The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1916-04-20
God he had long forgotten, to save

God he had long forgotten, to save
him.
How long she talked and urged and
wept and pleaded Mrs. Page herself
did not remember. but somehow she
had held them-still threatening-sti
ominO,ls--till far down the road she
saw a small speck that she knew was
al approaching sleigh with two figures
In it.
At sight Of it she had forgotten ev-
erything except an infinite relief, and
crying in her Joy had sped down stairs
leaving Dan Page still huddled in the
windy cupola.
If she hadn't-she shuddered, and
caught her breadth In a smothered sob,
and for moment the courtroom hung
in a haze before her aud the voice Of
MACPHERSON speaking on the witness
stand receded to vast distance and
seemed to be again the murmuring
voices Of that angry mob. But she
fought back the impending faintness
and the rising tears, and as one brac-
ing himself against the impact OF
some great weight, she Strengthened
her slender shoulders to meet without
ninching the story Of that mornings
tragedy.
when Mr.. Langdon and I drove
oop," MACPHERSON was saying, 1.-The
men were still there, and Mr.. Langdon
stood oop In the sleigh and made
speech to them urging them to go home
quietly. Miss Page Is safe in the
hands Of good DOCTOR he said. and
you will only make a bad matter worse
II you attempt to carry out this plan
Of whipping Dan Page out of town.
I'll see to It that he leaves the COM
munity. but II you drive him out this
way, It's going to mean disgrace to the
town and to Mary Page, too. Do you
suppose she could bear the thought of
her fathers having been publicly whip
pcdy Well shouted one Of the men.
tbs not beatin' her the way he has
done it Drivin' her and-the brute"
And the crowd began to murmur again.
Then Mr.: Langdon told them that the
drink was like ragin' beast inside
| Mr.. Page, that he knew nought of what
he did; that he probably didn't remem-
Der anything-that he really loved his
wife and his girl. And while he was
talkin one of the men gave a cry and
pointit oOp, and there in the cupola
stood Dan Page-wild like the daft.
clingin' to the rail, and he cried DOT.
What he says is Gods truth. love
my wife and girl as much as you men
owe yours It's whiskey that hurt
them-not me. I've been a slave in
the grip Of a fiend all my life. I've
tried-my God. men, I've tried-to keep
away from it-but 1t gets me. The
sight Of 1.-THE smell Of 1.-THE taste
If it's ever in my mind. drink be-
ause ! must, and drink more to drown
the memory OF it! I've lived in hell
Cor years. and no horsewhipping could
punish meas does the knowledge Of
this nights work Then suddenly he
burst out cryin'-sobbin like a child,
while the men stood starin oop Mt him.
Then he flung out his arm and said.
'Philip--takc care Of them-be careful
Of Pollock-l'm going to take myself
out of the community-now" And at
th0t he leapit oop onto the rail and
| jumped"
MACPHERSON broke off abruptly. and
his hand shook as he wiped the drops
| Of sweat off his forchead-and the shud-
der that gripped him swept through
the entire room mt the thought of that
body hurtling through the air down
! upon the snow to stain ii with that
swiftly flowing stream Of crimson.