El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-05-18
THE GRO IS
(By johann Aho.)

w row path leading from the vii
lage to the parsonage. He did not slow
down until he was quite close to the
parsonage. for he wanted to enter 1t
without attracting any attention.
Everyone was still asleep at the par
sonage, except the old minister, VINO
had Just opened a window and was en-
joying the crisp morning air, and who
hurried to open the door to his early
visitor.
The old man entered quickly. He was
all out of breath as he greeted the
minister and began with the words:
Now she has done it! Now she has
done it, She has done what she has
long threatened to do"
rs it about his wife that Anti wants
to speak to ne?"
Yes. 1t Is not the first time have
to speak to your reverence about her,
but in spite of all the good advice, you
have given me, matters have continual
ly been going from bad to worse. Sew
eral times she has tried to hit me with
a cane once she tried to poison me. but
this time she nearly succeeded in roast
ing me alive.
Roast you alive?"
YES Indeed she tried TO roast me
alive She piled some old brushwood
under the wooden stairs, set fire to 1t
and ran away She had locked the door
from the outside and must have felt
sure we would all be suffocated. But
I woke up I tried to break open the
door, but it was too strong. so had
to break window to get out and put
out the fire.
And you succeeded in putting it
out?"
Yes. in the last moment If the fire
had reached to the matched roof
u =,
The old minister, who had been lis
tening intently now asked:
And what do you intend to do?''
Il don't know That is why 1 came to
you. Should 1 not make 6 complaint to
the sheriff.
Have you any proof to show that
nobody but your wife could have done
this?"
Have I any proof?" Anti cried
Hasn't she threatened me a thousand
times in the presence of others, that
she would get the house on fire? Was
not the door locked, and had not she
gone away in the middle of the nfght?@
The minister saw that there could be
no doubt, and said gravely:
This crime must be punished and
the guilty one brought to justice. even
if she be your own wife. It is not only
your right, but wour plain duty to turn
her over TO the ponce, yOut uuly "
God as we'll as to men,"
Anti drew a sigh of relief at these
words and an expression Of happiness
came into his eyes.
Il can find someone to look after my
children who will take better care OF
them than she ever did. Didn't she al
ways neglect them?"
So it was decided that Anti must
swear out complaint against his wife
for arson and attempted murder. and
when he left the parsonage and started
for the sheriff's residence his heart
was lighter than for years.
To Anti this seemed like the dawn OF
a new life. from now on his days would
be full of peace and joy and his chill
dren would be brought up to become
good respectable law-abiding citizens.
He would no longer hesitate to ask his
friends to come to the house for the
weekly prayer meetings and perhaps
even old Paavo himself would consent
to come and say the prayers and read
the gospel to them. What if he went a
little out Of his way to tell the good
news to the kind old soul whoShad so
often comforted him during the lorF
hard wears Of trials and misery?
Paayo was sitting outside his cot
tage fastening his scythe to the hanole.
Anti went straight towards him ana
shook his hand warmly.
rs it good news you heve?' asked
Paavo.
I'm a way, yes-quite good"
Anti went on to tell what had hap
pened. When he had finished PaaTo
asked dryly:
And you are satisfied to know that
your wife will be arrested and sent to
PRISON."
Satisfied? Oh, I would not put it
that way exactly But what do you
think I ought to do then?"
You seem to think that you are doing
your duty, but really you are trying to
get rid of the cross the Lord has put
on your shoulder OF course your wife
is out of her mind sometimes and then
she does foolish things. OF course, she
is wrong, but dare you say that you are
not to blame yourself? 1 thought 1
knew you better, 1 thought you were a
good Christian and respectable man,
but 1 see you are as cruel and heart
less as a heather Go to the sheriff, IL
your conscience tells you to do so. but
do not come here trying to make me
believe that your behavior is dictated
by unselfish reasons"
But she wanted to burn me alive,
and the children besides"
but she did not burn anybody. II
1t hd0 D6en 600 WILL YOU WOAAO nov Z
persisted"
Anti sat down on a stone in silence.
why must I carry this cross OF sor-
row all my life?" he sighed.
Garry the cross that has been laid
upon your shoulder" said Paavo.
It was in a state of great depression
that Anti left Paavo's cottage and
started for his home He was sad be-
cause he had found out that his con-
science had such blind spot, because
his heart had become SO hardened that
he had been ready to sacrifice the free
dom of his own wife to secure his own
happiness, his own welfare, he had been
on the point of running the life of an
other human being, even trying TO
make himself believe he was doing
something that would please God
He sat down on a tree trunk and
stared into the moss at his feet He
strained his ears, ell was silent around
him and within himself was silence, too.
But suddenly he heard his own soul
speak:
You have committed great sin and