Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1910-01-13

him. the physical ruin which the ter.
rtble blow Of the stone, the subsequent
illness, and the ensuing poverty anC
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, abstractAd 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 unsollc-
tied, uncomprehended and unobserved,
His mind, aroused by the conVersa-
| ton of his untiring nurse to the reali-
ties of the present existence would
| sink back by a 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 righting
them as a mlser reckons his coins.
The blow struck by David had stun
ned the doctor, but had not killed him.
He lay in the road until a slave, pass
ing that way, picked him up and car
ried him to a 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 a strange eclipse For a
long time he could not recall a 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-tops break through
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
saticn. and even after he had begun to
thaw a little under those tactful ~-'--
istrations of love, whenever the past
was even hinted 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.
Il cannot help thinking" he said, |
that you could soon be reasonably |
well again If 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?"
'FWronged 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. Not 1! l have been wronged |
No one has ever b-b-been wronged as
1 have. 1 have nourished vipers in my
BIB bosom and been stung by them.
I have sown love and reaped hate.
have been robbed, deceived and betray-
ed! My wife is gonel My health Is
gone My sight is gone! He has
skinned me like a sheepl My heart
has turned to a hammer which knocks
at my ribs and cries revenge! 1t CHI
ch chokes mel"
He gasped, grew purple in the face
and clutched at his collar as If about
to strangle. After a while the par
oxysm passed away, and Mantel deter
mined once more to try and assuage
this implacable hatred.
Ito be continued.)