The Ozark spectator., 1917-02-28

at shrine.
 An end of all things had come to David. His long quest was over and the surf of his passion had spent itself in foam. Had it been worth while to forgive? All that he had lived for was torn from him. Toinette would know that she had judged him unjustly; but would that knowledge bring back what he had lost of her? He had been hot-tempered fool, he had insulted her beyond fOrgiving. The breach had widened beyond bridging. He looked across the gulf that lay between him and Toinette and felt the bitterness of ruined hopes. He thrust his hand in- to his hunting shirt and drew forth the dueling pistol he had taken from Blackford's room. For a long while he stood looking at it in silence.
 A light step rustled the dead leaves underfoOt and he turned quickly. Toin- ette stood beside him, q joyous smile on her face.
 "I was sent to find you," she greet ed him astonishingly.
 He stared at her as though at a mes senger from the skies. Her silver laughter rang out as it had in days gone by.
 Do not deceive yourself" she smiled. 'I am no angel-Im Toinette!"
 David did not believe her denial; never believed it.
 Father sent me for you. He's go- ing to give great dinner at the tav- ern and you're to sit in the place of honor. Come. you mustn't keep your cook waiting"
 And she held out her hand.
 But David did not stir.
 The look of haggard suffering had returned to his face. Her loveliness was an arrow that sent all the poison of his despair once more burning through his veins. For the first time he found voice, voice trembling with emotion.
 'I cannot I cannot please go!"
 She opened her eyes wide and shot blue radiance of hurt surprise at him. Then she went swift and straight to the point, woman not to be put aside by evasions:
 Indeed, I will not. You mustn't stay here alone"
 He had regained control of himself, but the struggle left him deadly pale. He could not bear to face her as he spoke.
 II am going away. I cannot live without you." The words were hard ly more than a whisper.
 She took two quick steps forward. Her hand fell upon his shoulder. light as floating strand of gossamer. But he felt it and thrilled through all his being. Slowly, slowly, he raised his head and she saw his face, that he had gone into the valley of the shadow of death. In the hush of the wilderness his scarcely audible words seemed to fall on their hearts with the measured beating of an memorable judgment.
 What did she see in the wilderness? A dry reed, shaken in the wind of de- Spar? But her voice rang like song in the morning:
 Ut is not brave to turn back from the blowing. I have heard my father say that courage should be lifted to such q height as to maintain it's great ness even in the midst of miseries, holding all things under itself"
 David smiled.
 'I call the immortal truth to witness that no fear. either of life or death, can appall me. having long learned to aSet bodily pain in the second form of my being. And I do now think it the act of coward to die"
 The girl had grown paler as she read his determination in his face, white and rigid as Il mask.
 David was silent. In the morning sunlight that dappled the little glade, the frozen branches of the trees stood motionless. A white snowflake danced across the space before David's eyes and his vision followed it up, up, into the cloudiess blue beyond. In the quiet. it seemed to Toinette as if she could hear her own heart beating. David spoke again, slowly:
 And if we be lieutenants of God in ' then that we have right to choose Il new station when he leaves us unprovlded of good reason to stay in the old?'
 No. certainly l do not" she said, with a rebuke lovelier because it lay in her sweetly troubled voice, since it is not for us to appoint that mighty majesty what time he will help us; the uttermost instant is scope enough for him to revoke all things to ones own desire"
 And she sealed her lips with the moistness of her tears, which followed stiu one another like q precious rope of pearls. David suddenly realized how ineffably sweet life was; wonder ful, tragic. joyous worthy of music, worthy of tears.
 The pistol fell to the ground unheed- ed. David took step forward.
 Rnt eh.. .sbaelaI him