The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1905-11-03
THE NEARER BATTLE
BY Howard Fielding Copyright 1905, by Charles w. Hooks

WIZ 'hh'Jph 'AilHlHfu " 10 Ints
said the doctor cautiously. "She men.
toned nn Indebtedness which, Con.
found H." he broke out "lf those pco.
pie would stop worrying. the girl would
be Us we'll az | am In six months"
Kendall was very pale. aud bis face
looked drawn aud old
"i0u are aware that | was engaged
TO Miss Cameron" said he. "In such
circumstance ~ the time Of Miss Cam
eron's Illness her ipUiher. with great re-
luctnncc. permitted me TO assist In
meeting some demands. was then 10
a fair way. but now"--hs voice sud
denly becninc shrill aud tremulous--
NOW ! have gone oil 10 pieces. | can
scarcely make my living And the
knowledge Of my altered condition In
the last straw upon their backs Miss
Cameron has recessed me from the en-.
gngemcnt percmptDrlly. she viii not
hear OF It's continuance. believing her
own calc 10 b. hopeless and herself u
mere burden. SO, even if | had the
money. they would not take t. They
would not let me ave her life"
Unless you had the strength to car.
ry the matter with u high hand" re
sponded the doctor. And, speaking
OF your strength. am not your med.
Teal adviser. but II you will grant me
for moment the greater privilege OF
advising you ns friend shall suggest
for you also change OF scene. think
you should not uselessly wreck your
own career, Of whose promise have
heard some very fiattcring things"
II thank YOU" said Kendall coldly
And the doctor took his leave.
Again Kendall paced back and forth
and summoned UP his courage With
even less profit than before. Then he
sat an hour with Edith and returned &c
his own room. his heart sore with love
aud heavy with encouragement
Aud nj about the same hour there
were two men talking of this very mat.
ter One Of them was kendalfs age
though he looaed younger. lie spoke
vigorously. smoked hard between whlles
aud walked the floor with an air Of
zest IN the exercise. The other was
much older. His face was deeply lined
and thoughtful He sat by broad, Hat
topped desk Uttered with manuscripts
aud letters and mn odd assortment OF
reference books. big and little.
You have chosen the flower OF the
flock" said the younger man. Kendall
Ii not only a natural born correspond.
ent, with the gift Of getting the truth
aud the much rarer gift OF writing II,
but he In the very man physically for
this Job. Heat aud cold, rain and
drought, good food, bad food and no
food at all; swamps. microbes and bul
lets-I tell you Kendall eats them all
and grows fat The only thing that
hurts him IN a quiet life. ! saw him In
Cuba and In the Philippines. and he
was always In condition. always bright
and cheerful and enthusiastic. Besides,
he has a smattering of Japanese-had
a Jap classmate In college whom he
was very fond Of. I tell you. Graham.
with these arrangements OF yours and
Kendall as your man you'll get the
only good stun that will have come
from the east since the war began"
There are two points," said Graham
slowly. I'VE cannot afford TO pay
much; the expenses are 80 heavy. He'll
come back no richer except In reputa'
tIon. Second, wish that he had kept
himself more In the public eye OF late,
lie has sunk completely out OF sight"
There's a reason for that. as | have
told you" said the other. biting his
cigar yiciously. But you can boom
him up. The public remembers him."
"Well." Graham resumed after a
pause, II authorize you TO lay this
proposition before him. You are his
closest friend, stetson. You are the
only man who without otfense can
show him the folly of his present
conrse. Get him for me- want him. "
without offensef" echoed Stetson.
II don't know But I'll do my duty,
II Isn't right that Ned Kendall should
wreck his career for the sake OF any
woman, though she were the best in
the world"
Telegraph him to dine with you,
suggested Graham, Take him 10 Ju.
lIans, where tho old crowd goes. Give
him some raw meat and some good
strong man talk as Klpllng calls IL.
That will fetch him."
II was half past 0 when Kendall aud
stetson met at JuliaNs. Kendall was
weary with the days ungratcful toll
and gloomy thoughts; stetson was
alert and keen, with tlh eyes Of hunt.
er. Fortune was kind; the right crowd
was there, the atmosphere of the scene
was perfect, and Kendall. with Ian.
guild surprise, saw himself welcomed
as II from long illness or the very
jaws Of the grave. And In the exposl-
ton Of the scheme Stetson surpassed
all his own expectations.
Jack" said Kendall at last, II thank
you from my soul. II this hour Is the
turning point Of my life, as truly be-
lIeve, the credit Is largely yours. You
have awakened my manhood"
Thank the Lordr' responded Stetson
fervently.