Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1904-06-18

worst
THAT her father had changed his
name and had become gambler? No.
] spared her that"
"Tt was best that you did So
81 told Elsie how you helped me,
Darrell; told her how ! had come out
to this country entrusted with money
BY some eastern friends who reposed
faith In my integrity ana was 10 exam
Inc mine and close deal for its pur-
chase. She knows that | was false to
my trust and lost the money at the
gambling table and that you won 1t
back for me. That is why she wants
TO see you and thank you. We are all
leaving tomorrow for Anaconda and
the east. Won't you go with me now
to the hotel?"
Darrell shook his head.
Don't urge me, Lenyard. You have
I did for you"
Lenyard leaned forward and laid a
friendly hand on barrels knee.
What of the future, DARRELL" he
asked.
Let us not talk OF my future, but OF
yours"
81 must speak what is in my mind
and | trust you will take no offense.
You are fitted for better things, OAR
rel, and why not try for them?"
"In other words you think should
REFORM"
$50 far as card-playing goes, yes"
mo, | will not. My reputation
would cling to me. You remember
that Old Man of the Sea that fastened
himself to Sinbad's neck? That Is the
sort of a reputation would have IL
tried to reform. | would rather be
what | am"
But man can live down a reputa-
ton"
Some kinds; not one like mine.
Why, my lad, / am the author of a
brave play in poker. 1t is known as
barrels discard. Every blackleg in
the west knows of It," He laughed.
''The notorietv pleases me, for it takes
nerve to discard aces. F."
lanyard tried to argue. but Darrell
reached for the written sheets that lay
beside him on the table
After ALL" he said. settling back
in his chair, the sheets in his hand,
''what does it matter? 1t takes all
kinds of men to make wsrld and !
am not so sure that n gambler has not
his uses in the great universal scheme.
[ have some verses here. Lenyard.
They are very poor, but sometimes nv
thoughts come in RHYMES and l jot
them down to get them out OF nv
head. | am going to call this dovgerel
eN'Importe ? aud ven shall listen to
it, for is reflects my mood today 9
Then, with the smoking cigar be-
tween his slender white fingers and
the feathery vapor creeping around
his handsome face, he read:
A sage knew ICE blew and blew
Upon pipe of clay,
And from that pipe a bubble ripe
And perfect. dropped away.
Then, as / gazed a rainbow blazed
Across the bubbles face.
And meads We're seen, and hills of green.
And life in ev'ry place;
And 10! play, in brave array,
We saw as we stood by;
And on the stage there stood the sage.
And near the sage. stood l.
What work we made, or how We played.
or lan~n To foil
Yet hopes and fears. and smiles and tears,
That bubble-world befell.
Then, as we wrought, with sudden
thought.
The sage blew out his breath,
And in a mist, ere one could list,
That bubble died the death.
Then spake the sage: mans heritage
or happiness and woe.
Is like the things our fancy brings,
For fancies come and go.
Time wears apace, and into space
A throbbing bali is hurl'd.
And on the ball live notes who cali
That throbbing ball a world
But countless globes in starry robes
Are thrown across the sky,
So what is earth, whose feeble girth
The earthly magnify?
And what the cares of mans affairs,
For better or for worse?
AS man to sphere. our spheres career
Is TO the universe.
For like dream where things but seem,
or like a house of glass.
Or like a mist the winds have hss'd,
This bubble-world shall pass!'
Lenyard never forgot that talk with
Darrell. When the young man started
back to the hotel the gambler shook
his hand babe him remember his
promise. and said "Good-bY."ss
"Oh," returned Lenyard,, quickly, Il
shall see you again" ,,
perhaps" said Darrell, with a queer
smile. He intended leaving early for
Anaconda, much earlier than Lenyard
could leave with MRS. Gortons and
Elise He would post letter to Law
renee Ormsby. in A naeonda, telling him
! of his friend McCloud, then he would
return to the old life in San Francisco
Lenyard went away, strangely de-
| pressed. va
A. es,. CHAPTER XXI ~. fti
|