Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1900-04-11
The World Against Him
BY WILL N. HARLEM
Copyright, 1900, by
AN. Kellogg Newspaper Company,

she has had many advantageous of
fers of marriage put in Mr.. Hardy,
as he emptied his wine glass.
Hundreds of them" enthused the
colonel. "Why, Gen. Beauclare fol-
lowed her about like slave and SO did
Senator Waugh; couldn't count the
men who were in love with her, but
she turned 'em all down."
The promenaders had quilted the
veranda, and there was light touch
on the piano in the drawing-room and
sweet voice singing an old song.
THAT is herH cried the colonel,
whose enthusiasm was not often gov
erned by rules of grammar.
This was the signal for leaving the
table, and the men went into the big.
ancient-looking parlor where the
lights burned low and the breeze from
the distant mountains famed the lace
curtains into the room. Evelyn sat in
a rocking-chair, her eyes on the sing
er's face. Caroline was noiselessly
placing whist table and playing
cards near the center of the room.
She, he1 father, Mr.. Hardy and Capt
Wrinkle were the only ones who were
fond of the game.
But we shall interrupt the sing
ing" protested the colonel, when he
noticed the preparations.
81 shall stop If you don't go on with
the game" declared the gentle old
lady, a smile crossing her sweet, sad
face; "and furthermore, I shall not
sing unless you all talk over your
| game"
To this the jovial host agreed UNI
der protest, and the whist-players took
their places. Evelyn sat at the end
of the piano near enough to touch the
elbow of the singer. There was In
finite pathos in Mrs. Lancaster's voice
as she sang:
"Dey amt no use fer to fret an pine.
Steady on de way, believers.
1 It's de same ole werl' wen de sun dom
shine.
Steady on de way. believers"
The colonel was dealing the cards
but he made mistake in the count
and with low laugh he threw the
cards down. II must wait till that one
is over, anyway" he whispered. "Tha
blamed thing always gets the best o
me-"
TITS de same OIL worl' in de sun an d
rain
Same on de hilltop an same on de plain.
So keep up yo' shoutin' an keep on ye
prayin'-
Steady on de way, believers.
"Dey's great big blossom On de water
melon vine,
Steady on de way, believers;
Fur peace come long wen you done vii
So keep up yo' shoutin' an keep on yc
prayin',
Steady on de way, believers"
There was just the faintest culver il
Mrs. Lancaster's voice, which Evelyl
alone noticed, and hint of moistur
in her eyes as the melody died in tn
still room. She turned towards tn
card players, who, with the exception
of the dapper captain, seemed deep
ly moved by her song.
II knew l would stop your game,
she laughed, "you are too polite t,
enjoy life. Come, Evelyn, let's taxi
another STROLL"
The view from the veranda wa
beautiful, and as the two walked bacl
and forth across the wide floor arm il
arm they enjoyed 1t silently. The moo
had risen and hung like great glob
of yellow light just beneath float
ing canopy of filmy clouds. Tw
rows of wind-moved elms stretche,
out past the great iron-wrought gate
and between CLEANED the white cher
drive. On sloping lawn to the lef
lay luxuriant parterres of flowers d:
versified by well-kept walks, an
smooth plots of grass. Near the Ger
ter stood a fountain, Its sprays CLEAN
ing like rain in an April Shove
lagainst the dark background of mag
nolia trees. The air which fame
their faces was laden with the pei
fume of hyacinth and roses. Whe
they had walked several minutes j
silence they paused at the windo,
from which they had reached the vel
anda, and looked in on the players
MIR. Hardy was dealing the cards an
Capt. Wrinkle was relating some sol
Ct experience of his own whic
1seemed to have reused the interest c
his host.
"Of course" the captain was saying
1.-THE fellows challenge was great SUI
prise to me. l confess that did driy
against him out of pure devilment, fc
| had heard what an egotistical, pre-
tsumptive ass he was, an l wanted t
pay him back for throwing my ii
in the river as if he were the primo
of Wales, but heaven knows, 1 didn
think I'd get bloody duel on m
hands. Az you know, colonel, Their
was nothing for me to do but To-
to make him see the absurdity of til
thing"
II suppose not" returned the colone
in noncommittal tone. Whateve
may have been his secret opinion {
. Wrinkles valor he knew his duty q
host too we'll to impugn it, OF to rende
his guest uncomfortable by sharp cri
icism. "And what did you say to him ?
he ended.
"Why, told him, of course, that hi
challenge was proof of downrigl
cowardice; that he knew well enoug
that man in my position could nc
fight man in his. That settled hin
He retired like whipped cur"
"And you did rot explain or apolt
gize?' slipped almost unconscious
from the lips of the colonel.
Not /, assure you; ha, ha! Apol'
gize to him! That would have RUNE
him forever"
Evelyn grasped the ha1d of Mr.
Lancaster, nervously, and drew he
J across the room to the players.
Your story, Capt. Wrinkle" she SAT-
her eyes flashing, reminds me yer
much of piece of fiction l have rea
somewhere. The circumstances wei
S identically the same except that the o
: fcer in the story allowed the hero
e humiliate him by cutting off the bu
c tons and shoulder-straps from his un
form. am so glad your experience di
not end that way. The truth Is yor
: case was far more agreeable than ii
fiction In the other"
Capt. Wrinkle paled and interlace
| II. E,,arc {frb{l,, m, 4ha smooth ton r