Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1917-10-19

CollcEti SOoni however, 10 MAKE a lflcnl
Of Varre Lepage, and to see always the
best Of that friend, being himself so
true. And the day came when they
both graduated together in science, a
bright and happy day, succeeded by one
still brighter, when they both entered
"A great firm as junior partners. Then
came the meeting with Rose Varcoe; he
thought Of how he praised his friend,
Varre Lepage to her, and brought that
friend to be introduced to her. He re-
called all those visions that came to
him when, his professional triumphs
achieved, he should have a happy home,
and a happy face, and faces, by his
Preside. And the face was to be that of
Rose VaTcoe, and the others, faces of
those who should be like her and like
himself. He saw, or rather felt, that
face clouded and anxious when he went
away i'll and blind for health's sake.
fie did not write. The doctors forbade
him that. He did not ask her to write,
for his was so strong and steadfast a
nature that he did not need letters to
keep him true; and he thought if she
cared for him she must be the same. He
did not understand a wOman's heart,
how it needs membranes, and needs
to give membranes.
Looking at Jasper Hume's face in
the light Of this fire it seems calm and
cold, yet behind it is an agony Of mem
DRY, the memory of the day when
he discovered that Varre Lepage was
married to Rose Varcoe, and that the
trusted friend had grown famous and
well-to-do on the offspring OF his brain.
His first thought had been one OF fierce
anger and determination to expose this
man who had falsihed all trust. But
then came the thought of the girl, and,
most of all there came the words of his
dying mother, "Be good, my boy, and
God will make you great, and for his
mother S sake he had compassion on the
girl, and sought no revenge upon her
husband. Rare type of man, IN a sor-
did, unchivalric worldl And now, ten
years later. he did not regret that he had
stayed his hand. The world had ceased
to call Varre Lepage a genius. He had
not fulfilled the hope that was held of
him. This Jaspar Hume knew from
occasional references in scientific jour
nails.
And he was making this journey to
save, if he could, Varre Lepage's life.
And he has no regret. Though just on
the verge of a new era in his career
to give the world the fruit of ten years
thought and labor, he had set all be-
hind him that he might be true TO the
friendship of his youth, that he might
be loyal to his manhood, that he might
be clear Of the strokes Of conscience to
the last hour Of his life.
Looking round him now, the debating
look comes again into his eyes. He
places his hand in his breast, and let's
it rest there for a moment. The look
becomes certain and steady, the hand
is drawn out, and in it is a Book Of
Common Prayer. Upon the hy-leai
is written, "Jane Hume, to her dear son
Jaspar, on his twelfth birthday"
These men of the White Guard are
o used to religious practices, what
ever their past has been in that regard,
and at any other time they might have
been surprised at this action OF Jasper
Hume. Under some circumstances 1t
might have lessened their opinion OF
him, but his influence over them
was now complete. They knew they
were getting nearer to him than they
had ever done; even ClOud-in-the-Sky
appreciated that. He spoke nc word
to them, but looked at them and stood
up. They all did the same, JEFF Hyde
leaning on the shoulders of Jaspe lou