The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1903-06-06
(contluued)

and very soon he as penniless. Hi
: elder brother he I'd him 10 a posi-
, ton, but though e did his best, hi
, apparent indlfi'e, .ce brought about
Is dismissal. sisters husband
how tried to Civ I'm lift, but the
ecipient soon discovered that ht
sas hindrnce eli ther than an aid
nd 70 one nigh returning from his
york d;scoIraA a and embittered
md being repro ched by his sister
Tor dis general selessness, he went
20 his ro' m, pnt few traps to-
yetl er, alum the upon a stout cane
>ve, hir sAouE err, and walked out
ntC thr da knee 3, from that hour a
gag ,boid, wan6tging whittier fancy
led, now We rklng at this or that, now
beg ring, sufeririy sometimes, but not
without Gertai 4 enjoyment in life.
vas 'ly hap ,ier than he had been
VIII he fit u mself dependent on,
anf a :ep, zach to, those who were
his neAres Of kin. Such was the
ste y # tlis l. s'er-do-well, story
of weakness, - folly, of Needless
ne' s, lat rot Of crime or of dis
honor.
JtaNi lg .ttl himself to his salts
fat tioI under Inc lofty elm, Ros-
sitter opened the undle he had cast
by his side-a dilf pidated change of
underwear, pair of socks, vest
and an outing sh'rt-and extracted
briar-wood pipe Of cheap make
and a small piece of smoking-plug.
From the tobacco he cut with miser-
ly care enough to fill half the pipe
bowl, and having lighted it leaned
back with sigh of comfort. II was
the first indulgence of the kind he
had allowed himself for several days,
and the fact that he was permit ting
himself to enjoy so epicurean pleas
ure at this morning hour indicated
that something of unusual moment
was occupying his mind.
After having blown, to his intense
satisfaction, two or three fragrant
clouds into the warm September air,
he took from his pocket square
envelope, from which he drew let
ter. This he spread out before him
upon one knee. It read in this wise:
Dear Philip: have heard from your
former friend, Everson, that you have
again been seen in or near Kalamanti,
and am sending this enclosed in a
note to him in the hope of reaching you
For the sake Of our dead father and
mother. for your sake, and for the sake
OF us all. want you to come back for
another trial. VIII you not? On the LIST
of October the Evening Star passes into
the hands of an acquaintance of mine
George Agnew, who intends making
some sweeping chang in the staff
Recalling some sketches and skits you
once wrote which received much pleas
ant comment. and the leanings you
formerly had towards literature, which
father very unfortunately and injudi-
ciously, I now believe) so insistently dis
couraged. l spoke Of you to Mr.. Agnew,
who has very generously offered to give
you chance on the paper October 1,
as I said above, is the date when the
change In management takes place, and
X. by good fortune you receive this let
tor, beg that you will not allow this
perhaps LAST opportunity to retrieve
yourself to slip from you hope that
you will believe me still your affection
lte brother,
ARCHIBALD RossITER.
Its mighty good of Archie" com
nented the wanderer "a blamed
light too good! / don't deserve it.
ID probably make mess of it, just
IS l have of everything else but
his" and he glanced down at his
worm and dusty shoes, and at his
AIDED and weather-stained garb.
And yet-well, it's what I always
lsed to think I'd like, and here am
more than half way there"
When his brothers missiye had ,
'een handed to him two weeks pre-
ious he had been upon the point Of !
urning south. Instead he set his /
ace eastward, not with a definite
lea of falling in with what his y
rother had proposed, but with that =
in view. Now, after kav- i
1g had the past so wildly brought y
efore him by his unforeseen tarry r
Illica, after having experienced a
motions that he had fancied be- n
'nged almost totally to different
nvironment he was more strongly =
loved than ever thus to challenge 4
ate !,
Bat the old weakness, the hesi-
lncy, the dislike CT responsibility, r.
'stered by his rowing life was not g
ghtly to be overcome; so he lay
nd debated. Against his undoubted g
esire to redeem himself, a desire W
hich was gradually strengthening,
use the consciousness of former s,
ilure, and also the undeniable fas-
nation his present existence had %.
'me to have for him. Half an !our O.
ipped away, an hour, and it was nj
id-morning. The heat increased,
I'd the reclining man grew drowsy. Sc
Vaguely, as in dream, he marked
70 figures cross his angle Of vision &C
I'd follow the river bank to a point pi
It many rods from where he was tn
ing. He saw these persons begin
divest themselves of their clothes. ao
mmented to himself that they were Iii
ing for a swim, and here his ed
arcely aroused curiosity ceased. fir
closed his eyes and presently lost tn
Twenty minutes had tn
used when scream rent TIE quiet II
:, a sharp boyish cry of terror eli
the second cutlery, louder and Re