Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1901-10-03
TWO nouns ago OTIS Macmanara

had received the disappointment
OF his life-a woman's NO! He haf
been trampling the streets Of Louis
Vile ever since, smoking a number OF
cigars and wondering what he should
do with the rest of his life.
Common sense kept whispering that
Grace Langdon was not the only WON
an in the world, and that he, Macma-
nara, was young, handsome, and
wealthy, bat his heart was beating to
another tune. and he knew il would
keep TO that same tune until life was
put away.
As the gas and electric lights began
their rivalry. common sense gained the
supremacy so far as 70 cause the young
man To buy book and tell himself he
would go home and try TO read il. He
had Just come out of a book store and
was turning the storm collar Of his
coat up against the driving snow. when
a voice very low and very clear, and
also very close said: 1T is warm In
my home"
did you speak 10 me?" Mcnamara
asked Of gray shadow leaning against
8 lamp-post
- said &c Is warm Ia my home"
Mcnamara laughed. There Is moth
FMS 80 very novel Ia that fact, MY good
fellow; there are millions Of homcs to-
night as warm as the tropics. in spite
Of The weather outside my own. Tor
instance. 10 which ana going now"
Are you goingg i was rot the
question only; the voice he,6a soft ems
chanting cadence that fascinated Mae
manara.
wei, yes lam sure lshau TART for
2 me as soon as my eur turns tic core
uer."
And I am as equally certain You win
60 With me-"
since You are s. SIRE ~ q viii you
feline the name 81 my would-be host?"
and Mcnamara listened somewhat
eagerly for The answer which came
without hesitation.
Il am the Devil"
This Is interesting. ! have had nu-
merous indirect invitations 20 visit
you, Mr.. Deyl, and a number ~ my
friends have predicted that my final
resting would be with you, but never
expected you TO step up in the flesh
aud invite me. and the fact IS. never
in all my life felt so much Ike going 20 !
You as ] do tonight
At that moment a carriage stopped /
outside the curhing, and the coarhman
came down 90 examine the harness /
The carriage door opened and one 90 /
the occupants asked the cause Of the I
delay. Mcnamara caught sight a. The /
face that had caused both his joy and |
his sorrow. When the carriage moved. /
a delicate lace handkerchief CLEANED /
white beneath the gas light. Only an /
instant IL lay there-the next it was /
In Macmanara's coat pocket. |
The name daintily written IN one corr /
ner of the handkerchief was Oracle" /
Good night, Mr., really must I
be going. II you viii take my advice /
you win 60 back 10 that very warm /
home of yours and stay there until |
spring, for. as one who knows his /
world. ! can tell you the weather here |
Is going TO be very much worse before /
long"
The gray shadow stepped ont into
the fun glare Of the Pickering light. re.
yealing a handsome young man dressed /
in stylish suit Of gray.
Il am disappointed, and Macmanara /
whistled. ~Why. you are young man 4
and ] thought the Devil was S old a. /
the world. \ young man with blond |
and no hornsl II you want /
to masquerade as the Devil-why don't 4
you make up for the part?"
The self-confessed Devil doIed his i
hat. Feel he said.
In striking contrast TO fair. almost I
complexion and blond 4
his hair was black IS night.
Macmanara's hands glided slowly over
the bowed head in search Of the horns.
They were there. and a thrill crept 1
down Macmanara $ spine as he touched
them. He had Tested with the man. be.
ieving him 10 be crank, but now. for
some reason, he did not understand.
lIe was startled.
You are convinced, and will 90 with
ne - Always soft and low. vet very
clear, the Devils voice was a melody.
Mcnamara looked up. 4 pair Of
lear blue eyes, behind which there
seemed to burn a flame-eyes unlike
any he had ever seen before. looked
'iraight into his own. The Devil had
possession Of his man in a moment.
ont even with his sense enthrai'ed
Mcnamara shuddered as he asked:
= must die frstc"
NO" the Devil answered. emnhat-
ea.ly, u want you 20 60 with me
nd see and feel the beauty. comfort
nd happiness in my home and then
'ome back to the world in the flesh
md tell how basely have been ma
iened."
While the Devil was speaking they
rere moving straight toward the
liver. and when they reached il he
Unlocked a skif and invited his guest
o step in. As the boat went scud-