Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1910-01-07

the souls of listeners with a sort or
terror.
w did not seek to try this cause
he said. ut was brought before US
by the wish of this sinful man him
self. But IL we must judge, let us judge
like God. We read of Him-that he
lays righteousness to the line and
judgment to the plummet.' Let us do
the same. That a great wrong hath
been done is evident to every mind
1t is not meet that such wrongs should
| go unpublished! These two transgrcs-
sosr have suffered; but who believes
that such wrongs may justly be so
soon followed by felicity? 1t would
be an encouragement to ~evil-doerS
Il premium upon vice. Who would re-
frain from violently rending the mar
riaEc bonds or sundcring any sacred
tie, if in a few short months the fruit
Of the guilty deed might be eaten in
peace by the culprit? What assurance
may we have that the lesson which has
been but superficially craven on this
guilty heart may not be Obliterated in
he enjoyment of triumph? Why
should these youths make such un-
| seemly haste? If they are indeed in
earnest to seek the truth and lay to
| heart the meaning of his experience
Ill WHICH llltlt II'tiA 20 = ~
them, let them of their own accord and
out of their humble and contrite hearts
devote a year . to meditation and
praye Let them show to others they
have learned that to live righteOusly
and soberly, and not to grasp m-got-
ten gains or enjoy unhallowed pleas
ures, is the chief end of human life!
The hour is ripe for such a demonstra-
ton. We have seen other evidences
among us OF ar unholy hungerinS after
the unlawful pleasures of life. 1t is
time that a halt were called. IF this
community Is dedicated to righteous
ness then let us exalt the standard. 1t
is at critical moments like this that
history is made and character formed.
If we weaken now, If we permit )u-
hearts to our co~nsciences,
God will snite us with His wrath, vice
will rush upon us like a flood, and we
shall be given over to the lust of the
fesh and the pride Of life! To the law
and to the testimony, my brethren
This is my MESSAGE! This is the adj
vice We have invited! Wait a year!
Watch and pray! Fit yourselves for
the enjoyment of your love by repent
ance."
The impression made by these SOL
emn words was emendous 1t was as
if eternity had suddenly dawned in
that dim-lit room, and the leaves of
the book of doom had been opened.
Upon Pepeeta this message had fall
len like a thunderbolt. Her Oriental
imagination, her waken conscience,
her throbbing hear had all been thrill
ed. She did not move; her eyes were
still fixed on the prophet; her face was
white; her hands We're clasped tightly
in her lap.
The demure Quaker nader who had
looked love out of her dove-like yes
three years ago when Pepeeta appear
ed for the first time among these quiet
folk, was in her old familiar seat. Her
life ha never been the same since thar
hour, for the man whom she loved
with all the deep intensity of which d
heart so young. so pure. so true was
capable, had been suddenly stolen from
her by a stranger. Her thwarted
love had never found expression, and
she nae borne her pain and loss as
became the child of a religion of 81
lence. patience and fortitude. But the
wound had never healed, and now she
was compelled to be a sad and hope
les spectator of another scene which
sealed her fate and made her future
hopeless. Her bonnet hid the sad face
from view, as her heart hid it's secret.
The soul Of David Corson had passed
through one of those genuine and per-
manent revolutions which sometimes
AXE place in the nature of man. He
had completed the cycle Of revolt and
anarchy to which he had been ON
demned by his inheritance from a wild
and profligate father. Whether that
fever had run it's natural course or
whether as David himself believed, he
had been rescued by an act of divine
Intervention, it is certain that the
change was as actual as that which
takes place when a grub becomes a
butterfly. 1t was equally certain that
from this time onward it was the men,
tai and spiritual characteristics of his
mother which manifested themselves In
his spiritual evolution. He became his
true self,-a saint, an a%scetic, a mystic.
a potential martyr.
When he rose to his feet, his face
shining with an inward light and glow
ing with a sublime purpose. all be-
lieved hat he was about to summon
Pepeeta to their marriage. What was
the astonishment, then, when In rapt
words he began:
God has spoken to us, my friends.
We have heard his voice. 1t Is too
soon for me to enjoy this bliss! Yes,
1 will wait! I will dedicate this year
to meditation and prayer. Pepeeta,
wilt thou join me in this resolution?
II thou wilt, let the betrothal of his
night be one OF soul to soul and both
our souls to God! Give me thine hand"
Still under the spell of strange spir-
itual emotions to which her sensitive
spirit vibrated like the strings of an
Aeolian harp, Pepeeta rose, and, plac-
ing her hands in those of her lover.
looked up into his face with a touch
ing confidence. an almost adoring love.
1t was more like the bridal of two
pure spirits than the betrothal of a
man and woman!
Not one of those who saw il has
ever forgotten that strange scene; it
is a tradition in that community until
this day. They felt, and well they
might. those TRANCE people who had
dedicated themselves and their chill
dren to the divine life, that in this
scene their little community had at
tanned the zenith of its spiritual his
tory.
No wonder that from an English
statesman this eulogy was once
wrung: w cannot afford to prosecute
the GuakeFs: Their religion may be
wrong. but the people who cling to an
idea are the very people we want. II
L