Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1904-01-08
4 COMPLEAT HERO.
Aphsnse cour ander.


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somewhere off the city, and sat day
after day frowning at ledgers and
cashbooks, with his short legs coiled
desperately round the long legs of the
stool. Mr.. Dibchick at the seaside was
a man of leisure, a man of culture ESQ
every one said in the boarding house
1.-TWO minutes from the front, terms
from 25s."o, and undoubtedly a man of
wealth, as the blue haze from his CT
gar testified. And his flannel suit was
immaculate In its u shrinkable glory.
And his yellow boot made mirrors for
the sun. And his j Numerically his
panama might have been q 30-shilling
one from Bond stl set, instead of a
three-and-six-penny Cheapside imita-
ton. If imitation is the sincerest
form of fattery, never has a headgear
been subjected to more fulsome fiat
terry than the panama hat.
Mr.. Dibchick walked gracefully along
the promenade, using the shop, win
dows as looking glasses, until the long
repetition of reflections grew monOto-
nous, and he turned into n of the
squares that led off the Wittlesea
promenade. At No. 26, Sea View"
(the sixth house of that name in the
~square), lived Mabel, and it was for
Mabel that he had arrayed himself in
all his flannelled glory.
She was standing on the steps of the
house taking the morning" and by
her side was a mania most objec-
tionable man, thought Mr.. Dibch1ck)-
talking and laughing with her in a
more than confidential manner He
strolled up to them carelessly, and
Mabel said "It'sryou, is it?" as if she
had not been expecting him; as if she
had forgotten all about the appoint
ment made On the pier last night. Mr..
Dibchick glared savagely at the man,
and Mabel introduced them: "Mr. Dib-
chick-Major Wayte."
Major Wayte curled his moustache
tremendously, and Nj. Dibchick's
thumb and forefinger rushed to his
upper lip-just to make sure that his
few treasured wisps were still there.
"How-de-do, Mr.. Dabchick?" conde-
scended the major.
"Dibchick, sir" scowled the ag-
grieved owner of the name.
The major smiled, a~pologized, smiled
again-this time at Mabel, and with
drew. Look here, Mabel" burst out
Mr.. Didchick, who's that BLACKBOARD,
and why didn't you seem pleased to
see me before him?"
How dare you call my friend q
blackguard?" she replied, angrily.
Hes a gentleman; and he's a hero-a
v. c."
liar! Har!!" laughed Mr.. Dibchick,
mirthlessly; Il know those heroes-V.
Chart He was tragical in his con-
tempt.
"Oh, yes, you may well sneer-you'd
like to be as brave as he is. l love
brave men!"
A lump entered Mr.. Dibchick's
throat, and he drew himself-the whole
four feet nine inches of him-up man
fully. "Oh, very.well, then; I suppose
it's no good my waiting here to be in
suited any longer. I could see you
wanted to quarrel with me. Good by
He turned on his heel and strobe
down the square to the front again.
His mind was a seething cauldron of
hate against brave men and majors.
AS he reached the corner he looked to
see if Mabel was still there. Perhaps
she was crying! He saw her muslin
clad figure on the steps, and by her
side was a man-a big man-and \
brave man.
Then Mr.. Dibchick said something
out loud that shocked an elderly con-
sumptive who was being wheeled past
him in a bath chair into a protesting
fit of coughing.
They're all alike, women" philoso-
phized Mr.. Dibchfck. Life is a book
to them, and men are the pages, to be
cast aside for a new one as soon as the
interest has died out He surprised
himself as an epigrammatist, and phil
osophized again. 'Life-ah!-is a nut,
and woman is the kernel7generally
bitter!" Then in needless extrava-
gance he flung down two coppers at the
pier turnstile, and pushed moodily on
to the pier. tg
The band was playing a selection
from my Lady Molly and the melo-
dies made him think of Mabel, and the
old, dear times they had spent to-
gether in London. He remembered the
evening on which they went to the
theatre to see the play. He could fit
the words to the tune which the band
was playing:
Seek-fnd! Love is blind, f
Tell-tale blush confeSses
Ladies sometimes change their mind
Noes" are modest "yeses.'
He grew sadly sentimental and
stared down at the green swirling wa
tiers below. Dear little Mabel! after
ALL he could afford to be magnanimous,
seeing that he loved her. How pretty
she looked in that white muslin dress.
with the red rose nesting at her
waist! She loved brave men! Well.
why not? After all, bravery is largely
opportunity. You may be as bold and
dashing a fellow as ever made out an
invoice. and yet live through life with
never a chance of showing your valor.
Chance makes many a hero.
II will be a hero!" muttered ar.
Dibchick to the leaping waves beneath
him. Nov, what shall I do?" Ana
as if in answer to his query he saw q
crowd swiftly gathering at the end OF
the pier, as a man, fully dressed, threw
As-.~~1f 1rr tn 1-~-.l A-----.L-r 800
Mr.. Dibchick, before anybody could
stop him, leaped over the parapet, and
the waters closed above his head. He
rose to the surface with shouts ring
ing in his ears. Save him! save himl1