The news=record. [volume] (Enterprise, Wallowa County, Oregon) 1907-1910, 1910-01-26

him, the physical ruin which the ter;
ribie blow Of the stone, the subsequent
illness, and the ensuing poverty and
wretchedness had wrought. became
manifest. He experienced a sudden
relapse, and began to sink into an
ominous decline.
Even had he not known the secret
of his sorrow, 1t would have soon be-
come plain to his acute and watchful
nurse that some hidden trouble was
gnawing at his heart. for he was taci-
turn. abstracted and sometimes mo-
rose. He manifested no curiosity as to
the benefactor upon whose charity he
was living. but received the aims be-
slowed by that unknown hand unsolic-
tied, uncomprehended and unobserved.
His mind. aroused by the converse
ton OF his untiring nurse to the reali-
ties Of the present existence. would
sink back by sort OF irresistible
gravity into the realm of memory.
There, in the impenetrable privacy Of
his soul. he brooded over his wrongs
and counted his prospects Of rightins
them. as a miser reckons his coins.
The blow struck by David had stun
ned the doctor, but had not killed him.
He lay in the road until slave, pass
ing that way, picked him up and car
ried him to neighboring plantation.
where he fell into the hands Of people
who in the truest sense Of the word
were good Samaritans. Their hospital
ity was tested to the utmost for he
lay for weeks in stupor. and when he
recovered consciousness his reason had
undergone strange eclipse. For q
long time he could not recall single
event In his history and when at last
some Of the most prominent began to
represent themselves to his view 1t
was vaguely and slowly. as mountain
peaks and hill l-tops break through a
morning mist. This was not the only
result Of the blow which his rival had
struck him 1T had left him totally
blind.
Not until many weeks had passed
did Mantel succeed in really engaging
his patient In anything like CONVEX
| sation, and even after he had begun to
| thaw little under those tactful --'--
istrations of love, whenever the past
was even limited at the old recluse re-
| lapsed instantly into silence.
Mantel might have been discouraged
had he not determined at all hazards
to enter into the secrets Of this life.
and to pave the way for the forgive-
ness of his friend. He therefore per-
sisted in his efforts, and one bright
day when the invalid was feeling un-
usually strong ventured to press home
his inquiries.
/ m, h1Ix ~ LII fA aAlA
that you could soon be reasonably
well again II you did not brood SO
much. fear there is some trouble
gnawing at your heart"
There is" he was answered. icily.
Have you wronged some one, then,
and are these thoughts which vex you
feelings of remorse and guilt?"
"Wronged some one!" the sick man
fairly roared. gripping the arms of his
chair and gasping for breath in the
excitement which the question brought
| on. mot I! I have been wrongedl
No one has ever b-b-been wronged as
/ have. have nourished vipers In my
b-b-bosom and been stung by them.
I have sown love and reaped hate. !
have been robbed, deceived and betray-
ed! My wife is gone! My health is
gone! My sight is gone! He has
skinned me like sheep! My heart
has turned to hammer which knocks
at my ribs and cries revengel 1t CHI
h-chokes mel"
He gasped, grew purple in the face
and clutched at his collar as II about
to strangle. After while the par
oxysm passed away, and Mantel deter
mined once more to try and assuags
this implacable hatred
Ito be continued.)