The Mountain Girl by Emma Payne Erskine Chapter 1 Page 24

ideals loomed big. But what had he done? Fled his country and deftly avoided the most heart-satisfying of human delights — children to call him father, and wife to make him a home; peace and wealth; thrust aside the helping hand to power and a career considered most worthy of a strong and resourceful man, and thrown personal ambition to the winds. Why? Because of his ideals — preferring to mend rather than to mar his neighbor.

Surely he was right — and yet — and yet. What had he accomplished? Taken the making of his life into his own hands and lost — all — if health were really gone. One thing remained to him — the last rag and remnant of his cherished ideals — to live long enough to triumph over his own disease and take up work again. Why should he succumb? Was it fate? Was