Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1905-03-18
THE LIAR.


For miles toward the mouth of the river
lay shining fats of mud dabbled with
shadows. which, catching the sinking
sunlight, formed slashes of gold upon
the gray green surface. The opposite
shore was hung with a haze that painted
out all form and left soft bar. violet
against the sky Such scene claimed
silence, yet the air was filled with the
scream of seagulls, shrill, hoarse, plain
tive, taken up. cry upon cry, until it
seemed as though host of perishing
souls was shrieking for help out there on
the lonely waste.
Many times as had looked out on this
scene and listened to the haunting clamor
OF the gulls. it seemed to impress me
strangely upon this particular evening"
! tried to convince myself that the thrill
which ran through me would pass if /
turned up the collar of my coat. At
length | picked up my gun, rose, shook
myself and started to walk back along
the low sea wall. abandoning all thought
of a chance shot. | had not proceeded
many yards when, in the hollow between
the ridge and the dixie which cut it off
from the saltings | saw the body of a
man. He was lying on his breast his
arms stretched ont stiffly before him,
his face buried i'll the grass. The atti-
tude could mean only one of two things
despair Or
1fIJuIIotD
The call was involuntary. The man
sprang up with the quick, nervous ac-
ton of one taken unawares.
why can't you leave me alone?' he
snarled fiercely, ut bay on the instant.
Then, evidently finding | was not
whom he had expected to see, he scram-
bled up in front of me, and stood sill
houetted against the sky-a pitiable.
ragged, wasted figure. He commenced
to whimper.
Its those birds; they're always call
ing, calling. Curse them!" he broke out
mad they'll end by sending me mad.
You can't think what it is" he went on,
more quietly and making motion to-
ward the bank from which he had risen,
when that's your bed--to lie awake on,
listening to those screams, falling asleep
with them still haunting you and making
you dream you're tormented by screech-
ing devils. There are times already
his voice rose again-"when / feel |
must rush out among them and twist the
noise out of their necks"
He checked himself and paused.
You must excuse me, II"
He had come step nearer, and his
eyes fell on my gun. Involuntarily he
put out his hand, much as does a child
who longs to touch some object, but half
fears to do so. in moment his manner
changed.
by Jove!" he cried; eight bore? That
must pepper 'em up bit!"
As he spoke the words, in a flash
knew the man-Abolsford Abolsford,
lost, strayed, deadY Nobody knew; no.
body cared. He was one of those who
have lived" and gone out Clearly the
light of his memory shed no CLEAN of
recollection upon me. The sudden recall
of his old manner, too, had passed as
suddenly as it had come; yet in his bear
ing there lurked something apologetic as
though an instinct of association was
stirring within him.
That isn't what have been used to-
long, you know"
He spread out his hands deprecatingly
toward the beach and the few eel catch
ers' huts that dotted it.
Once | used to be a pretty rich chap"
lie followed the words by a jerky little
laugh, throwing them out tentatively, as
though to Judge their effect upon me.
True, he had been.
But" he went ON, Struggling his shout
dcrs, Il had np luck: it all went"
Gambled, fiji ng wantonly away.
"Well---"
He broke off abruptly and looked out
across the darkening flats; then he
turned to me again.
1T doesn't bother you to listen? It's
months since | met a man ! could talk
to"
He accompanied the explanation with
an uncertain look.
1T interests me-" | replied.
1t did
We'll, then the poor old governor went
broke-that was deviish bad luck
So il was; to he ruined in his old age,
turned out of his home to appease his
sons creditors. to die broken hearted
devilish bad luck indeed. But | merely
nodded my head,
after that" he sniggered uneasily-
"of course | had to get married. Not a
bad sort, with a pile of her own; but
that wouldn't work. You know what
women are?' He gave me what, in a
man of less worldly breeding, would have
been leer. Then there was my cursed
/ luck AGAIN"
Yes, | knew the woman who had been
/ tied to tins man, who had been cheated
of her money by him, dragged down by
him. msulted by his associates. and.
finally, deserted by him for-I shuddered
at the recollection.
After that" he proceeded. Il went in
| for speculation, but-my luck again
everything went against me; yet it's a
game lots of chaps win at"
/ The game of the bogus company! Why
/ did let him go ON salving his wretched
mind by one more fash of imposture ?
! All know is that stood mechanically
listening. mechanically translating lie to