Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1910-02-10
CHATTER XXI.

few months, and as he did so she dreN
In short breaths or long inspiration
as the story shifted from phase t
phase, and when at last he had fin
lshed, she clasped her hands and gaze
up into the depths of the sky witt
eyes that were swimming in tears.
Poor doctor poor old man." Pepee
ia sighed at last. "Oh! How we hav,
wronged him, how we have made hin
suffer He was always kind! He wa,
rough, but he was kind OH VIII!
could / not have loved him? But
did not, I could not My heart was
asleep. 1t had never once walked from
its slumber until it heard your voice
David And. afterwards-well I coulC
not love himl But why should we
have wronged him so? How base II
was! How terrible! l pity him.
blame myself-and yet I cannot wish
him back. What does all this mean
for us, David? Perhaps you can see
the light now, as you used to! l think
trom your face and your voice that
you are your old self again. oh! If
you can see that inner light once
more, consult it. Ask 1t if there is
any reason why we cannot be happy
now? Tell it that your Pepeeta is too
weak to endure this separation any
longer, am only a woman, David
cannot any longer bear life alone. 1
love you too deeply. l cannot live
without you"
Waiting long before he answered as
If to reflect and be sure, David said
quietly but confidently, "Pepeeta, I
cannot see any reason why we should
not begin our lives over again, start
Ing at this very place from which we
made that false beginning three long
years ago. We cannot go back, but,
In a sense, we can begin again"
But can we really begin again p
she asked. How is it possible? l do
not see! We are not what we were.
There is so much Of evil in our hearts.
We were pure and innocent three
years ago. Is it not necessary to be
pure and innocent? And how can we
be with all this fearful past behind
us? We cannot become children
again."
Il have thought much and deeply
about it," David responded II know
not what subtle change has taken
place within me, but 1 know that it
has been great and real My heart
was hard, but not it is tender. 1t was
full of despair, and now 1t is full of
hope. l am not as innocent as 1 was
that night when you heard me speak
In the old Quaker meeting -house or
rather I am not innocent in the same
way. My heart was then like a spring
among the mountains! it had sort of
virgin innocence. l had sinned only
In thought, and in the dreamy imagi-
nations of unfolding youth 1t is diff
ferent now; a whole world of realized,
Actualized evil lies buried in the depths
of my soul. 1t is there, but it is there
only as a memory and not as living
force. There must in some way. 1
cannot tell how, be a purity of guilt
as well as of innocence, and perhaps
II Is a purity of a still higher and
finer kind There was a peace of
mind which l had as an innocent boy,
Which l do not possess now; but
have another and deeper peace. There
was childish courage; but it was the
courage of one who had never been
exposed to danger. There is another
courage in my heart now, and it is
the courage of the veteran who has
barred his bosom to the foei l know
not by what strange alchemy these di-
verse elements of evil. can have be-
come absorbed and incorporated into
this newer and better life, but this l
DO know, and nothing can make me
doubt it-that while I am not so good
yet l am better; while l am not SO
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I think we can go back on our track
We can be born again! We can once
more be little children. feel myself
q little child tonight who, few
days ago, was like an old man, bowed
and crushed under a load of wretched-
ness and miseryl God seems near to
me; life seems sweet to me. Let us
begin again, Pepeeta. We have trav-
eled round a circle, and have come |
back to the old starting point. Let us
begin again"
"Oh David" she said, kissing the
hands she held; how like your old |
self you are tonight Your words Of |
hope have filed my soul with joy. Is
at your presence alone that has done
IT, or is IT Gods, or is 1t both? A
has come over the very world |
around us. All is the same, and yet
all is different. The stars are bright
er. The brook has a sweeter music.
There is something of heaven in this
cup you have put to my
tipsi / seem to be enveloped by a
spiritual presence! Hush! Do you
hear voices?"
The excitement had been too intense
for this sensitive woman to endure
with tranquility. Her heart, her con-
science, her Imagination had suffered
an almost uncomfortable strain. She
flung herself into the arms Of her lover
and trembled upon his breast, and he
held her there until she had regained
her composure.
DO you really love me YETI" she
asked, at length, raising her face and
gazing UP into his with an expression
In which the simple affection of a lit
tie child was strangely blended with
the passionate love Of an ardent and
adoring woman.
Love youi" he cried; your face has
been the last vision upon which ! |
Eszed when fell into a restless slum>
her, and the first which greeted re-
turning consciousness. when I walked
from my troubled dream. Ny life has
been but a fragment since we parted;
a part Of my individuality seemed TO
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