The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1912-04-25
no asnamen.- II was very ,onery.

| .Du1 MI tuNt IL e0OeO. raul.
! Sometimes life throws the prodigal
a line In Paul's case the line was his
sister. another astray under the curse
Of inherited temperament. whom b.
had found dying and hugging to her
heart child Of passion
"She died But | made those last
weeks easier for her. think. That
should count for something you
think so. katheen?'
"That should count for q great deal.
Paul"
/ IF only | could be of some use to
him: I'd like to be-" The humility sat
strangely on Paul.
"Ah. see you don't understand. He
needs all the help all of us can give
For William Murchell is dying. and
Bob must take his place"
He has risen high. am glad"
And she saw that be was sincere He
sat up suddenly, with despairing cry:
Kathleen. it's not possible! ! cant
stay. can't help him. can only
hurt him. Don't you see. I'll be re
hinder to him and to every one OF
what must be forgotten-that thing
his shame?"
But you don't understand" She
cried. what others think doesn't
count. He has never denied it. part
~. think. because he wouldn't shame
you before the people. As for him. it
wasn't his shame. He wasn't guilty"
ENTHUSIASTICALLY"
| Then to the bewildered Paul she told
the story Of the convention as she had
had 1t from Haggin.
1t was long before he answered. His
hands and face twitched continuously
Evidently his nerves were gone. 1t
was not easy. the thing required OF
him.
At last he opened his eyes. Its the
only thing to do"
She guessed what was in his mind
HE would never ask it. Paul"
Let us call Haggin and do it. Now
-tonight-while my courage lasts
Carrying the baby. she left him
alone in the library. When she re-
turned. after many minutes. she had
left the child asleep in the motherly
arms Of Norah.
Paul was lying in the chair in the
same attitude as when she had left
him. his eyes closed. He opened his
eyes and looked up at her question
ingly.
''They are coming now" she an.
swered Then she added abruptly. al
most sharply. Paul. it's only fair to
you to tell you that-that Bob and
Mrs. Gilbert She stopped az an
ruptly as she had begun.
He made no answer, and after
awhile she continued gently:
rs there any reason why they
shouldn't be happy-as men and wo-
men want to be happy. Paul"
Again 1t was a long time before he
answered in voice that was very
tired: There is no reason. All that
is dead. 1t has no right to live, Katb.
leen."
In her heart she was crying jealous
" to her secret. ITS the last thing |
can do for HIM! Aloud she said:
you must tell him that too" --
He did not notice that her voice was
sharp and constrained. he was
watching the fires Of a real suffering
burning out the last vestige Of the
self that had been Paul Remington.
When Bob came home the two men
met quietly What was said then
need not be set down here. but a new
footing was esta blished. Thereafter
many things were ignored by them.
Paul went on the staff Of Bob's news
paper. The Bugle's editorials are
often quoted in other newspapers OF
note.
Many have often tried to imita, Z
them in vain. perhaps because they
breathe spirit that cannot be simu-
lated convincingly. He is no longer a
public figure in the Steel City. Few
now remember his sensa tional dis
avowal OF McAdoo, fewer still his
equally sensational amende. Some
times there have been struggles with
a burning appetite. At such times he
has fed to Kathleen. He tells her it
is she who has conquered.
Both Kathleen and Paul are happy
At least they have achieved content
The train that whirled Paul toward
the Steel City was passed by another
bearing Mayor McAdoo to the death
bed Of a man who had come very close
to him.
Bob saw much of Murchell during
the two years following the Steel City
mayorality election. He came to feel
q mighty admiration and affection for
the great general who had created a
new political era, who had shackled a
nation to the service Of vast. vora
cious system. who had lifted at least
one nonentity to the presidents chair
and who In the last years OF bis life
was struggling to undo the work of his
prime S#
When a man reaches biz threescore
years and ten" Murchell said to him
one day, HE has learned that the evil
q good q man does concerns himself
least of all. The balance must remain
heavily against me. must strive not
to atone but to make the way ready
for other men who will undo what !
have done"