Evening star., 1924-02-13
The Magnificent Adventure
A Stirring Story of the Northwest
BY EMERSON HOUGH.
Copyright. BY Applssa o.3
BY EMERSON HOUGH.
A Stirring Story of the Northwest
Copyright. 1913. BY D. Applst.a Z Co.,

to him now-ali the old temptations,
all the old specious pleas.
Yes, 1t was the last sight he would
ever have Of her: After this. what
her must remain forever unspoken.
Whatever was in his heart for her
must be given now or never. Was 1t
right-was 1t possible that this might
not be? -. ~
A single. little chance word.'a nick
name of endearment-that was what
did it. That little spark, dropped al
most by chance, worked its havoc in
the tremendous magazine of this
mans nature. AK
"Mernew she hau said.
What she wrought with that one
word was madness Speaking thus un-
thinkingly, striking thus blindly. she
had won. She had found the weak
place in this mans armor.,had struck
him through his strength!
To you? Come back to you! Ah.
would God ! never had to leave you!"
That Is what MeriWether Lewis
thought he was saying, when he'tried
to speak; but really he did not make
ment only meaningless sounds came
from him; but at length he did say
brokenly:
"Theo-Theo!"
The flood of his pent nature had
burst forth at last-the stern control
of a mighty soul was gone.
In fash he caughtsher in his arms,
held her, kissed her-kissed her once,
the imprint of soul on soul. life on
life, stern, masterful. as if the time
had come, the great hour for both of
them; and indeed it was their great
hour.
But he started back, his arms half
spread. arrested as they had fallen
away from her unprotesting body. She
stood motionless, herself now wom-
nf ia
white. She tottered, trtmbled, looked
about for some support: and as he
hastened to her once more he saw
the tears come.
cry. her face white. the tears yelling
strongly from her eyes, from her soul
her hands clasped above her bosom.
She did not sob--only those blister
ing tears came from her soul. She
wept as a child does when hurt by
something it has trusted-silently,
with grief too great for voice. As for
him, he stood accused and convicted
of sacrilege. He had forsworn the
God of his fathers. had left his own
creed. He had lifted his hand to what
was another's. lie had sinned against
the law.
All. too late he saw all the specious-
ness of those arguments of lips and
the String! He could see his kiss
flaming on her lips now-never would
they cease TO reproach him.
oh. God. what have l done? Theo,
/ have wronged you. l never thought
this could have been. How did il
Gomez"
She did not speak, and he went on
trying-with his trembling hands-to
dry her tears.
Forgive me, Theo. oh. forgive me-"
he was whispering. 1T was not IL
do not know what 1t was. Something
passed by--something with mighty
wines-I know not what 1t was.
heard it. felt 1t. Forgive me, it was
not myself! Oh, Theo, what have /
done?"
She could not speak. could not even
sob. Neither horror nor resentment
was possible for her. nor any pro-
test, save the tears which welled si-
lently. terribly.
Unable longer to endure this, Merl-
wether Lewis turned to leave behind
him his last hope of happiness. ard
to face alone what he now felt 10 be
the impenetrable night OF mis- own
destiny. He never knew when his
hands fell from Theodosia Alston's
last he felt himself walking, forcing
his head upright, his face forward.
He passed, a tall, proud man in his
half-savage trappings-a man in full
ownership of splendid physical pow
lead, his heart was worse than lead.
And though his face was turned away
from her, he knew that always he
would see what he had left--this pic
ture Of Theodosia weeping-this pic
ture of a saint Knocked. of an altar
desecrateG She wept, and 1t was be-
cause of him!
The dumb cry of his remcrse, his
despair, must have struck back TO
where she still stood, her hands On
her bosom, staring at him as he
"Theo. Theo. What have ! done?
What have l done?"
i., .r1r,aorroy,.,s Starl