The news=record. [volume] (Enterprise, Wallowa County, Oregon) 1907-1910, 1910-01-19

uhiatHoHldDle dDySSeS Wnere Sne naQ
been wandering, she opened her eyes
upon the walls of little chamber that
looked out through an alcove into the
living room of the Quaker house.
The silence was suddenly broken by
voice feeble and tremulous. but very
musical and sweet. 1t was Perneta,
who gazed around her in bewilder-
ment and asked in vague alarm,
Where am II"
Dorothea was by her side in an in
slant, and taking the thin fingers in
her strong hands. replied: Thee is
among friends"
Pepeeta looked long into the calm
face above her. and gathered reassur-
ance; but her memory did not at once
return.
Have ever been in this place be-
fore? Have I ever seen your face +?
Has something dreadful happened? :?
Tell me-" she entreated, gazing with
agitation into the calm eyes that look
ed down into hers.
i cannot tell thee whether thee has
ever seen us before, but we have seen
thee SO much for a few days that we
reel like old friends" said Dorothea,
pressing the hand she held, and smil-
ing.
Pepeeta's eyes wandered about the
room restlessly for moment, and
then some dim remembrance of the
past came back
Did l come here In great storm ?"
she asked.
Thee did, indeed. The night was
wild and cold"
Did I fall on the threshold?"
Upon the very threshold, and let us
thank God for that, because IL thee
mad fallen at the gate or In the path
we should never have heard thee"
Pepeeta struggled to a sitting pos
ture as her memory clarified, fixed her
wide open eyes upon Dorothea and
asked. pathetically. Where is her"
i DO not know who thee MEANS"
SAID Dorothea, laying her hand on the
inVanos shoulders and trying gently
to push her back upon her pillow
David" she exclaimed, David Tell
me II you know. for 1t seems to me 1
shall die If I do not hear"
Il do not know, my love. II ia a
long time since we have heard from
David. But thee must lie down. Thee
is not strong enough to talk"
Are we alone?"
Yes. all alone"
We'll. thenI I will begin" Pepeeta
said. and In a voice choked with emo
ton, the poor sufferer breathed out
the tale of her sin and her sorrow.
She told all. She did not shield her
self and
sortened the wrong done by David. It
was long story, and was interrupted
only by the ticking of the great clock
In the halfway, telling Off the mo-
ments with as little concern as when
three years before 1t had listened to
the story told to David by his mother.
When the confession was ended the
tender-hearted woman kissed the ouiy-
ering lips.
Have you forgiven me?" Pepeeta
asked. SELLING the face in her thin
hands and looking almost despairingly
into the great blue eyes.
"As hope to be forgiven" Dorothea
answered. kissing her again and again.
look of almost perfect happiness
diffused itself over the pale counten-
ance.
1T is too much-too much. How
can 1t be? 1t was such great wrong!"
she exclaimed.
Yes. 1t was great wrong. Thee
has sinned much. but much shall be
forgiven II thee is penitent, and think
thee is. No love nor pardon should
be withheld from those who mourn
their sins. Our God is love! And SO
we are ignorant and frail. It is a
sad story. as thee says, but II is bet
ter to be led astray by our good pas
sions that by our bad. 1 have noticed
that 1t Is sometimes by our holiest in
stincts that we are betrayed into our
darkest sins! 1t was heavens bright
est light-the light of love-that led
thee astray, my child. and even love
may not be followed with closed eyes!
But thee does not need to be preached
to-"
Astonished at such an almost divine
insight and compassion, Pepeeta ex-
claimed. How came you to know SO
much of the tragedy Of human life. so
much Of the souls weakness and guilt;
you who have lived SO quietly in this
happy homer"
by consulting my own heart, dear.
We do not differ In ourselves SO much
as In our experiences and temptations.
But thee has talked enough about thy
troubles. Tell me thy namef What
shall we call theef'
MY name Is Pepeeta."
And mine IL Dorothea-'
"Ohl Dorothea," Pepeeta exclaimed,
do you think we shall ever see him
againf"
I cannot tell We had made MANY
inquiries and given up in despair. And
now when we least expected news, thee
has comel We will cherish hope
again. We were discouraged too cas-
ily."
"ohl how strong you are-how COM
forting. Yes. we win cherish hope.
and when I am well will start out.
and search for him everywhere. shall
md him. My heart tells me so.-
: But thee IL not well enough. YETI
Dorothea said. with kind smile. s.and
until thee IL. thee must be at rest In
thy soul and. abiding hero with us.
await the revelation Of the divine
~~fls