The daily morning oasis., 1918-01-13

has served its purpose, and although for
years he had known what ultimate reward
was reserved for those whom the republic
hires he could never bring himself to
believe that years of faithful labor and
skill which increased with every new
task set could meet the common fate. So
when his resignation was requested, and
when, refusing Indignantly, he was turned
out neck and heels, after his twelve years
of faultless service, it changed the man
terribly.
He went away with revenge in his mind
and the skill and intelligence to accom-
plish it. But now that he had accomplish
ed it, and the plate was finished, and the
government at his mercy, the incentive
to consummate his revenge Jagged.
After all, what could he revenge himself
on? The government?-tha huge, stupid, y
abstract bulk! Had it shape, a form
concrete, nerves, that it could suffer in
its turn? Even if it could suffer, after.
all, he was tired of suffering. There
was no novelty in it.
Perhaps his recent life alone in the sweet
whol me woods had soothed "a bitter
and reoellious heart. There is a balm
for deepest wounds in the wind, and in
the stiffness of wilderness there is salve
for souls.
AS he sat there brooding, or dreaming
of the work he might yet do, there stole
into his senses that impalpable conscious
ness of another presence, near, and coming
nearer. Alert, silent, he rose, and as he
turned he heard the front gate click.
In an instant he had extinguished lamp
and candle, and, stepping back into the
hallway he laid his ear to the door.
In the silence he heard steps along the
gs%vel then on the porch. There was
pause; leaning closer to the door he could
hear the rapid, irregular breathing of
very gentle rapping; silence, another
ing steps from the gravel, and the click
of the gate-latch. With one hand cover
ing the weapon in his coat-pocket, he
opened the door without a sound and
stepped out.
A young girlstood just outside his gate.
"Who are you and what is your busi-
ness with this house?" he inquired, grimly.
The criminal in him was now in the as
cendant; he was alert, cool, suspicious,
and insolent He saw in anybody who
approached his house the menace of dis
covery, perhaps an intentional and cum
ming attempt to entrap and destroy him.
All that was evil in him came to the sur
face; the fear that anybody might forci-
bly, frustrate his revenge-f he chose to
revenge himself-raiscd demon in him
that blanched his naturally pallid face
and started his lip muscles into that
curious recession which, in animals, is
the first symptom Of the snarl.
"What do you want?" he repeated.
"Why do you knock and then slink away?"
81 did not know you were at home"
said the girl, family
"Then why do you come knocking?
Who are you, anyway" he demanded,
harshly, knowing perfectly well who she
was.
81 am the postmistress at Nauvoo,"
she faltered-"t is, l was"
Really" he said, angrily; "your in
telligence might teach you to go where
you are more welcome"
His brutality seemed to paralyze the
girl She looked at him as though at
tempting to comprehend his meaning
care you not Mr. Heinz" she asked, on
a sweet, bewildered voice.
eyes, am" he replied, shortly.
81 thought you were a gentleman"
she continued, in the same stunned voice.
"Pm not" said Helm, bitterly. II
fancy you will agree with me, too Good