Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1904-05-07

every village and every coun-
try postoffice on the line. There was a
passenger in the smoker who found
the stops at these wayside hamlets in
terminable. He got up and paced the
aisle now and then, and his companion
reminded him that this was not GER
tain to hasten the hour Of their arrival
at their destination. az know that"
answered he, but I've got to beat
McCune."
by the way" observed Meredith.
''you left your stick behind"
You don't think 1 need a club to
face
Tom choked. "Oh, no; 1 wasn't think.
ing.of your giving H. Fisbee a beating.
] meant to lean on"
Il don't want it. I've got to walk
lame all my life, but I'm not going to
bobble on stick"
Tom looked at him sadly for a mo-
ment. 1t was true, and the Crossroad-
ers might hug themselves in their
cells over the thought. For the rest of
bis life John Harkless was to walk
with just the limp they themselves
would have had If, as in former days.
their sentence had been to the ball and
chain.
"Sit down, boy, sit down." said
Meredith, and his friend obeyed.
The window was open beside the two
young men, and the breeze that blew
in soothed like a balm, yet held a tang
and spice in it, hint of walnuts and
of coming frost. There was q newness
in the atmosphere that day, a bright
invigoration, that set the blood tin
Cling. The hot months were done with;
languor was routed. Autumn spoke to
industry. told Of the sowing of another
harvest, of the tawny shock. of the
purple grape, of the red apple. and call
ed upon muscle and laughter breath
ing gayety into mems hearts. The little
stations hummed with hustle and noise.
big farm wagons ratified off up the viii
lage streets and raced with "cut under"
or omnibus; people walked with quick
STEPS: the baggagemasters called
cheerily TO the trainmen, and the
brakemen laughed goodbys to roIlck-
Ing girls. At times the train ran be-
tween shadowy groves, and delicate
landscape vistas, framed in branches,
opened, closed and succeeded each 9TH
err and then the travellers were carried
beyond into the level open again and
looked out TO where the intensely blue
september skies ran down to the low
horizon, meeting the boundless alsles
OF corn. 1t rakes long time for the
full beauty OF the fat lands to reach a
mans soul. Once there. nor hills. nor
90 fan
shall suffice him. 1t is like the beauty
In the word Indiana. 1t may be that
there are people who do not consider
Indiana 8 beautiful word. but let II
ring true In your ears, and il has q
richer sound than Vallombrosa.
All at once the anger ran out or John
Harkless. He was q hard man for
anger TO tarry with. And In place of II
strong sense OF home coming began
TO take possession of him. He was GO
ing home. Back to Plattville, where l
belong" he said to himself without bit
terness, and ii was the truth. Every
man cometh TO his own place In the
end"
Yes, as one leaves gay acquaintance
OF the playhouse lobby for some hard
wave the outer world godspeed and
come back 10 the old ways OF Carlow.
What though the years were dusty, he
had his friends and his memories and
his old black brier pipe. He had a
girls picture that he should carry in
his heart till his last day, and II his
life was sadder ii was infinitely richer
for II. His winter ireside would be not
so lonely for her sake, and, losing her,
he lost not everything, for he had had
the rare blessing Of having known her
And what man could wish to be healed
of such hurt? Far better to have had
IT than 10 trot Snug pace unscathed.
He had been dullard, sluggard.
weary of himself, unfit to fight, fail
ure in life and failure in love. That
was ended. He was tired OF failing,
and it was time to succeed for awhile.
To accept the worst that fate can deal
and to wiring courage from ii instead
OF deSpair-that is success. and it was
the success that he would have. He
would take fate by the neck. But had
it done him unkindness? He looked
out over the beautiful, "monotonous"
landscape, and he answered heartily,
Nor There was ignorance in man,
but no unkindness. Were man utterly
wise he We're utterly kind The Cross
readers had not known better, that was
all.
The unfolding aisies of corn swan
pleasantly before his eyes. The earth
hearkened TO mans wants and answer
ed. The clement sun and summer rains
fastened the fruition Yonder stood
the brown hayStack, garnered to feed
the Industrious horse that had earned
his need. There was the straw thatch-
ed shelter for the cattle. How the or
chard boughs bent with their burdens!
The big red barns stood stored with
the harvest, for this was Carlow coun-
~, and he was coming home.
They crossed n byroad An old man
with streaky gray chin beard was
sitting on sack of oats in Il seatIess
wagon waiting for the fra in 10 noes