Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1914-11-26
BY
RUSSELL MILLER
CHAPTER xxvI-contlnued.

He became conscious OF Simon's Gu
rious gaze and turned sharply on him.
"Old man, you seem to know a sur
prising lot about making steel. Look
down the valley-there. on those hills.
Do you see anything that isn't there?"
Simon looked and nodded. i've
ibe'n seem it more'n forty years"
) Henley stared. "Humph! An cpl
ldemic. There's magic in these hills"
His thoughtful glance swept them
+, lonce more. "But ID alluring
magic"
The gentle, sometimes pIaintive
voice of the preacher had no power
Ito distract from thought His wistful
message could not reach the man for
whom 1t had been prepared in the
hope that 1t would come to him with
ihealing In its wings.
Love would do that. ;" His
own chance words kept running
Through Marks mind, bidding him fol-
flow them along new path. He fol-
jlowed. wondering that he had never
Strod that way before.
Was that. then, the evidence of love?
Was there another manifestation Of
the miracle than that he had asked
and awaited? For he had sought love,
thinking to find 1t expressed as he
had known 1t before, in the old ro-
mantle visioning. the rhapsodic senti-
mentalities, the lust to possess. Mark
Truitt was not the first to make that
mistake. The coast of life is Uttered
with the wrecks of those who have
taken the pickering glow of youths
blind impulse to wed or the red flame
OF manhood's passion for the true
light. But that morning new percep-
ton dawned.
The poets and preachers were right
There was--there must be-a love that
passed beyond the realm of the senses.
that knitted souls as well as bodies.
declared itself not In greedy, cruel de-
sire but In the knowledge off, perfect,
indestructible unity and the gentle will
to.Berve, when 1t most gave received
most. Such love would not stand
aghast at sin, would suffer In its
mates suffering. yearn to bear that
others burdens That love he had
never seen. never met In his passion
ate pilgrimage. But that the heart
was capable Of 1t he knew from his
own. need; only In such guise could
the. miracle come. VI 49,
The preacher was closing. Like an
echo came his last words. to Mark.
Faith. purpose. love, the trio
Of forces without which no life is COM
plete. And Of these the greatest is
love. For love suifereth long
seeketh not her own :. thinketh
no evil . -. endureth all things
-. never faileth. Oh, my friends.
open your hearts!" ~
The benediction had been said
Mark went quietly from his rear pew
out Of the church and limped slowly
along the dusty, weed-fanked pike un-
til he came to q minor crest There
he dropped on the roadside and turned
his eyes to the valley.
The murmurous quiet of MONDAY
was about him.
Up the rise, village bound, creaked
battered old top-buggy, bearing a
passenger whose grizzled beard and
lined face. too, showed the marks of
times battering.
The buggy drew up beside him.
/; did he find your"
/; "Who?"
The doctor chuckled. Guess he
didn't. or you wouldn't have to ask
He's vigorous party that doesn't
understand the Joy of talk. / took him
from Number Four to your place"
Short and stout"
And not much for looks" Hedges
concluded the portrait. That's him.