The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-03-26


the worst possible way. he had taken his re-
veuge upon the world by meeting every
man as an enemy and fighting him upon
that ground. Any sane person sees at once
that such course gains one more knocks
than friends. One inevitably Rots worsted,
too In the unheroic but none the less des-
pairing contest But thousands are at it at
the present moment; eventually, to be sure
they will see the folly OF attempting TO ops
pose the universe single-handed, aud will
learn the wisdom OF fawning upon those
who step upon them, and will thus gain fine
opportunities of kicking back. But Nlsnce
approved not OF these fine fin de steele
tactics, and foughtit out until he was CON-
pletely knocked under. Then he was res
ducsd to the customary but tiend-per verted
and wholly illogical satisfaction OF debasiug
himself.
He spared no details of the recital. Not
a page but its blotted lines were cad to the
compassionate listener. The candle surg
gled and went out; but then It is easiest Co
read a blotted page without candle, espe-
cially 70 read it aloud. The moon lay in
soft patches upon the floor, still further
bridging over the ohasm between the men,
until they became as boys again, and
talked, If not hand in hand. yet closer still
heart to heart. or all their words we need
but hear the last.
you will let me pay my debt, then,
Haroldl 1t is not only my right, 1t is my
only wish on earth"
do what you likel Pay what you like
l will take anything from you. You have
promised to lift NE up into daylight"
"Once more, good might, Harold"
"Good-byl l will sleep without the
drug tonight"
The next morning Cheviot came to the
colonel's hotel with q note. The colonel
felt blessedly happy man who has I'M
, L
feels so. The note at first puzzled him. It
was faded and abused with age 1t was,
moreover, in his own handwriting-hi wn,
but strangely unfamiliar; his own OF some
fourteen or fifteen years ago. 1t read:
"LoNDoN, July 10, IS
II hereby promise to pay To Harold
Horace Vlance the worth of human life,
value received.
"HUGH HAMS"
The colonel smiled. He remembered
writing It few days after Vlance had
saved him from drowning. He had written
it as a joke-a boys idea of one, Ger taiuly,
but still joke. He wondered that Harold
had kept it so long. Still smiling, no
turned it over. In fresh ink upon the back
was written:
PAY to bearer.
HAROLD HORACE VLANCE."
The bearer9 Why, that was Cheviot,
surely! And now the colonel ceased smil-
ing. With a creeping fear tightening
around his heart, he quickly questioned the
child:
when did your father give you this"
Last night, late. He came TO kiss me
as he always does, and put 1t under my
pillow, telling me to take it to you this
morning, without waking him, as he would
be asleep"
And when you left him this morning,
was he-was he asleepn
Sound
The child's quaint adjective sank like
lead into her hearers heart.
Let US go to him."
He hired cab to take them, and Cheviot
laughed all the time for enjoyment Cabs
had not been In her line.
Yes, he was sleeping still on his face the
sternness Of determined purpose, and in
one cllnched hand the drug he had promised
to leave alone. 80 like Harold Vance
untruBtable, self-torturing, desperate to the
end. The colonels heart contracted with
grief and bitterness too dreadful to put
into words. Never to DO resumed-that
friendship. Never to be made go0d-that
debt Never TO be even commenced-that
noble uuseldsh atm. Payable to bearer"
instead.
The laughing child took her fathers arm
and lightly shook it. calling Harold! Har-
old wake upln
ne cOIonel snhCcueu ner away from Tue
bedside with a cry.
What is tina marterP she asked.
"CheViot, do you think--look away from
| mo-do you think you could love me 7'-s-
Instead of answering, the child, in whose
| eyes was the darkness OF a coming knowl-
edge, chung to the eolonera coat with two
| trembling little hands, and cried:
"What did Harold mean9 He said last
| night that tomorrow would take the vio-
lin and play 'Bonny Charles Changed
AVA. And to-morrow's to-day. What
did Harold meanm
''He meant-put your hands in mine-he
meant-O, for my sake, little daughter,
hide your face in my breast; hide 1t, hide i'll
for he meant that should tell you some
thing that children with fathers and
mothers living must thank God they have
never heard"
And in the hour that followed the
colonel felt that the first payment OF
his debt was heavier than he could bear.