Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1896-03-11
Xjirgiuia cfree gress.
Written for THE VIRGINIA FREE PEEssl
THE STORY OF A SCAR.
BY SHANNON DoRE.

1t was two years ago last June. We
were Just back from the law commence
ment, Cranstou, Williams and |. The
night was hot, and, having thrown off orr
dress coats aud melted collars, we were
lounging about, in comfortable attitudes,
up in my little room. We had been boon
companions for two yearS-had studied
together aud quized togeiher-aud to.
night each of US had brought back from
the opera house with him a large sheep
skin diploma a. the reward of his work.
Crauslon a tall, handsome fellow Of TWEEN
ty-six, was in particularly high spirits,
and he had right to be. Out Of nearly
two hundred graduates, he had ranked
first and borne off first honors. We had
met to have a farewell chat, for Cranston
and | left on the morrow,-Cranston to
try his luck in Denver,-I to enter my
fathers law office in a southern town, and,
like all young southerners, to dabble in
politics. Williams remained to take a
postgraduate course at the university.
So we sat smoking and talking over old
"reminiscences, and comparing future
hopes and prospects until the small clock
on my mantle pointed to three. Williams
rose to go. He lived in distant part of
the city. "Hold on there, Williams" l
cried, "none of that Here you are and
here you've got to stay, you and Cranston,
both of you. This is the last time all
three of us may ever be together There
is plenty of room for US all. You and
Cranston take the bed,-it's pretty wide,
as you see, for I'm used to large, old fash
ioned bedsteads where | come from, and
I'll bunk over here on the lounge" And
so it was settled.
"Craustou, old man," Williams called
out presently, when we were nearly ready
for bed, that's the devil Of a scar you We
got there on your neck How did you get
it?' And, turning to look, saw a deep red
mark running down the lower part Of his
neck. Cranston covered it quickly with
his hand. "Oh," said he, "its just a
scratch l got some years ago "A
scratch Well, l should say it was, and
big one too" said Williams; "here,
old man, let me look at it. Why, unless
I'm badly mistaken, that same scratch
as you call it, came very near doing you
Look here Roberts," addressing me, 'it
starts in just a trihe of an inch on one
side of the jugular aud runs down the
chest below the heart Come, out with
it, old man, how did you come to get
yourself decorated in this way? Some
6ght?' But Cranston remained silent
When Williams had first spoken his face
had grown very whiie,-now it seemed on
fire. Presently, in a constrained voice
he said, Don't ask me, fellows it all
happened years and years ago. | have
never spoken of it 10 any one, and | dom
like to think about it now" "Oh, vel
and good" cried Williams, "I'm sorry
spoke. Say nothing about it, old fellow
only I'm duced glad it missed the veir
there, or else, I'm thinking, we wouldn'
have you up here with US tonight"
"Boys," said Cranston presently, we've
been the fastest friends now for two years
l don't like this thing of refusing to tel
you, Just as though it were something
were ashamed of, or something l wer,
afraid to trust you with, for it's from
neither of these two causes. But it's +
long story and a painful ore to me bu
if you'll listen think I'll tell you. Yol
see it was all la.s way,"-we had taker
: seats by him On the bed,-"It was four
yes four years ago, though it seems tel
times more distant, that got this scar
l shall have seemingly to digress some
what before l can make you understand
all about it, As you know, l live il
Virginia, in a little mountain village, sew
eral miles off the railroad At the tim
l met with this injury, our family con