The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1904-02-19

"a good evening. Mr.. Todd" an
swered the old man. pausing. "Ah. Mr..
Harkless. was looking for you" He
had not seemed TO be looking for any
thing beyond the boundaries of his own
dreams. but he approached Harkless.
tugging nervously at some papers in
Lis pocket. Il have completed my notes
for our Saturday edition 1t was quite
easy. sir. There is much doing"
Thank you. Mr.. Fisbee." said Hark-
less as he took the manuscript. Have
you finished your paper on the earlier
Christian symbolism? hope the Her
aid may have the honor of printing it"
This was form they used.
Il shall be the recipient of honor,
sir" returned Fisbee. Your kind offer
will speed my work: but I fear. Mr..
Harkless. very much fear. that your
kindness alone prompts IL. for. deeply
as I desire IL. I cannot truthfully say
that my essays appear to increase our
circulation" He made an odd. trou-
bled gesture as he went on: They do
not seem to read them here. although
Mr.. Martin assures me that be care
decoration whenever he rearranges bis
exhibition windows" He plodded on a
few PAGES. then turned irresolutely.
what Is II. Fisbee?' asked Harkless.
Fisbee stood for moment as though
about TO speak: then he smiled family.
shook his head and went bis way.
Harkless waved his hand to him In
farewell and. drawing a pencil and a
pad from his pocket. proceeded to In
jure his eyes in the waning twilight by
the editorial perusal Of the items his
staff had Just left in his hands BE
glanced over them meditatively, max
ing alterations here and there.
The last one Fisbee had written m
follows:
Miss Sherwood of Rouen. whom Miss
Briscoe knew at the Misses Jennings fn-
ishing school in New York. Is q guest OF
Judge Briscoes household
Fisbee's items were written In ink
There was a blank space beneath the
last. At the bottom of the page some.
thing had been scribbled In pencil
HarkIess vainly tried to decipher IT
but the twilight had fallen too deep
and the writing was too faint. so be
struck a match and held 1t close to the
paper. The action betokened only Q
| languid interest. But when he caugbI
| sight of the first of the four subscrib
ed lines he sat up straight In his chair
| with a sharp ejaculation. At the bot
tom Of Fisbee's page was written II
a dainty feminine hand Of q type ht
had not seen for years:
"The time has come" the walrus said.
| ITO talk of many things
| OF shoes and ships and sealing wax
And cabbages and kings"
He put the paper In his pocket and
set of rapidly down the village street
At his departure William Todd looket
up quickly. Then he got upon his feet
with a yawn, and quietly followed tn
editor. In the dusk q tattered littl,
figure rose up from the weeds acros
the way and stole noiselessly afte
william. he was In his shirt sleeves
his waistcoat unbuttoned and loose. o.
the nearest corner Mr.. Todd encounter
ed a fellow townsman who had beeI
pacing up and down In front Of a cot
tage grooming to protestive baby he'll
In his arms. he had paused In his vigi
10 stare after Harkless
where's he bound fer. WilliamY
inquired the man with the baby.
"Briscoes'." answered William, pur
suing his way.
81 reckoned he would be-" observe,
the other. turning to his wife. who sa
on the doorstep. Il reckoned so whel
see that lady at the lecture las
night"
The woman rose to her feet III
Bill Toddr' she said. What ye 20
on to the back OF yer vestY' william
paused. put his hand behind him an
encountered paper pinned to the dan
CLING strap of his waistcoat The won
an ran to him and unpinned the paper
1T bore a writing. They took 1t to wher
the sellow lamplight shone out througl
the ocen door and read:
der sir--roLer harkts al 20 pies a
GaRd him yoR best v-nagens is clostel
harkls not Got das to live we come
wife.
what ye think. WilllamT aske
the man with the baby anxiously. Bu
the woman gave the youth a shar
push with her hand. They never das
to do itI' she cried. never in th
world! You hurry. Bill Todd. Don
leave him out of your sight one Sc,
onl"
1