The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1905-10-12

have, and now he's-well, he's cheap
echoolmaster. Hes made a sacrifice
Of himself, and the fire doesn't seem 10
descend on the altar. There's an I'M
moral tale for your Gray Leaf"
Does he understand it yeti" asked 1
McGann curiously.
Probably not. but he'll have to soon
enough. He's old; he's used up; he's
killed himself for fool Of woman
that he didn't care two sous for"
Certainly Lindsay had no idea that
he was used up. Next morning he sat
down before a thick pile Of foolscap
and opened new bottle of ink. He
had brain full Of ideas that had been
accommodating for years. and he set to
work upon story Of the middle west.
his own country. that he had long been
revolving. It came hard; the ideas re-
fused to run freely into words. and he
was forced to build up his tale In la
bor!ous brickwork Of slow sentences.
So. thus launched. Lindsay fought
his fight. It was hard and bitter. for
on one side stood the horror OF failure.
Of financial failure, in New York. and
this to man unaccustomed to risk Is
totally destructive Of mental poise.
and on the other side iron habit held
him down in groove Of ORTHODOXY
The rejected manuscripts began to
come back in about five days. and for
three weeks Lindsay listened for the
postman's whistle as for the trump Of
doom. As the manuscripts came he re-
read them in cold blood. and the result
was sickening. He quite agreed with
the editorial decisions. He said that he
wouldn't print such stuff in maga-
zine Of his own. But he knew that he
could do better: he knew that he had
ideas that we're novel and striking. and
be plunged desperately into work
again, ready to have dissected his own
heart II It could have taught him the
lost secrets OF his craft.
Five days later Russell came into his
friends room and saw the wastebasket
standing In the middle of the floor.
crammed with torn paper to the bri-n.
Lindsay was sealing an envelope.
.Hello, old man! What have you been
| doing?'' he cried.
Lindsay turned up color!ess face.
why" he began vaguely. but with an
| attempt at disnified cheerfulness. l-the
| fact Ia. I'm going back"
| "Going bac.S?"
"Yes, to Raneses. My successor hasn't
been definitely appointed vet. learn. and
| I can have my old place back at-ah-a
slightly reduced salary. It's no use. Rus
I sell: you must have seen It. cant wori
! at high pressure any more. II cvel
] could have done anything. It's too late
| now. suppose I can do my college work
/ Don't fancy. though. that I'm going bach
! from a mistake to the real work Of m!
| life. never liked teaching. and ne el
(, was any good They'll take me back be
cause was there so long. but there won
be professions or bonfires on the ca11pu!
at my return. But It's the only thing tina
can do. I-you see. had always bull
j my best hopes on something else.
He loo. ed at Russell. and there was alb
solutely Eott in. to be said.
Russell went to the depot next evenin.
and saw him of. II seemed to be a:
, older. moro stopped. more gray haire'
Axure than had come. He could hav'
| wept or cursed from sheer rage and pit
Poor devil! he muttered bitterly as l.
| was being carried back up Forty-secor
street He has lost the world and game
his own soul or is 1t the other way-o
has he lost both?'
The car stopped. and Russell got OF
Broadway. strong. triumphant. thundere
and nared before him. 1t was the visih'
expression Of the typical New York mood
unconsciously Its presence colored Rus
sells thoughts.
There must always have been weak
ness In him." he said to- himself. await
|. ing his car. .'It led him to his maria. {
j | Il posed as stern morality all his life.
! made him throw up the sponge here. D
we always overestimate him? Did
ever really have the strength to reac
success? wonder"