Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-01-02

something wet Wheaton came with G
| pail of water, pumped by the windmill into
| trough at the rear of the house. He hao
broken the thin ice with his hands.
GO for a DOCTOR" said the bishop, very
quietly, nodding to Saxton; "aad go fast"
wheaton followed SaXton to the hall
where they cut loose the remaining horse
Saxton flung himself upon 1t, and the ami
NAL sprang into gallop at the door.
Wheaton watched the horse and rider dis
appear through the starlight; he wished
that he could go with Saxton. He turned
back with sick terror to the room where
Raridan lay white and still; but Wheaton
was as white as he
The bishop had rolled his overcoat into a
support for Warry's head, and with a wet
handkerchief laved his temples. Wheaton
stood watching him, silent and anxious to
serve. but with his powers of initiative
frozen In him.
old man.; and Wheaton drew near the
table, and with shudder thrust his hand
into the pocket of Raridan's coat.
Shall I pour some?' he asked. Raridan
had moved his arms slightly and goaned as
wheaton bent close to him. Wheaton de-
tached the cup from the bottom Of the flask
ana poured some Of the brandy into 1t. The
bishop, motioning him to stand ready with
II, raised Raridan gently. and together they
pressed the silver CUP to his lips
That will do I think he swallowed a.
little" said the bishop. Bring wood, IT
Raridan's head was growing hot under his
touch, and he continued to lave 1t gently
with the wet handkerchief. There was q
shed at the back of the house where WOOD
had been kept in the old days of the pom
dexter ascendanoy, and Wheaton. glad OF
an excuse to get away from the PROSTATE
Inquire on the long table, went stumbling
through the hall to find this place. There
was terrible silence in the old house-a
silence that filled all the world, a silence
that could not be broken, It seemed to him,
save by some new thing Of dread. There
beyond the prairie day would break soon
In the. town where he had striven and fail
ed-not the failure that proceeds from lack
of opportunity ability TO gain the sue
cesses which men value most, but the fail
ure of man in self-mastery and courage.
He felt his soul shrivea in the few sec
onds that he stood at the doof looking
across the windy plain-like a dreamer who
turns from his dreams and welcomes the
not prove true. He drew the doors to-
gether and turned to go on his errand,
lighting match to get his bearings, when
sound on the stairway startled him; there
was figure there-the wan, frightened
face Of Grant Porter looked down at ham.
He had forgotten the boy whom Saxton had
left IN the hall above. Grant shrank back
on the stairs, not recognizing him. 1t SEEM
ed to Wheaton that there was something Of
loathing in the boys movement. and that
always afterward people would shrink from
him.
els that you. Grant" he asked. The boy
ulu Hol dilSWSEs II ell Sffdnt, 10
added, trying to throw some kindness into
his voice. You'd better stay upstairs until
we're ready to 60"
The boy turned and stole back up the
stairway, and Wheaton, encouraged by the
sound of his own voice, brought wood and
kndled 1T with some straw in the dining
room fireplace.
Let US try the brandy again." said the
bishop. Again Wheaton poured 1t, and
they forced little between the lips of the
stricken man. Raridans face. as Wheaton
touched 1t with his fingers, was warm; he
had expected to find 1t cold: he had feel
ing that the man lying there must be dead
II only help would come, Raridan might
hive! He would accept everything else. but
to be murderer--to have lured man to
his doomI The bishop did not speak to
him. save now and then word in low
tone, to call attention to some change in
Raridan, or to ask help in moving him.
The dry wood burned brightly in the fire.
place and lighted the room. The bishop
asked the time.
HE could hardly go and come In less
than two hours, said Wheaton. He lifted
his head.
.They are coming now" The short pat