The news=record. [volume] (Enterprise, Wallowa County, Oregon) 1907-1910, 1910-02-02
CHAPTER xvI1.-(Continued.)

CHAPTER XvII.-(Continued.)
To his own unbounted astonishment
this young man who had long ago
abandoned his faith In Christianity.
began to plead like an apostle for the
practice Of its central and fundamental
virtue
My friend" he said. with new SOL
emnity In his manner. you are on the
threshold of another world; how dare
you present yourself to the Judge of
all the earth with a passion like this
in your hearth"
In the momentary rest the beggar
had recovered strength enough to re-
ply: TT Is t-t-true. I am on the
threshold of another world! I didn't
use to bb-believe there was one. but /
do now. There must be! Would 1t
b-b-be right for such d-d-devils as the
one that wrecked my life to g-g-go un-
punished7 Not II 1 know anything!
They get away from US here, but II
eternity Is as long as they s-s-say 1t
is. I'll find D-D-Dave Corson II It TT
takes the whole of 1t. and when I 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'll"
With a 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 wrongf" David
Inquired. anxiously, as they entered
their room.
Casting himself heavily into q seat
and answering abstractedly, Mantel
replied" Each new day of life renders
1t more inexplicable. A man no soon
er forms a theory than he is compelled
to abandon It fear It Ia labyrinth
from which we shall none Of US es-
cape"
DO not speak in parallels" David
exclaimed. impatiently. IT anything
II the matter, tell me at once Do not
leave me In suspense. cannot endure
It Is he worse7 Is he dying7"
He is both, and more" Mantei an
swered. still unable to escape from the
gloom which enveloped him. II have
at last drawn from him a brief but
terrible allusion to the tragedy of your
lives"
What did he sayf 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"
"Horriblel" cried David, sinking in
to chair. Did he show no mercy I
Was there no sign Of pardon7"
None! Granite Is softer than his
heart Ice Ia warmer"
David rose and paced the floor
Pausing before Mantel, he said, pit
eously, Perhaps he will relent when
Pepeeta comesi"
"Perhapsi Have you heard from
herr"
mo, but her answer cannot be much
longer delayed. for have writer
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 IL long distance. She
may have changed her residence. She
may never 60 to the postoffice. She
may be sick"
"Or deadl" said Mantel. giving ex.
preston In two words to the fullness
Of his despair.
Impossible" exclaimed David, his
face blanching at this sudden articula.
ton 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 burdenet
for talk and they walked In silence
Arriving at the house. they ascendet
the stairs on tiptoe and paused to lis.
ten at the door. II viii leave It ajar
90 you may hear what he says, ant
then you can Judge II am right,
said Mantel. entering quietly.
| He approached the table and turnet
lup the lamp which he had left burnini
dimly. By its pale light David coult
see the great head lying on the pillow
the chin elevated. the mouth PARTIAL,
open, the breast heaving with tn,
painful efforts to catch few last nut.
tering inspirations. Nestling close I,
the ashen face and licking the cheel
now and then with his little rec
tongue. was the terrier.
Mantel's football. quiet an II was, dis
turbed the sleeper. who moved. turnet
his head toward the sound ana asket
In Q husky and but ,half-audibls voice
Who II thsrer"
TT Isl How are you nowr A iitti,
betterf- said Mantsl. laying his soft
sool hand upon the broad forehead d
vet already with the death damp.
Il am getting weaker. II won't-las
long" he answered painfully.
Il DO not want to bother you, but
,annot bear to have you die withou
talking to you again about your fu.
Iture; ! must try once more to Der.
suads you not to die without ssndin,
some kind word to the people VIII,
have wrongsd you"
The expression Of the white face un.
ierwent hideous transformation.
III you do not feel like talking to m,
sbout q matter 20 sacred and personal
would you not like to have me sent
Tor some minister or priestf-
The head moved slowly back anx
forth In . arm negation.
Tn every ago. and among ali men
4 has seemed hitting that those VIII,
we're about to die should mako som,
preparation to meet their God. Hav,
pu no desire to do THAI II there alb.
usl,,telv M word M M r{on or NJ Nina