-04
CHAPTER XVIII.

SgStAV ! En- ~S's
The day had been unusually warm
in the office. but otherwise no differ
ent from other days.
When Derring came home at night
he threw himself on the bed to rest
before dressing for dinner, 1t had
become a common thing for him to
stop to rest now and then during the
day-how common, even he himself
did not realize. He was less intro
spective than formerly. He worked
instead of speculating or dreaming.
When he found himself too tired to
work he rested for a little. as he
was doing now.
1t had taken him long to learn the
art of resting. But he had at last
gained the power to turn aside at any
moment from the rush OF life and
yield himself. body and mind. to a
quiet restfulness. :,
AS he lay in the half-darkened room.
his eyes closed. his breath coming
and going lightly between parted lips.
1t was easy to see that the past ten
years had not all been as peaceful as
this. The thick hair. pushed careless
ly back, was streaked with gray. The
exuberant vitality OF the face and
frame had given place to worn look
of passive strength. Ten years should
not SO change face were 1t not that
ten years. as men count time. are
sometimes a cycle.
Derring was not thinking Of the
past, however, nor of himself. lie
was resting. gaining strength for the
next work that lay before him.
At last he rose and began to move
about the room, making ready for din
ner. Suddenly he stopped. bewildered.
putting his hand to his head. What
had happened? A.. change too subtle
to be put in words had come over him
while he rested. He looked at his
face in the mirror. half expecting to
see some sign. II was not there. But
deep in his heart he felt 1t throbbing
thrilling. Life was. after all. worth
living! Nay. more. 1t was a wonder.
full. beautiful thing. The feeling did
not take words. 1t was too pervasive,
too complete. for that. No mere
thought could have carried such
weight OF conviction. 1t was too sim
pie for n chain OF reasoning. Yet II
carried belief. He had reasoned care
fully and logically to the opposite
conclusion. How was it?-Life could
not be worth living. Since there is
no permanent happiness. existence
has no reason for being rather than
for not being. and no certainty of m
outcome that shall Justify suffering
He smiled at his careful logic, swept
away by the force Of pure conviction
Life was worth living!
1t lay before him simple as day
light. and as clear. His mind rar
ahead. He must find the work hs
could do well. and do II. Herein lay
happiness. Then let him help Others
to find their place. He would have
| Joy OF heart and the purpose thai
makes life reasonable. II matteret
little about the Immortality Of the
soul Three-score years and ten wa,
Immortality. The structure of the
universe betrayed n master plan. Tc
live in unison with this plan. to aid
in its execution-if only for n few
years-was enough.
He turned to the window and. draw
lHE inc iooANu eeioso she
broken lines CT chimney-pots and roofs
to the western sky. His heart leaped
to meet II. Beauty had come back tc
the earth. He stood drinking II In
with the eagerness of a traveller who
sees home at last. He had not known
how his artist nature had hungeret
for It through the years. The tear
came into his eyes rs he looked. A
tangle OF chimneys and gables against
a twilight sky, but full Of subtle beau
ty. Would It stay with him?-Whert
had IL been? There in the outei
! world-but hidden from him becasst
he was unworthy? Or in his own sou
! languishing with its sickness? Ther
| in n moment 1t came to hint wa.
not in the world. nor In his soul. ],
was the soul itself coming to con
sciousness. recognizing itself. beh,Ad
ing its own features. as in glass
existence reaching rs highest form In
the consciousness of the soul Ht
stood awed before it II seemed tS