The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1923-09-20

self and his brthrighti He had
been living In fooia paradise,
and he had fallen from II into he'll,
Esau sold his birthright for mess
OF pottage, for less return Ned
had sold himself into slavery. lie
hal been member of dominant
race. the son OF a might breed
that wrestea the soil from tho vii.
derness and built strong cities on
tho dcsolate plains. but he had
wasted his pauimony OF strength
and manhood. A narlor knight. he
had leaned upon his fathers sword,
rather than learning 90 WELD hts
own. and he had fallen yanqulshed
the instant that he had left It's
flashing ring OF steel.
For la this moment OF unspeak'
able remorse., he found no could
blame no one but himself for the
disaster. Every year men traverscd
these desolate waters 10 buy furs
from the Indians. he had been In
a stauneh boat. and with little
care. little foresight. the journey
could have been made in perfect
safety. IL was mans venture.
surely; but he could have carried
thru II he had met Il like man
Instead OF a weakliuE, He knew
perfectly that il was his own reok.
lessneN and folly that set tho
cups OF burning liquor before
Capt knu,sen as he stood at his
wheel. II was his own unpardon
able cOneeit. his own self sutticieney.
that made him start out TO meet
the North half prepared. daring to-
disturb It's ancient sllcncea with
tho sound OF hts wild rcvelry: and
TO live, In rs grim desolatlon. the
same trivial life he lived at home,
He hadn't even brought pistol.
Sensing his weakness and his un'
preparedness. DOomsdorf hadn't
even done him the honor OF search.
ing him for one.
knutsen'a death was on his own
head: tho life OF utter wretehed.
ness and hopelessness and Insult
that lay before Lcnore and BeAs
was his own doing. too. II wouldn't
compensate 10 die In their defense.
merely leaving them continued
helpless prey TO Doomsdorf. He
saw now. with this new vision tha,
had come TO him. that his only
possible course was 10 live and do
what he could in atonemsnt. He
mustn't think OF himself any more.
All his life he had thought OF moth. !
Ing but himself; sclfIove had been
his curse 10 tho end Of the chap
ter-and now he could not make
himself believe hut that Il had
been some way Iniertwined IN hts
love for Lenore He would have
liked TO give himself credit for
that, AZ lcaSt--unselfish devotion.
these past years. 10 Lenore-but
even this stuck in his throat. But
his love for her would be un.
biased by seif.iove now. He would
give all OF himself now-holdlng
nothing back.
In spite OF his own despair, his
own bitter hopelesaness. no must
do what he could 10 keep hope
alive in Ignore and hess. IL was
tho only chance he had 10 pay.
even IN the most pltiful. slight de.
gree for what he had done TO
them. He must always try to make
their lot easier. doing their work
when he could. maintaining an at.
titude Of cheer living the lie Of
hope when hope seemed dead In
his breast.
Ned cornet was awake at last.
He knew himself. hts generation. |
the full cnormity OF his own folly. |
the unredeemed falsehood Of his
old philosophy. Better stlli. he
knew what lay before him. not only
the remorsele&sness Of his punish.
ment. but also his atonement;l
doing willingly and chccrfully the
little he could to tighten the bur.
dens Of his innocent victims. He
could have that to live for. at
least. doing the feeble little that no
could. And that Is why, when
Doomsdorf looked at him again. he
found him in some way straight.
ened. his eyes more steadfast. his
lips in a firmer. stronger line.
Glad 10 see you're bucking up,"l