The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1896-12-12
Her HER SISTERS 5. HONOR.
a Tale Of English Life.
BY Waltcr BeSant.
Cui-TE-. 7.
~. s.STEi:-ClI, NY SIsTEI.


On fine Saturday evening in July
there Gro never many readers in tie Free
Library. The old men who come in
winter, because the place is warm and
light and quiet, are now walking up and
down the pavement, where the sunshine
warns them through and through end
chases away tGeir rheumatic pains. The
younger men are al atiCld, playing
cricket boating, cycling, rambling afoot,
thinking Of nothing but the delights CT
fresh air, and rejoicing in their youth.
What have the young to do with Il
musty, dusty library on a summer even
ing! A library is q cemetery. Books
are mostly the tomhs Of dead men s
brains. Young folk are much better
occupied with reading each other's
thoughts than with walking among the
tonlbs, SO that the library is almost
empty.
It was about seven O'Clock. At the
window into which the sun would have
poured its wealth OF heat ard light
which it gives TO the tombs Of the dead
as well as TO the folds and flowers OF
the livng--a brown blind was hauled
down, leaving a long, narrow line. The
sun, pertinaciouS in its attempt to reach
everything, took advantage OF the line
to make II thin plate Or lanina Of bright
sunshine, ac,o,s which the merry notes
danced with their usual chccriulness.
There was u smell Of leather bindings;
the tables were covered With magazines
and papors; Il few readers sat at the ia
bles. But | think that knowledge Was
not greatly advanced. One or two OF
them slept; one Or two looked as il their
thoughts were elsewhere - with the
brook babbling over the shadows, with
the village Cronies gathered under the
lean-tO beside the ale-hOusC. One Of
them, gaunt, hollow-cyed, hungry, sat
with an illustrated paper before him.
But he never turned over leaf, and he
looked not at tho pictures. The libra
RAN watched that man suspiclously. lie
did moi like the look in that mans eyes.
IT meant rebellion; it meant wicked
spirit Of discomfort with the social order
which left him starving while it made
his neiShbor fat, and refused him work
while it suffered his ncighbCr to live in
comfort on the work OF other men. Only
year or two ago--,or it might be ten.
because to one who is q librarian years
have no Significance in connection with
numbers man had come into the
place with just such a look in his eyes.
That man asked for book, sat down,
and proceeded to tear away its bindings
and 10 wrench its sheets asUnder. sThcn
he gave himself up to the librarian with
the greatest gen,lencss and po!itencss,
explaining that liberty without q crust
was really d mcchery, and that in future
no meant TO be- maintained by his coun-
try, and that when he had served his
time for the destruction OF the book, he
meant to smash Il lamp, and, that
atoned for. 10 steal u stretcher from q
police station. and SO on, getting por-
haps longer sentences, until he should
be called to his reward. They walked
off together 10 the nearest police station
like two old friends, and parted with a
hearty grasp after the sergeant had
noted the case.
Another man there was whom the
librarian regarded with eyes OF compass
sion. He dragged himself slowly and
YEARLY up the stairs, threw himself
upon a seat next the wall, and there
fore provided with u back, took up a
paper, sighed, and instantly fell fast
asleep. This sort the librarian knew
very weil-hc was the clerk Out OF work