The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1901-02-08

know; and bless you, my boy, for
your sympathy. What was 1t you
wanted me to do? Oh. yes, the mar.
riage. Let us get back to that. Am
to make a toilet? But Of course"
"You will do as you are. 1t will be
in the dark. But, Dick, at this mo.
ment, for tire first time, the full ex
tent of your friendship dawns upon
me and see the generous heart beat
ing away so faithfully in my behalf
Dick, there was woman in the af
fair between you and Holbin; you
have never told me of her and
don't ask you now, but If there is a
sacrifice in this for you it is not too
late"
Sacrifice? Lead onl am in tho
hands of my friends. | am not the
first to leap blindfolded into the sea
of matrimony, nor shall be the last
Life is a cycle and fools beget fools
Besides, I have in my religion some
Of the fatalism of the east: That
which comes to us without our seeking
and seemeth right to do, is generally
the right thing to do. The falling
| cocoanut that breaks the sleeping
robbers head feeds the starving pill
grim"
"Well said. And in this adventure,
my friend, l take it that you are
the cocoanut. am old-fashioned
enough to believe in God, and with
His help you may break villains
head indeed"
"But l shall be satisfied if my own
isn't broken. By the way, my wife
should understand that il this ugly
rupture between the south and north
involves blows, she may hear of her
husband bearing arms against her"
''Fiddlesticksl There has been
more blood shed in my back Office
than you will see spilled between the
north and south. The people on the
streets and up yonder in the capitol
are temporarily insane. 1t will end
in wind-my name for oratory."
Cheers in the street below, followed
by the discharge of cannon. shook
the windows. A boy rushed past,
crying an extra.
| What does he say?" asked Somers,
as Brodnar, who stood near the win
dow, lifted his face.
Fort Sumter has surrendered"
CHAPTER II.
Richard Somers reentered the office
of DIR. Brodnar as the clock was strik-
ing ten. He was in full evening dress
and wore a white rose, a Lamarque,
upon his lapel. As he stood drawing
on his gloves Brodnar regarded him
with silent admiration. The straight
military figure of good height looked
taller than it had. There was no sug-
gestion of heaviness at any point, but
behind the perfect lines lay, as he
knew, an amount of strength and
nervous force that would with refrain
ing rank their owner among the ath-
letes. But fine as was the framework OF
the man and his physical development
there was in the face, Swallowed at the
moment by broad, housekeeping
lashes and mustache, patrician ele-
gance, native refinement and innate
nobility that commanded undivided
attention. The slightly aquiline fea.
lures were softened by arched and
evenly matched brows and an expires.
sion indescribable by any other term
than that invented by Paris friend
-"the Somers smile" One never ap.
preciated the value of that smile un,
til in some moment of emotion the
face which wore it grew white and
straight, and the level gaze of the
man was encountered. Above white
inclined forehead hair almost blacl
lay in waves, but so closely as to leave
visible the outlines of the splendid
head. Such was Richard Somers al
2s, a man raved over by women, en-
I We'd by men, known to but few.
ut is better this way" he was say
ing of himself; "a man owes somethin
$ to his family and his bride in the mat
ter of dress, even though he is not t
6 see or be seen. And he owes a grea
= deal to himself. By the way. a.
n suIned that am not to be seen-hov
ever, is that one of the questions mus
/. not ask?"
"Your face is not to be seen, Dicl
u except in the dark-dimly. But | al
glad, nevertheless. that you selecte
u your dress suit; it does seem more j
= taste. By the way-speaking of Ra.
mond Holbin-Dick, have you forgof
ten that he dated from this state in tn
army? God knows where he wa
t born. / see him occasionally in Ricl
mond, and" = Brodnar paused an
e looked curiously on his companion
"have you ever been told that there
something not unlike in your persons
appearance? Don't be offended. Of
= fellow, but, between you and me. thei
e isn't more unprincipled rascal vi
hung" Somer's face flushed once an
the smile left it. He replied with son
r constraint:
II did not know that he ever favort
u Richmond with his presence. l q
O. know, however. that he once lived
. this state. His was a presidential a
:. pointment. His mother years ae
welded considerable influence arour
} Washington, especially among sen
tors. As to the likeness, il has bee