Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1906-12-26
Darkness and Doun
BY HARRY IRVING GREENE
Copyright. 1906. by Joseph B. Bow,es)

Copyright, 1906. by
In the fullness of their lives there
comes 10 many an hour, a day or a
week when the dead weight OF black
-uespalr cr1shes the last hope and the
'nouSht OF earthly existence fills them
Win WEAKNESS unutterable. Then
Is that certain natures walk TO the
brink and half-fascinated by it's aw-
aul mystery, stand staring into the
silent depths, while tho icy sweat
gathers on their brows and their limbs
shake like undetermined reeds.
So ii came about that Kent stood
looking from the black doorway OF
che warehouse into the early night.
1t was long time since Kent had
been happy, so long. in fact, that he
sometimes doubted that he ever had
been. Still. his experience was but
the story Of man-bitterer than
most mems, possibly-yet common
place enough to make the details un.
necessary telling. Suffice to say. he
mad looked from sunset until dawn
into the muzzle of his own gun. and
now was telling himself that he had
seen enough of this thing called Life.
and that ne would have no more OF
Mt 1t was not worth its suffering.
He turned up his collar and looked
from the doorway again. Coming
down the empty street that led to the
wharves he saw woman who leaned
far forward as she forced her slender
form against the burly strength OF
the wind
You are going to a boat?" he in
'quired
She looked at his face for the first
time and answered him rapidly: YES.
the Senator. 1t sails at nine and |
must hurry" She stepped to the
pavement and Kent stood watching
her lighting against the wind. A wild
impulse surged within him.
What better way to end it all than
a plunge from the deck? A brie;
struggle with the waves. a dream OF
fialds and music, and then the last
great Inconsistencies. No one would
ever know what had become Of him.
Tossiping tongues could say no more
than that he had disappeared.
Il am going to the Senator also"
he shouted, hurrying to her side.
Take my arm and hang on hard"
She stopped short, shot him a quick
upward glance and then he felt her
singers close upon his sleeve. Flushed
and breathing heavily they crossed
the gangway and stood before the
office of the purser.
Yes, the ship is going to sail to.
night" said that official in a matter
of fact tone. The cargo has got to
go, gale or no gale. But all our pas
sensers have Cancelled their berths
and you two will have the salon to
yourselves. OF course, you under
stand it is going to be pretty rough
outside"
She nodded and both made their
way to the salon.
From out of the great northeast
there swept that night a gale that
whipped itself into hurricane.
Huger and more huge rose the steep
hills before the laboring Senator.
black, solid. battering her front with
herculean blows, twisting her steel
frame like a giant wrestler
From the depths of his big chair in
the salon Kent watched the girl as
she sat nearly opposite him. She had
1istlessly thrown aside her hat and
under the lights of the cabin the
dark masses Of her hair shone with
the luster Of polished ebony.
Then suddenly she arose and gIanc-
Ing neither to right or left went with
in a stateroom, while the man. sinking
lower in the chair, let his eyelids fall.
Endlessly the huge rollers came
laundering over the wallowing SEN
ator, burying her beneath their
black weight, crushing her down into
the depths, but each time she arose
like some half drowned thing and
shudderingly shook herself free.
For an hour Kent's eyes swept the
length Of the dim cabin listlessly-
then suddenly he leaned forward.
From her stateroom the girl came
creeping and, with one hand against
the wall TO steady her. she slowly
made her way towards where he sat.
The man caught his breath and drew
further into the shadow as she passed
him in the half darkness. A moment.
later her fingers closed upon the knob
of the door leading to the deck as
she twisted and tugged at It vainly.
"Oh, OH" she cried as she turned
away and covered her face with her
hands. a sudden lurch of the shin
threw her towards him and. sprlnging
70 his feet, Kent caught her by the
arm.
Kent knew that one motive only
could have actuated her to seek that
surge-swept deck; and her motive had
been his motive Of the hour before
But for woman like her! He grew
cold at the thought
Go back to your staterooml" he
began sternly, then caught her a sec
Ond time, for her knees had grown
limp and she was slipping to the floor
Then as he locked about the deck rose
beneath his feet ia a mighty upboa,,ot