Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1920-12-23

man: his marriage had proved that
rut he had made his choice for once
and for all lie looked toward the
test tube on the table, The golden
liquid was slowly cooling into brown
And he knew that that lay between
them as surely as though each CLEAN
ing bubble on it were misef- = ID
Ills past should never rise Up - dis
turb him now. II was to a>suaae his
grief and disappointment at first that
he had turned toward his researches.
Now the hobby had become a tyrant,
and he had sold his soul into it's keep
ing. His choice was made. He< tore
the paper into twenty strips and flung
them into the blazing stove. He had
but glanced at the address. and al
ready II had vanished from his mind.
NOW there was no turning back,
though his daughters words scorched
his soul as the paper was scorching In
the fire
He turned to his work again. But
he could work no longer Phantoms
OF his past rose up to reproach him.
There was his wife. Minna. looking at
him with her steady eyes; he had
never refused her anything. and he
knew that. were she alive. he could
not have treated her daughter as he
had done. And the liquid in the tube
was brown. burned out gold that had
lost its power to charm him. He
stopped and listened. Somewhere up
the street the Christmas bells were
calling worshipers to church. So they
had called him once. long ago. In Ger.
many. when he was a lad with the
world before him and filled with the
xest OF life. The remembrances OF his
early days surged over him like a lava
oood He could stay no longer in that
bag. empty room. and, clapping on his
hat. over his gray locks. he rushed
wildly down the stairs and out into the
street
A steady stream Of persons was
travelling In one direction. and he fell
In with them perforce because he did
not want to hattie his way along the
curb against them. Presently the
stream began t. pour into church.
carrying him with 1t. Herr Mayo did
not know what denomination Of
church It WAS. and he might not have
known had his wits been alert, so
long II was since he had been inside
one. But as he sat among the worship
ers, hearing the organ peal and the
words Of eternal hope ano mercy.
Oh ~ hNN Ia
shriveled old heart and the warm tides
OF pity and love leaped through tho
barriers that he had upreared against
them In that moment he knew that
he was the worst OF sinners; he had
set up his pride. . cruel idol In his
heart. and pulled down the Christ:
and the idol was broken and only the
tragical figure Of the Son OF God re-
manned.
Children's voices were singing, up
raised In sweet, clear cArols Of praise.
He raised his head. the miserable old
man. and listened, Why. that was \
hymn that he had learned in Prussia.
when he was boy. And the old faith
remained for each generation. here.
too. across the wide Atlantic. and only
he was shut OF from this holy com.
munion. He thought OF Minna: her
heart had been always his. and she
had been quite true to him. In spite OF
the stories people told about her past.
and they he'd stood before the minister
In just such = church. with ruin be-
fore them. and knew only the Joy In
their own souls. Then suddenly
through the gloom. and right across