The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-01-10
~ THE ROMANCE OF IT ~ By c. BARNEY. ~

fixing his eyes vacantly ON the tent roof
beat with his hands on the cot.
Leaving his side. the brother quietly
busted himself IN preparation for the
morrow's departure. Not a tremor in
voice betrayed the patient. hopeless suf-
fering which his face expressed as he
chatted blitheiy on Of the homecoming
in store. and the well loved faces so soon
to oe seen again; and as he worked. un-
consciously gripping each thing he
touched with the fun force OF his hands.
bis eyes ever wandered to species Of
altar by the side of his brothers cot.
consisting of a packing barrel. round the
TOP Of which a mantelpiece border. once.
no doubt. a masterpiece Of feminine
achievement. but now faded and tat
tered. had been ruthlessly nailed. and on
which was enthroned the single photo
graph of a girl. whose trusting. stead
fast eyes followed his regarding gaze
no matter whence directed. and always
as his eyes met hers a flood Of hopeless
bitterness seemed to shine from their
depths. and the lines seemed to deepen
round his mouth.
often he went to the cot. and smooth
ing the pillow with womanly tenderness.
or holding water t% the dried-up lips.
said:
Home. Willie, home. Curse the dark
ness, Dear old wnlie."
once ne shook some of the contents Of
the bag at his waist into his wide
brimmed hat. and eagerly held 1t before
! the sufferers eyes: but the eyes seemed
enthraned by wonder in the tent roof,
and the restless hands beat on. Then.
going to the little table by the tent
pole. on which the lantern stood. he
took from its drawer paper bag Of
powder and some shot. and loaded a
rusty gun, saying. Quail goes better
than beans. Oh. Bin?' Leaving the bag
omen on the table. he went to the occu-
pied cot. wrung the ceaselessiy beating
hand. and. burning. knelt for moment
with his head bowed low on his broth
ers bed. Then. blowing out the lamp
he lay down on his own
The restless hands beat ceaselessly
on. The triclSle of the vaporous stream
sounded aloud in abe outer stiffness, and
the faElished roar Of mountain lion.
roaming the rocky Businesses. echoed
round the hills and mournfully moaned
itself away into silence. and the beam
/ ing moon shone placidly on. on. on. as
though it were fixed forever. Then an
indistinct muttering arose on the night.
/ and struck on the listeners cara NUT
tering OF fragments. without sense or
sequence. which gradually rose TO a
frenzied shrek. and. arresting his beat
ing heart. caused Unky to leap from
his cot. crying, Hush, Willie, hushi
He struck a match and fumbIed as he
bent over the lantern on the table, but
his hands trembled so that the match
went out. and. as he cast it glowing
aside. IL dropped into the paper bag.
and a mighty kissing flame leaped out
from the table and lit up the tent for a
moment with its binding light There
was the sound of crashing fall. and
the air Was charged with a suffocating
smoke. but the frenzied voice never
! ceased TO rave and babbie to the silent
night.
The moonlight waned and the sun
peeped up from behind the hills and
glanced through the wide open mouth
Of the tent on the form of black
skinned detE or man as he sat on the
floor within. He was listening TO the
rav.ng voice. AMI rapidly striking match
after match from box which he held
in his hand. then cursing them and
? throwing them flaming away. Taking
the last remaining match from the box.
he struck il and held it downward until
the fame burned his fingers. Then the
| blank expression on his sightless face