The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1905-08-23

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Martin pursued her lumberingly. but
she was agile as a monkey and ran
dodging up and down the counters and
mocked him, singing, "Gran'mammy,
Tipsy Toe" At last she tired Of the
game and darted out of the door, fling
ing back hoarse laugh at him as she
went. He followed, but when he reach
ed the street she was a mere shadow
fitting under the courthouse trees. He
looked after her forebodingly. then
turned bis eyes toward the Palace ho-
tel on the corner The editor OF the
Herald vas seated under the wooden
awning, with bis chair tilted back
against post gazing dreamily at the
murky redgaftergIow in the west.
What's theuse Of tryin' to bother
him with it?s Ola Tom asked himself.
ssHe'd only laugh" He noted that
young William Todd, the drug, book
and wall paper clerk, sat near the ed
ator, whiting absently. Martin chuc-
lied. .4Wilham's turn tonight" be
murmured. "Well, the boys II take
care of him" He locked the doors Of
the Emporium. tried them and dropped
the keys in his pocket.
AS he crossed the square to the drug
store, where his cronies awaited him.
ne turned again to look at the figure Of
the musing journalist Gle ought to go
out there he said and shook his head
sadly. "I don't reckon Plattville's any
too spry for that young man. Five
years he's ben here. Well, it's good
thing for as, bat I guess it amt exact
" high life for him. BE kicked stick
oct Of his way impatiently. Now.
where'd that imp run to?" he grum-
bied-
The imp was lying under the court
house steps. When the sound Of Mar
tin,s footsteps had passed away she
crept cautiously from her hiding place
und stole through the ungroomed grass
TO the fence opposite the hotel. Here
ahe stretched herself fat in the weeds
end took from the tangled masses Of
her hair. where it was tied with a
string, rolled up. crumpfed slip Of
greasy paper. With this in her fingers
she lay peering under the fence. her
fierce eyes fixed unwinkingly ON the
editor OF the Herald.
The street ran fat and gray in the
slowly gathering dusk straight to the
western horizon. where the sunset en-
I bers were strewn, in long, glowing. dark
red streaks. The maple trees were
clean cut silhouettes against the pale
rose and pearl tints Of the sky above,
ana tenderness seemed to simmer In
the air. The editor often vowed to him.
self he would watch no moreS sunsets
In Plattyille. He thought they were
making him ,morbid. Could he have
shared themeit would have been diff
ferent.
BIS long. melancholy face grew ION
ger and more melancholy in the twi-
light. while William Todd patiently
Whitfield near by Iiattvl!ie sl"d cct~n
discussed the EDITORS habit Of silence
and possibly the reason Mr.. Hairless
was such a quiet man was t::at ,,.-.'. =
was nobody for him to talk to: but bis
hearers id not agree. for the ro"n.a
ton Of Carlow county WAS a th:!:s of
pride. being greater than that Of sew
erai bordering counties.
a bent figure came slowly down the
street, and William Todd hailed it
cheerfully. Evening, Mr.. Fisbee."
"a good evening, Mr.. Todd" an
swered the old man. pausing. "Ah. Mr.
Harkless. was looking for you" he
had not seemed to be looking for any
thing beyond the boundaries of his own
dreams. but he approached Harkless.
tngging nervously at some papers in
his pocket. Il have completed my notes
for our Saturday edition. 1t was quite
easy. sir. There is much doing
THANK you. Mr. Fisbee." said Hark-
less as he took the manuscript. Have
you finished your paper on the earlier
Christian symbolism? hope the Her
aid may have the honor Of printing it.
This was form they used.
Sudtt De luS ISClP1Sut VI hOdOAs
sir returned Fisbee. Your kind offer
will speed my work: but | fear. Mr..
Harkless. very much fear. that your
kindness alone prompts it. for. deeply
as I desire it. I cannot truthfully say
that my essays appear to increase our
circula ton" He made an odd. trou-
bied gesture as he went on: They do
not see,n to read them here. although
Mr.. Martin assures me that he care
fully reperuses my article on Chaldean
decoration whenever he rearranges his
exhibition windows" He plodded OF
few PAGES then turned irresolutely.
~What is it. Fisbeew asked Harkless.
Fisbee stood for a moment as though
about to speak; then he smiled family.
shook his head and went his way.
Harkless waved his hand to him in
farewell and. drawing pencil and
pad from his pocket. proceeded to in
lure his eyes in the waning twilight by
the editorial perusal Of the items his