Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1910-01-27
CHAPTER xvIu-(Continued.)

tener was totally unprepared. The
speaker who had been exhorting his
audience upon the testimony of pro-
phet and apostle now appealed TO his
own personal experience.
Look at mel" he said. laying his
great hand on his broad chest Il was
once as hardened and desperate man
as any of you: but God saved me! See
this book!" he added, holding up the
old volume. Il will tell you story
about it. I found it in log cabin
away out in the frontier State Of Ohio
Listen, and I will tell you how. l had
left a lumber camp with company
Of frontiersmen one Sunday morning
to go to new clearing which we were
making In the wilderness. when l sud
denly discovered that I had forgotten
my axe. Swearing at my misfortune
l returned to get it. AS approached
the cabin which l had left few min
utes before, I heard a human voice. |
paused in surprise, crept quietly to the
doc rand listened. Some one was
talking in almost the very language
in which I have spoken to you l was
frightened and fled! Escaping into
the depths of the forest, lay down at
the root of a great tree, and for the
first time in my life I made silence
in my soul and listened to the voice
of God 1 know not how long l lay
there; but at last when I recovered
nv consciousness 1 returned to the
cabin. 1t was silent and empty; but
on the floor I found this book"
Great heaven!" exclaimed a voice
nj
the hearers that at this unexpected in
terruption the women screamed and
the men made a wide path for the fig
ure that burst through them and rush
ed toward the platform. The speaker
paused and fixed his eye upon the man
who pressed eagerly toward him.
Tell me whether a red line is drawn
down the edge of a certain chapter!
he cried.
1T is" replied the lumberman.
Then let me take it," exclaimed
David. reaching out his trembling
hands.
What for?"
Because it is mine am the man
who proclaimed the holy faith, and, |
God forgive me, abandoned it even as
you received it,"
The astonished lumberman handed |
him the Bible, and he covered 1t with |
kisses and tears. In the meantime, the |
crowd, excited by the spectacular ele-
ments of the drama. surged round the
actors, and the preacher, reaching
down, took David by the arm and
raised him to the platform.
BE quiet, my friends" he said, with
n of -ba, iS
prodigal has regained his composure
we will ask him to tell US his story"
OF what was transpiring around him
David seemed to be entirely uncon-
scious and at last the tickle crowd be-
came impatient
Whats de matter wild you?" said
sarcastic voice.
Speak out! Don't snufle" exclaim
ed another.
Tip US your tale" cried a fourth.
GO on Go on. We're waiting"
called many more.
These impatient cries at last arous-
ed David from his waking dream, he
drew his hand over his eyes, and be-
gan his story. For time the strange
narrative produced a profound impress
sion. Heads dropped as if in medi-
tation upon the mystery and meaning
of life; significant glances were ex-
changed; tears trembled in many eyes;
these torpid natures received a shock
which for a moment awakened them to
a new life.
But it was only for a moment. They
were incapable Of the sustained effort
of thought of ambition. or Of will. I'm
like those made on the soft folds of a
garment by the passing touch of a
hand
To their besotted perceptions this
scene was like a play In a Bowery
theater, and now that the dramatic de-
nouement had come they lost their in
terest and sauntered away singly or in
little groups In a few moments there
were only three figures left in the light
OF the flaming torch. They were those
Of the lumberman, David and Mantel.
who now drew near, took his friend by
the hand and pressed it with a gentle
Where did you come from p" asked ;
David. in surprise. as he for the first
time recognized his companion.
7 have followed you all the even
ing" Mantel replied.
Then you have heard the story Of
his book?"
7 have, and could not have believ-
ID it without hearing" g
can you spare US a little Of your
inner" said David, turning to the lum- q
5erman.
7 owe you all the time you wish }
snd all the service can render" he J
replied.
You have more than paid your debt }
by what you have done for me to-
hight, but who are your" c
I am only another voice crying in G
he wilderness" 7
How do you support yourself?" s
isked Mantel to whom such a man !
vas a phenomenon.
We do not any Of Us support our
selves so much as we are supported"
le replied. ,
And this life Of toll and self denial
lad its origin In those words I spoke
"a the empty lumber camp?" asked
David. incredulously. Z
1T is not a life Of self-denial. but I
hat was its beginning" c
1T is a mystery. ! lost my faith b
nd you found II, and now perhaps b
49, are going 10 give Il back again" b