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

that other service when David made
the address to which Pepeeta had MS
tened with such establishment and rap
ture. The entire community of Friends
was there, for even Quakers cannot
entirely repress their curiosity. Thefe
was evidence of deep feeling and even
OF suppressed excitement. The men IN
their broad-brimmed hats. the women
in the poke bonnets, moved with an
almost unseemly rapidity Trough the
evening shadows. The pairs ana
groups conversed in rapid. eager WIS
pers. They did not linger outside the
door, but entered hastily and took their
places as if some great event were
about to happen.
There was a preliminary service OF
worship, and according to custom, OPP
p%ortunity wa given for prayer or eX-
%hortation. But all minds were too IN
tent upon what was to follow to ena-
BILE them to take part with spirit. Inc
silences were frequent and tedious. Inc
young people moved restlessly on their
seats, and their elders rcbuked them
with silent glances of disapproVal- All
were in haste, but nothing can really
upset the gravity of these calm ana
tranquil people,, and 1t was not until
after a suitable time had elapsed that
the leader of the meeting arose ana
said: The time has arrived when Da-
vid and Pepeeta are at liberty to pro-
coed with their marriage, unless there
be some one who can show just cause
why his rite should not be solem-
nized."
A futter ran through the assembly,
and n moment of waiting ensued; then
David rose, while every eye was liked
on him.
my friends" he said, in a voice
whose gentlcness and sweetness STIR
red their hearts; you have refrained
from inquiring into he story of my
life during the three years OF my abb
sence. I would be glad If I could with
hold It from your knowledge; but l
feel that I must make a confession OF
my sins"
In the death-like stiffness he began.
The narrative was in itself dramatic,
but the deep feeling of him who told
it, his natural oratory and the hear
ers' intent interest, lent to it a fasci-
nation that at times became almost
uncomfortable. Signs were often heard,
tears were %furtively wiped away, criti-
cism was disarmed, and the tenderness
Of this Illicit but passionate and de-
termined love, blinded even those calm
and righteous listeners to It's darker
and more desperate phases. BY an
almost infallible instinct we discover
true love amid fictitious. unworthy and
evil elements; and when seen there is
something so sublimely beautiful that
we PROSTATE ourselves before 1t and
believe against evidence. even, that
sooner or later it will ennoble and con-
secrate those who feel it.
When David had completed the mar
ratiye he continued as follows: 1T Is
now necessary that I should convince
you. II I can, that with my whole soul
I have repented of this evil that I have
done, and that ! have sought, and !
hope obtained, pardon for what Is ire
parable, and am determined to undo
what 1 can. 1t is with awe and graft
tude, my friends. that I acknowledge
the aid of heaven From the logical
and we'll deserved consequences of this
sin l did not escape alone! I was
snatched from it like a brand from the
burning! No mortal mind could have
planned or executed my salvation. 1t
is marked by evidences of Divine pow
err and wisdom. Through a series of
experiences almost too strange to be
credible, 1 have been drawn back here
to the scenes of my childhood. to en-
counter the one ! have wronged and to
find myself, so far as I know. able not
only 10 make reparation. but to enjoy
the bliss of a love of which I am un-
worthy. II I were wise enough, I
would set before you the spiritual
meaning Of this terrible experience, but
I am not. Three years g I stood
here in boyish confidence and boldly
~expounded the mysteries of our human
life. It is only when we know nothing
Of life that we feel able to interpret
It'll Now that / have seen 1t, tasted 1t.
drunk the cup almost to the dregs-I
am speechless. Three facts. however.
stand out before my wisconsin. pun
tshment, pardon! I have sinned;
have suffered; I have been forgiven. l
have been fully %pardoned, but I feel
that l have not been fully punished!
There are issues of such an expert
ence as this tina cannot be brought
to light in a day. a year. perhaps not
in a lifetime. Whatever they are, I
must await them and meet them: but
"a IL is permitted a man to know his
own mind, when he Is determined so
to do, I know that I have turned upon
this sin with loathing! If God permits
me to live quietly and patiently among
YOU until l have so recruited my spir-
itual strength that I can go forth into
he great world of sorrow and of sin
which 1 have seen, and extend to 9TH
ers n hand of h~elpfulness such as was
stretched out to me at the moment of
my need; but II there is any one here
to who God has given a message for
me, whether it be to approve or con
denim my purse I trust that / shall
have grace to receive 1t meekly."
He took his seat, n 1t seemed for
a few moments that every person in
the room had yielded heart and judg-
ment to this noble n modest appeal.
But there was among them one whose
stern and u%nyielding sense of Justice
had not been appeased. He was a man
who had often suffered for righteous
ness sake and who attached more val
ne to the testimony of a clear con
science than to any earthly dignity.
He slowly and solemnly rose. His
form was like that of a prophet of an
cient days. His deep-set eyes glowed
like two bright stars under the cloudy
edge of his road-brimmed hat. His
face was emaciated with a self-denial
that bordered upon asceticism, and
wan with ceaseless contemplations of
the problems of life, death and immor-
talfty. Not a trace of tender emotion
was evident on features, which might
have been carved in marble. 1t was
1mnoSSihle tn connective that he had