Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1914-04-10

It waS too big ana splendid Tor
me-th epic. Blu l lived it. Har-
Ian. And then / came back here
when rather died and left me the old
shop. No one knew: I had failed, that's
all. I settled down here and k
but the old fine .ardor was Eight
years OF this village-common. prosy.
dull-not to speak with Of the big
things u you and Janet! And then I
awakened-why here was the poem /
work, my place. my people" He
lifted his arm and swept it out to hills
beyond the leafy square. Eyes, I got
back my old spirit, my fighting soul.
hut l didn' put 1t into a poem, Harlan
but into politics, this battle-and
wont" NN
Harlan had stirred before his ecstasy
was this he man OF yesterday?-this
winging spirit. whom the SNUG town
had understood?-who had comc
back to an enrolling youth?
Wiley came to put his hand upon this
younger mans shoulder: II won, and
There's work there's life-there's
love!" He Strengthened and struck his
fists together. "And l am not afraid
boy! l tell you I've not been myself
all this year-Tve been reborn!" He
sat at his desk n stared out at the
beauty of it," Again he turned and
reached his hand across the table to
his friend ooh, the great hours we've
spent here, boy! You can't tell what it
all meant. You are so different from
me. but here your manhood was formed
Harlan-and you watched my fight.
too! Just battering away here at the
old press-and then the light dawned.
She came, Harlan!"
She? Janet?"
The other la stared at him. "Janet?
Why, no! Aurelie!"
81 Harlan la la did not stir; Then he mutter-
Told you?" A high and serene
smile came to Curran's face. II didn't
think any one knew! Why, who could
guess? Oh, well-what matter! It's az
Old Mitch says: "A little child shall
lead EN-! Done lead 'em to the land O.
led that old whisky-peddling soldier to
love and decency: and she led me out
of failure! God bless the kid with all
her impudence n poses and alb
surdities!"
You never told me, wiley!"
What was there to tell?" It just
stopped still: SO still were they both
that the crickets in the old shop wall
resumed their singing. Wiley first
CROPPED to utterance. He turned. and
his voice was a whisper.
Harlan, that old affair?-you and
EYES,"
Again the pause. And again the
mutter in the dusk. "why. boy. YOU
told me long ago you'd given her up.
She outraged you-your people-your
standards-,everything. Why. I never
or cam ! naI He started ta'r ~speeehlessly:
Wiley! I've waited-sometime she'll
need me-sometime, when things go
wrong in this abominable business
she's in! I've worked and waited and
kept silent-but I've watched"
She doesn't love you"
"She does"
The elder man was still. And sud-
denly tho other leaned to him. "See
here: What do o mean. Wiley?"
Yes. They told me-see here-do
you love herr"
Curran was silent again. Then his
soft laugh. but it was wrung from a
strange loneliness.
Love her? Are they saying that?
Poor kid! As If she hadn't enough to
contend with as 1t is! And II"
Il ask you, Wiley?" The ounge
mans voice arose in passion. "Tell
mel"
you ought to know. You know
what you've always been to me boy.
No one closer-no n in all the world!
And what was finest for you-what
was for your happiness-that is what I
wanted always. But Aurelie-I couldn't
think Of that, somehow"
But love her, Wiley-you!" The
younger man arose.
mo. I don't. Not that way. I can't.
I'm a trifler with everything. Only Au-
relief can't explain 1t. Some beauti-
full mystery is over It all. She touched
me so! She's crept SO near. She's
made life and work SO precious. God
bless the kid! I tell you I can't UNDER
stand it, Harlan!"
But the other man stared at him with
his jaw setting. II understand it," He
was up and turning to the door,. "Yes!"
And he was gone.
Curran sat in the dusk Of his shop.
"sWho will understand" he whispered.
Janet? Harlan? I can't myself! TO
dream Of her-to shelter and protect
her-if that is loving, then I love-"
He broke off, staring into the sum-
mer night. It grew palpitant with
phantoms; fears, fancieseghosts troop
ing out Of the long years Of failure and
despair. And he had thought of late
that he had defeated the misbelievinx
horde.
CHAPTER Xxx.