Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1911-07-04
BY THOMAS DIXON
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Copyright, 1911, by Thomas Dixon.
Pub. BY Doubleday, Page & Co., N. Y.

right
Absolutely wrong" he replied SLOW
ly. why the wicked prosper has new
er worried me in the least. The first
big religious idea I ever got hold OF
was that this is the best possible world
God could have created-because it's
free. Man must choose, otherwise his
deeds have no meaning. A deed of mine
is good merely because l have the
power to do it's opposite if l choose
In this free world step by step l can
rise or fall through suffering and
choosing"
"Oh, Jim," Nan broke in softly, 1--WE
made you suffer horribly. You have
the right to be hard and bitter"
But I'm not, Man," was the quiet
answer. i've been made generous
and warm and tender by disappoint-
ment. Through the gates of pain I've
entered into fellowship with my fell
lowmen, the humblest and the greatest
This sense of kinship has given me a
larger vision. I've learned to love all
sentient things. I've made friends with
all sorts and conditions of men, the
rich, the poor, the good, the bad. You
have taught me the greatest secret OF
life."
Il wish could blot out the memory
of the pain"
We'll, I'm glad you can't Life has
become to me thing so wonderful, so
mysterious, so beautiful-just life
within itself-Td live it all over again
if / could"
Every moment Of it?"
Every moment with every light and
shadow. It's glorious to live!"
solemn English butler entered and
announced dinner.
Seated by Mans side alone in the
great dining room, while servants in
gorgeous liveries hurried with soft
light football to do her slightest bid
ding, Stuart could scarcely shake off
the impression that he was dreaming.
Such pictures he had weaved in his
fancy the first wonderful days of their
conscious love-life. But it seemed GEN.
turies ago now. They had both died
and come to life again in a new mys-
yet a stranger and Nan at home. The
splendors of the stately room pleased
his poetic fancy and in spite of his
hostile effort he had to confess in his
heart that Mans magnificent figure
gave the scene just the touch of
queenly dignity which made it perfect.
He tried again and again to recall the
girl he had known in the old days, but
the vision faded before the dazzling
light of the present.
He looked at Nan cautiously and be-
gan to study her every word and move
ment and weigh each accent. Did she
mean what her words and tones i'm
piled? In a hundred little ways more
eloquent than speech she had said to
him tonight that the old love of the
morning of life was still the one living
thing. Did she mean it or had she
merely planned another triumph for
her vanity in his second conquest,
knowing that his high sense of honor
would hold him silent and yet her
her to little tests to try the genuine
ness of her feeling. He threw off his
restraint and led her back to the scenes
of their youth. With a frankness that
delighted her he told Of his own strug-
giles of the past nine years and watch
ed with patient furtive care for every
tone of feeling she might betray
When dinner ended, she was leaning
close, her eyes misty with tears, and
a far-away look in them that told OF
memories more vivid and alluring than
all the splendors of her palace.
Stuart drew a breath of conscious
Stuart drew a breath of conscious:
triumph and his figure suddenly grew
tense with a desperate resolution. But
only for a moment.
He frowned, looked at his watch
and rose abruptly.
Il must be going, Man," he said with
sudden coldness.
why, Jim." she protested. It's only
ten o'clock. l won't hear of such g
thing"
Yes, l must" he persisted. I've
an important case tomorrow. l must
work tonight"
You shall not go!" Nan cried. I've
waited nine years for this one even
ings chat with you. Cal has told me
of his offer. It's the most generous
thing he ever did in his life. l know
the kind of fight going on in your
heart. Come into the music room, sit
down and brood as long as you like
I've planned to charm you with an ole
accomplishment of mine tonight"
She led him to a rich couch, piled
the pillows high, made him snug, drew
a harp near the other end, and begar
to tune it's strings.
Stuart gazed at the mural paintings
in the ceiling and in moment was lost
in visions of the future his excited fan
cy began to weave.
Mans fingers touched the strings ir
the first soft notes of an old melody
He woke with a start and looked al
her. What a picture she made, with
her full lips parted in a warm smile
her magnificent bare arms moving il
rhythmic unison with the music! II
just that pose he had seen her hun
dred times i'm the days when he called
her his own And now that he hao
lOst-her beauty had just reached the
full splendOr of perfection.
He closed his eyes to shut out the
picture and again the fight began 70!
the mastery of life.
A voice whispered:
Unless you are coward, grasp the
power that is yours by divine right OF
nature. Why should you walk while
pigmies ride? Why should you lag be-
hind the age in this fierce struggle fol
supremacy? The woman who sits be.
fore you is yours if you only dare tc
tear her from the man who holds hel
by the fiction Of dying customs!"