Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1910-01-06

| upon the walls of a 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 Per -ta,
who gazed around her in bewilder-
ment and asked in vague alarm,
Where am II"
Dorothea was by her side in an in
stant, 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 I ever been in this place be-
fore? Have l 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.
Il cannot tell thee whether thee has
ever seen us before, but we have seen
thee so much for a few days that we
feel like old friends" said Dorothea,
pressing the hand she held, and smil
ing.
Pepeeta's eyes wandered about the
room restlessly for a moment. and
then. some dim remembrance of the
past came back.
Did l come here in a great storm?"
she asked.
Thee did, indeed. The night was
wild and cold"
did l fall on the threshold?"
Upon the very threshold, and let us
thank God for that, because If thee
had 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 he?"
Il do not know who thee means"
said Dorothea, laying her hand on the
invalids shoulders and trying gently
to push her back upon her pillow.
David" she exclaimed, David Tell
me If you know, for it seems to me
shall die If l do not hear"
Il do not know, my love. 1t is
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 l will begin," Pepeeta
said and in 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 everywhere she could she
softened the wrong done by David. 1t
was long story and was interrupted
only by the ticking of the great clock
in the hallway, telling off the mo-
ments with as little concern as when
three years before it had listened to
the story told to David by his mother.
When the confession was ended the
tender hearted woman kissed the quiv-
ering lips.
Have you forgiven me?" Pepeeta
asked, Selling the face in her thin
hands and looking almost despairingly
into the great blue eyes.
CAS- l hope to be forgiven" Dorc' hea
answered. kissing her again and again.
A look of almost perfect happiness
diffused itself over the pale counten-
ance.
TT is too much-too much. How
can 1t be? 1t was such a great wrong!"
she exclaimed.
Yes, it was a great wrong. Thee
has sinned much, but much shall be
forgiven If thee is penitent, and l 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. 1t 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 it 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 name? What
shall we call thee?"
My name is Pepeeta."
And mine is Dorothea."
"Oh! Dorothea," Pepeeta exclaimed,
do you think we shall ever see him
agaln?"
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"
"Oh! how strong you are-how COM
forting. Yes, we will cherish hope,
and when I am well I will start out.
and search for him everywhere. 1 shall
find him. Ny heart tells me So
But thee is not well enough, yet"
DoTothea said, with kind smile, and
until thee Is, thee must be at rest in
thy soul and, abiding here with US.
await the revelation Of the divine
will"
"Oh, may I stay a little while7 It
| IL so quiet and restful here. feel like
a tired bird that has found a refuge
from a storm. But what will your
husband say. when he hears this
story7"
Thee need not be troubled about
that His door and heart are ever