The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1903-07-31

length on his craft, then he cursed him.
self for his folly in being enslaved. He
pleaded to Maisie for a kiss-only one
kiss-before she went away. He called
to her to come back from Vitry-sur-
Marine, if she would, but through all his
rawlings he bade heaven and earth wit
ness that the queen could do no wrong.
Torpenhow listened attentively and
learned every detail of Dicks life that
had been hidden from him. For three
DAYS Dick raved through his past, and
then slept natural sleep. What a
strain he has been running under, poor
chapr said Torpenhow. "Dick, of all
men, handing himself over like dog!
And / was lecturing him on arrogance!
/ ought to have known that it was no
use to Judge a man. But l did it. What
a demon that girl must be! Dicks given
her his life-confound him!-and she's
given him one kiss apparently"
"Torp," said Dick from the bed, $50
out for a walk You've been here too
long. I'll get up. Hi. This is annoy
ing l can't dress myself. Oh, it's too
absurd!
Torpenhow helped him into his
clothes and led him to the big chair in
the studio. He sat quietly waiting un-
! der strained nerves for the darkness to
lift. 1t did not lift that day or the next.
Dick adyentured on a voyage round
the walls. He hit his Sims against the
stove. and this suggested to him that it
10 xy-l~ oil
one hand in front of. him. Torpenhow
found him on the floor.
'I'm trying to get the geography of
my new possessions, said he. "D'you
remember that niger you gouged in
the square? Pity you didn't keep the
odd eye. 1t would have been useful.
ANY letters for me? Give me all the
ones in fat, gray envelopes with sort
of crown thing outside. They are of no
Importance"
Torpenhow gave him letter with 3
black NJ on the envelope flap. Dick put
it into his pocket. There was nothing
in it that Torpenhow might not have
read, but it belonged to himself ana to
Maisie, who would never belong to
him.
"When she finds that l don't write,
she'll stop writing. It's better so. l
couldn't be any use to her now" Dick
argued, and the tempter suggested
that he should make known his condi-
ton. Every nerve in him revolted. 81
have fallen low enough already. Pm
not going to beg for pity. Besides, it
would be cruel to her.
He strove to put Maisie out of his
thoughts, but the blind have many op-
portunities for thinking, and as the
tides of his strength came back to him
in the long, employees days of dead
darkness, Dicks soul was troubled to
the core Another letter and another
came from Maisie. Then there was 81
lence, and Dick sat by the window
with the pulse of summer in the air
and pictured her being won by another
man stronger than himself.
His Imagination, the keener for the
dark background it worked against,
spared him no single detail that might
send him raging up and down the stu
dio to stumble over the stove that
seemed to be in four places at once.
Worst of ALL tobacco would not taste
in the dark. The arrogance of the man
had disappeared, and in its place was
settled despair that Torpenhow knew
and blind passion that Dick confided
to his pillows at night. The Intervals
between paroxysms were filed with
intolerable wailing and the weight or
intolerable darkness.
"Come out into the park" said Tor
penhow. "You haven't stirred out since
the beginning Of things"
whats the use? There's no move
ment in the dark, and besides'-he
paused irresolutely at the head OF the
stairs something will run over me-"
"Not if I'm with you. Proceed gin
gerly."
The roar of the streets filled Dick
with nervous terror, and he chung to
Torpenhow's arm. Fancy having to
feel for a gutter with your foot!' he
said petulantly as he turned into the
park. Lets curse God and die"
"Sentries are forbidden to pay I'M
authorized compliments. By Jove.
there are the guardsv'
Dicks figure Strengthened. Lets get
near 'em. Let's go in and look. Let's
get on the grass and run. ! can smell
the trees"
"AIind the low railing. That's all
right" Torpenhow kicked out tuft
of grass with his heel. ''Smell that"
he said. "Isn't it good?" Dick snuffed
luxuriously. "Now pick up your feet
and rum" They approached as near
to the regiment as was possible. The
clank of bayonets being unfixed made
Dicks nostrils culver.
''Let's get nearer. They're in COL
umn, aren't they?"
eyes. How did you know"
"Felt it. Oh, my men! My beauti-
full men, He edged forward as
though he could see. 81 could draw
those chaps once. Who'll draw 'em
now?
They'll move off in minute. Don't
Jump when the band begins"
"Huh! I'm not new charger. It's
the silences that hurt Nearer. corp!
Nearer! Oh, my God. what wouldn't
! give to see 'em for minute one
half minutev'
He could hear the armed life almost
within reach of him. could hear the
sings tighten across the bandsman's
chest as he heaved the big drum from
the ground.
"Stcks crossed above his head"
whispered Torpenhow.
II know! know! Who should know
Il don't? H'sh!'