The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1905-11-22

their sentence had been to the ball and
chain.
"Sit down, boy. sit down." said
Meredith, and his friend obeyed
The window was open beside the two
young men. and the breeze that blew
in soothed like a balm, yet held tang
and spice in it, hint Of walnuts and
Of coming frost. There was a newness
in the atmosphere that day, bright
.nvigoration, that set the blood tin
Cling. The hot months were done with;
ianguor was routed. Autumn spoke to
industry, told Of the sowing of another
harvest, Of the tawny shock, of the
purple grape, of the red apple, and call
ed upon muscle and laughter, breath
ing gayety into mems hearts. The little
stations hummed with hustle and noise,
big farm wagons ratified off up the vii
LACE streets and raced with 'Scut under
or omnibus; people walked with quick
steps; the baggagemasters called
cheerily to the trainmen. and the
brakemen laughed goodbys to rollick-
ing girls. At times the train ran be-
tween shadowy groves, and delicate
landscape vistas. framed in branches.
opened, closed and succeeded each 9TH
er. and then the travellers were carried
beyond into the level open again and
looked out to where the intensely blue
September skies ran down to the low
horizon, meeting the boundless aisles
of corn. It takes long time for the
full beauty of the fat lands to reach
mans soul. Once there, nor hills, nor
sea, nor growing fan leaves of palm
shall suffice him. It is like the beauty
in the. word Indiana. 1t may be that
there are people who do not consider
Indiana a beautiful word, but let it
ring true in your ears, and it has
richer sound than Vallombrosa.
All at once the anger ran out of John
Harkless. He was hard man for
anger to tarry with. And in place of it
a strong sense of home coming began
to take possession of him. He was go
ing home. "Back to Plattville, where |
belong" he said to himself without bit
terness, and it was the truth. Every
man cometh to his own place in the
end.''
Yes. as one leaves gay acquaintance
OF the playhouse lobby for some hard
handed, tried old friend, so be would
wave the outer world godspeed and
come back to the old ways of Carlow.
What though the years were dusty. he
had his friends and his memories and
his old black brier pipe. He had
girls picture that he should carry IN
his heart till his last day, and If his
life was sadder it was infinitely richer
for il. His winter fireside would be not
so lonely for her sake, and, losing ner,
he lost not everything, for he had had
the rare blessing Of having knoWn her,
And what man could wish to be healed
Of such q hurt?' Far better to have had
it than to trot SNUG pace unscatned
He had been a dullard, a sluggard,
weary Of himself, unfit to fight, fall
ure in life and failure in love. That
was ended He was tired OF fa1llng'
and it was time to succeed for awhlle.
To accept the worst that fate can deal
and to wiring courage from II lnsteau
Of despair-that is success, and 1t was
the success that he would have. He
would take fate by the neck. But had
it done him unkindness? He looked
out over the beautiful, "monotonous"
landscape. and be answered heartily
"Nor' There was ignorance in man,
but no unkindness. Were man utterly
wise he were utterly kind. The Cross
readers had not known better, that was
all.
The unfolding aisles Of corn swan
pleasantly before his eyes. The eartn
hearkened to mans wants and answer
ed. The clement sun and summer rains
fastened the fruition. Yonder stood
the brown haystack, garnered to FEED
the industrious horse that had earned
his need. There was the straw thatch-
ed shelter for the cattle. How the or
chard boughs bent with their burdens!
The big red barns stood stored with
the harvest, for this was Carlow coun-
ty. and he was coming home.
They crossed a byroad. An old man
with a sreaky gray chin beard was
sitting on a sack Of oats in seatless
wagon waiting for the train to pass
Harkless seized his companion excited
y by the elbow. Tommy" he crled'
-.tes Kim eFentriss! Look! Did you
soc that old fellow?''
:. saw particularly uninterested
a-id :.,interesting gentleman sitting on
oag, veplied his friend.
ly. hats oi Kimball Fentrlss.
Hes going &c tosy :, He lives on the
edge of The co;,,ty.
"Can tilis be trce:" SAID Meredith
gravely.
81 wonder" said tl~zE.ess tbcug.r
fully a few mome1:s later-- wonder
why he had them changed arcrsd. =
"Who changed around?'
seThe team. He always used &c dri7e
the bay on the near side and the Sc
rel on the off, =
,o;o;vod N1oroTit1,