Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1924-03-22
tempt, but because the world is
fhOughtless"

4 met YOU wien ire SetlilEu HopcitSns
had resolved to yield to De Witt to
save my fathers life, which is in his
power You saved me. l was going
with him that night. but I know that
there was murder in my heart. I was
going to kill him. You showed me the
better way; taught me TO honor myself,
even at the cost OF my fathers life If
need be-
"Sheila, honor you for what you
have told me" said Wlnton. 81 under
stand what you nave suffered. l do
not pity You. admire your courage"
"YesY she answered, with an ironic
infection in her voice perhaps you
win tell me that you still love mel"
81 love you, Sheila. as I have done
from the first" he cried.
And would still ask me to be your
wife?" she persisted relentlessly.
Sinton was silent He knew now
that the lnexorable law Of the race is
founded, not on prejudice, but upon
some interior prompting that may be
called divine IN spite Of the spell
that the girl exercised over him he
shrank from the idea. And the thought
OF his own ostracism that must follow
had the least part in his adherence.
Sheila laughed, and Winton cried
out, stung to the quick
II am ready to marry you, Sheila.
And will take you away from Malopo;
l will take you to America, where none
will ever guess at the truth"
You propose too high an honor for
me" answered the girl ironically. But
then, her bitter mood softened by the
vehemence of his words, she went to
him and put her hands on his Shout
ders with the old gesture. Her face
was very tender.
mo, my dear" she answered 81
have made you suffer In my outraged
pride have brought sorrow upon you
in return for the kindness you have
shown me- But l would never do you
this wrong"
"ShelIa, It Is no wrong"
"The race bar"
Means nothing. You have inherited
none of the qualities of-of your
mother"
"Are we responsible only TO our
selves them" asked the girl, seeming
to shrink for the first time under her
ordeal. "Or are we, each one of us,
custodans OF the racer You, at least,
have your duty 10 the generation that
is to follow yours.
"In the years to come you will thank
me. If you cannot now. Good-by; and
believe that, if my heart were not
warped and twisted. It would be yours,
though / could never be-
OF sudden the suns rim burst
above the valley, turning 1t into glow
of gold. The lengthy shadows of the
mountains swept it from end to end.
In the huts beneath them there was
stirring Women, their straight bodies
as graceful as Greek statues, carrying
water pitchers made from wild gourds
upon their heads in classic guiSe, began
to walk in single file along the path
down to the spring. WintOn saw a
group Of warriors standing, and looking
up at them.
81 have one more word to say"
Sheila added. 1.-THE trihesmen are dis
satisfied about their lands as you must
know. There have been rumors of
rebellion They are well founded The
meeting last night was to discuss the
chances of an uprising. ] know no
more But warn Malopo This is the
last service that I can do for those who
are no longer my people"
She turned and began to descend the
slope Winton stood watching her I'M
til she had mingled with the throng of
savages below. Then only did he seem
to wake from the dream that had taken
possession Of him since the moment of
their encounter in the desert.
He shuddered and, sick and broken.
tore himself with almost a physical
effort and set his face toward the
desert.
Only that obscure race duty which Is
never awakened in the vast majority
of men prevented him from obeying his
impulse to follow her into the native
village and do what Seaton had done.
In spite of Sheila's vehemence WiEton
believed that he could overcome her
scruples He felt that she loved him.
or rather. that there was. beneath her
moods. beneath her hardness. a spring
of love, loyal and lnexhaustlble.
Presently NNinton perceived the Hot
tentot whom he had encountered in
the desert. The man came up TO him
and indicated by signs that It was his
mission to guide him our of the noun
tainS.
Winton followed him, not along the
route by which they had come but
along a defile in the hills, which led,
apparently, In the opposite direction.
though, after many twisdngs. it finally
turned southwark.
The desert appeared again. Winton
could see the vast. dead waste. which
was so appropriate to his heart. ex-
tended. fiat and like frozen sea.
toward the horizon. An indeterminate