Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1904-02-19

heve there Is such ladder or that. on
the contrary. people never rise above
the plane 10 which they are boinf"
Il do believe in the theory OF the lad
der Just as frmlG as used 10 believe
in my theory Of gratitude" returned
Hackett
'iou believe In that. too. yeti
might have thought You would have
seen it completely disproyed by this
time-two years In a newspaper office. !"
said Haverly.
"No; | believe even yet that people.
a few at least will remember favor. q
bit of self sacrifice. with gratitude and
do one a good turn occasionally"
well. maybe they do. Light q cigar
and tell me how you came TO stumble
upon me here" said Haverly. pulling
the armchair close TO a table and offer
ing his cigar case.
1T was pure accident. l came here
to see Richmond. Is he at homer in
quired Hackett.
Yes; he is busy with lawyer Just
now. Can take a message for your l
am kind of privileged character
here" Haverly said. smiling.
Hackett putfed at bis cigar a moment
and studied the face of his friend. II
was the same face. with its innocent.
affectionate outlines that had first at
tracted his attention when he met Hav'
erly as a boy. a trifie weak then per-
haps, but strengthened since by devel-
opment and contact with people OF the
world Hackett knew from his training
the inadvisability of telling the wrong
man of the news story he desired to Sc
cure. but he knew that Haverly had
never lied TO him in his past life. and
he told him the purpose OF his errand.
Haverly's face clouded.
Il Judge from your being here that
to see Richmond" concluded Hackett.
Harry. am here visiting these peo
| pie. | received your card by mistake. l
can help you in this"-Haverly paused
but I will not" he continued. You
cannot see Richmond
Hackett looked up. a trife surprised.
He had met people who had talked like
this before, and then the faintest smile
traced itself across his face. Ii angered
Haverly. and his face showed IL.
"In times gone by have helped you"
said Hackett gently.
II know you have" returned Haver-
ly II might not have taken my degree
If you had not. But you don't know
what you are asking me to do. We did
not know the affair had leaked out"
But IL has" said Hackett. with an
other hint OF smile.
Haverly instantly saw his mistake,
and his face colored with anger.
God knows it is true enough about
the old man. We may not know all the
facts. What else have you heardi" be
asked.
LESS than l should like to know"
This time Hackett grinned little at
his friends quickly rising temper. He
noted that Haverly had not changed in
this respect since his days at Harvard.
Blame you quiet people! What
business is this of yoursy' exclaimed
Haverly. springing to his feet. his eyes
blazing. He seized a heavy paper
weight from the table and raised II to
strike his friend.
Hackett leaped up and caught his
hand In the air.
Don't do that Don't you remember
the riverT he asked softly. There was
an expression of deeply injured atfec-
ton In his voice which contrasted
strongly with Haverly's violent tone
| and action.
Haverly's color reddened with shame
even above his anger. ind be allowed
Hackett to gently slip the papcrweight
from his fingers. They looked at each
other steadily. The mention of the riv-
er recalled vivid memories to each Of
| them.
Hackett saw q mental picture Of one
vacation time when they were camping
| by river. He was standing on a foat
| at the waters edge. He saw Haverly' q
face in the water ten yards away. He
! heard him call for help and saw him
| gasp and sink. In retrospect Hackett
saw himself dive from the float. swim
away, grasp something under the wa
ter and struggle back to shore against
a current that almost swept them both
away.
Hackett laid both hands upon Haver.
| ly's shoulders, and there was q ques-
ton in his look Haverly answered 1t
uneasily.
II cannot help you" he said earnest
ly and slowly shaking his head, bis an
ger vanishing as quickly as 1t had ap-
peared. Hackett's hands touched his
shoulders more firmly, more affection.
ately.
~ am to marry enc Of Richmond's g
daughters" said Haverly. THE story
does not concern me directly, but you
cannot print 1t. 1t would cost Rich.
mond more than you or can figure
out in money. And think Of the girlr'
Hackett recalled one day when he
himself was In despair over a failure
in a mathematical examination and
that Haverly came up behind him and
took his hand without spoken word.
1t had profoundly touched him, and
Hackett thought that perhaps he, too
owed Iaverly something In return for
that incident Of silent sympathy, and
he was momentarily tempted to aban.
don the effort to secure the tunnel
stock story. Then he remembered that
business is a firm master and that be
had a position to maintain on the
Globe staff. and he almost felt. in a
physical sense. struggle between his