River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1913-03-27
"WhV nor 2"

why not?"
Its crime to rob the world of
these masterpieces of genius They
should be the free inheritance and IN
SEPARATION of all the children of men
Nan gazed at Stuart in vague be
wilderment and then a mischlevous
smile crept into the corners OF her
mouth
You're trying TO throw dust in my
eyes. but | can tell you what you are
realty thinking You are really won
dering why the wicked prosper"
'.Yon are wrong. be replied SLOWLY
why the wicked prosper has never
worried me IN the least The first big
religious IDEA | ever got hold OF was
that tins IS the best possible world Tod
could have created because ITS free
Man must choose, otherwise his deeds
have no meaning deed OF mine is
good merely because have the power
to do its opposite if choose In this
free world step by step. | can rise or
fall through suffering and choosing.
''Oh, Jim," Nan broke in softly, i've
made you suffer horribly You nave
tile right TO be hard aud bitter"
He looked at Nan cautiously and be
gan TO study her every word and
movement and weigh each accent did
she mean what her words and tones
implied? In hundred little ways
more eloquent than speech she mad
said to him tonight that the old love
OF the morning of life was still the one
living thing He put her to little tests
TO try the genuneneSs of her feeling
He threw off his restraint ana led her
back 70 the scenes or their youth
When dinner ended she was leaning
close. her eyes misty with tears. and a
tara way look In them that told OF
memories more vivid and ailurlng
than ali the splendors OF ner palace
Stuart drew a breath OF conscious trl
umph. and his figure suddenly grew
tense with Il desperate resolution But
only for moment
He frowned. looked at his watch
and rose abruptly
Il must he going, Nan" he said with
sudden coldneSs
10 O'Clock won't hear OF such a
thing
Yes must" he persisted. I've
an important case tomorrow | must
work tonight"
"You shall not COR Nan cried. I've
waited nine years for this one even
ing's chat with you Come into the
music room. sit down and brood as
long AS you like I've planned to
charm you with an old accomplish
ment of mine tonight"
She led him to rich couch. piled
the pillows high made him snug. drew
a harp near the other end and began
to tune it's strings.
Stuart gazed at the paintings on the
ceiling and in a moment was lost In
visions of the future mis- excited fancy
began tc weave
A voice whiSpered
"Unless you are coward. grasp the
power that is yours by divine right OF
nature Why should YOU walk while
pygmes ride? Why should You lag
behind the age In this fierce struggle
for supremacy The woman who sits
before you is yours If you only dare
to tear her from the man who holds
her by the fiction Of diving customsT
He felt his heart thrOb as another
voice within cried:
"Yet why should [. an heir to i'm
mortality whose will can shape a
world why should | live beast of
prey with my hand against every
manY
The answer was the memory OF dirty
finger nails closing on his throat while
Il mob of bowling fools surged over
nis body and cursed him for trying to
save them from themselves. Again he
heard a wonan's voice as she held his
head close. whispering:
i've something to say to you. Jim"
His lips frightened with sudden de-
cision. The golden gates of the for,
hidden land swung open and his soul
entered.
(Continued on last page