Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1905-07-08
LITTLE
Of
THE SOUL
By SIDNEY n. COLE
Copyright. 1905. by I. c. Mcclure

In the library of the villa the two
men faced each other. The little red
shaded lamp dimly lighted the big. lux
urious room. Outside the last traces of
the soft Italian twilight We're fading in
the west, and the first OF the myriad
stars were blinking. uncertain yellow
dots In the blue velvet sky.
Orne senior lifted his piercing black
eyes and looked at his son searchingly.
you're a common ne'er do WELL" he
burst out. "a gambler. a loafer. rake
You squander a fortune at the gaming
tables and come whining to me for
more money to lose. Get your money
where you lost 1t. I'm through with
you"
Young Orne drew himself up. "Fa-
ther'- he began.
I'm done with you," the older man
Numbered. 81 wash my hands OF you.
AS God is my judge. I'll cut you on
without a cent. Go out into the world
and stand on your own feet or sink
into the mire of ruin you've been delv-
ing in. It's all one to me-"
Young Orne strobe silently to the
door. turned. hesitated. then hurried
through the hall into the soft night
without. The last streak of red was
gone from the west. Far below him at
the foot OF the slope the little village
was agleam with lights. He noticed
that even In the trees tiny luminous
pin points Of light shone steadily. Then
he remembered that 1t was st. Johns
eve and that the lights were a part Of
the fiesta.
He descended the steps and strobe
across the terraces and through the
villa gardens. As he came to a group
Of olive trees just beyond the sundial
he saw dimly a girlish figure standing
beneath one Of the trees. There was
the rasp Of a match. a tiny Chinese
lantern was lighted. and In its mellow
glow he saw plainly the girls upturned
face as she reached up to fasten the
lantern to low hanging branch. 1t
was Ethelyn Hope. the daughter of
his fathers oldest friend. who had made
her home with the Ornes since her par
ents' death. That was years back,
when Ethelyn was little girl In
frocks. Now she was eighteen. tall,
graceful and sweet alike in feature and
in temper.
Young Orne came into the little circle
Of light cast by the lantern. There was
an old stone seat beneath that particu-
lar olive tree. and he sank into it.
"Celebra ting?" he asked
"Yes." she said. pointing to the Ian
tern. cit is little lantern Of the
soul"
ga whatT' he asked in laughing per-
plexity.
"a little lantern Of the SOUL" she re-
peated. You hang them on olive trees
and say little prayers for the souls
the cook talking about them today. 1
made them explain"
II see." said he. who's soul is
this?" And he pointed to the lantern.
II haven't decided as yet" she said,
and added quickly. II think 1t will be
yours"
by all means let 1t be So" he &C
Quiesced. Heaven knows I'm sadly
In need Of pious prayers just now"
Are you In trouble! she asked.
"Have you and Uncle Orne been quar-
reling again."
He smiled with ironic bitterness.
"Oh. there's been a slight tin" he said
easily.
THAT Is bad" she said, with ready
sympathy.
TT ended by-by-well. to use bold
words. by his kicking me out" said he.
Her face became serious. He didn't
really mean 1t, of course. He'll be sor-
~ before morning."
81 hope So" he said. "You can let me
know II he is" he ended lightly.
81 let you know" she said, frightened
by his tone. You're not-not really
goingT
Orne's face darkened. All the ran
king bitterness his fathers words had
inspired was upon him again.
81 may be all he called me and
more" he said, with an ominous calm
ness, but I still have some pride left.
have to be shown the door but once"
The girls hands trembled violently
as she leaned against the olive tree.
Orne. with his head bowed sullenly, did
not notice this. When he raised his
eyes she was still leaning against the
tree. He saw a strange new light In
her eyes. and all at once he realized
that she was no longer a child. but a
woman and that her woman's heart
was his. The fact that there was love
In his own heart was as much of a
shock to him as the discovery OF this
answering love In hers. He could have
cried out with the Joy and pain Of 1t.
He rose to his feet pale and shaken.
81 must be going" he said roughly.
Going" she asked blankly. "Soing
whereT
He laughed harshly. i've all the
world to choose FROM" he said bitterly.
He drew her gently to him. For one
moment he- head rested on his shout
der and her soft brown hair brushed
his cheek.