The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-07-16
"1Iow? Easily mended. isn't it7'

How? Easily mended. Isn't III"
II think shall not play it soon again."
Crailey swung his long legs off the sofa
and abruptly sat upright. Whats this7"
he asked gravely.
Tom pushed his papers away from his,
rose and went to tho dusty window
that looked to the west where, at the
end of the long street. the sun was setting
behind the ruin Of charred imbers on the
bank Of the shining river.
1T seems that played once too often"
he said.
Crailey was thoroughly astonishcd. Fe
took q long affectonate pull at the flask
and offered 1t to his partner.
NO" said Tom. turning to him with
a troubled face "and If I were you, I
wouldn't either. These fishing trips Of
yours"
Wishing" Crailey laughed. Trips Of
poetaster! It's then write best, and
write I will! There's a poem, and a
damned good one, too, old preacher. in
every gill Of whiskey, and I'm the lad
that can extract it. Lord. what's better
than to be out In the open. all by your
self in tho woods, or on the river? Think
Of the long nights alone with the glory
of heaven and a good demijohn! Why. a
mans thoughts are like actors performing
in the air, and all the crowding stars for
audience! You know in your soul you'd
rather have me out there, going It all by
myself, than raising thunder over town.
And you know, too, it doesn't tell on
me; it doesn't show. You couldn't guess.
to save your life, how much I've had to-
day. now could you?'
Yes" returned the other, IT could"
well WELL" said Craiey. good natured-
ly, ''we weren't talking of me-" lie set
down the flask, went to mis- friend and
dropped a hand lightly on his shoulder.
what made you break the guitar? Tell
me-"
What makes you think broke it?"
asked his partner, sharply.
TELL me why you did it," said Crailey.
And Tom, pacing the room, told him,
while Crailey stood in silence. looked him
his way. Tho listener interrupted seldom;
once it was to exclaim:
but you haven't said why you broke
the guitar"
eff thine eye offend thee. pluck 1t
out!' ought to have cut off the hand
that played to herr!
And cut your throat for singing to
har?"
"she was rightH' the other answered,
striding up and down the room. fright
"a thousand times-ln everything she did.
That should even approach her, with an
unspeakable insolence! I had forgotten,
and so, possibly had she, but had not
mo, you hadn't, that's true" observed
Galley, renectively. you don't seem to
have much to reproach her with, Tom"
"Reproach her!" cried the other THAT
should dream she would speak to mo
or have anything to do with me was to
cast a doubt upon her loyalty as dauEh-
ter. She was right, sayl And she did
the only thing she could do-rebuked me
before them all. No one ever merlted
what he got more roundly than de-
served that Who was I. in her eyes.
that should bes!ege her with my i'm
portunities-who but her fathers worst
enemy?"
Deep anxiety knitted Craiey's brow. II
understood she knew Of the quarrel" he
said, thoughtfully. II saw that the other
evening when 7 helped her out OF the
crowd. She spoke of 1t on the way home.
remember: but how did she know that
you were Vanreyel? No one In town
would be apt to roentlon you to her"
mo. but she did know, you see.'
Eyes returned Mr.. Gray, slowly. $50
It seems. Probably her father told her
to avoid you, and described You so that
she recognized you as the man who
caught the kitten"
ITO be continued tomorrow. }