Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1906-04-05

L
ing out thin hand across the table at
which he had been seated. was singularly
slight. His narrow shoulders sloped at
larger angle from the lines of his sin
envy neck than is usually to be found in
men OF the Anglo-Saxon race. The hand
held out was unsteady, very white and
long. The face was narrow and extreme
ly small; at school Matthew Mark Eas-
ton had been nicknamed Monkey" Eas-
ton. Despite his youthful appearance it
was some years since he had left school.
and indeed men of his year at Harvard
were mostly married and elderly, while
Gaston still retained his youth. In addi-
ton to this enviable possession there was
still noticeable in his appearance that
slight resemblance to a monkey by which
| ne mad acquired a nickname singularly
appropriate. 1t was not only in the small,
intelligent face, the keen, anxious ewes
and thin lips, that this resemblance made
itself discernible, but in quickness of
glance and movement. in that refined and
nervous tension of habit, which is only
found IN monkeys and all the lower ami
| mails
by way of greeting this man whistled
two or three bars of See the Conauering
Hero Comes" softly through his teeth,
and pointed to chair.
Smith,, he said, raising his voice,
you may as well go to the bank now
with those checks"
There came no answer to this sugges-
ton, but presently the door of the outer
office closed quietly.
i call him Smith, continued Easton
IN thin and pleasant voice spiced by q
dlstlnct American accent, because his
name is Pavloski. That unfortunately
iuAurlant crop of gray hair standing
stralght up gives him foreign appear
ance, which the name of Pavloski would
seem to confirm. Besides, it takes such
a long time to say Pavloski."
While he was speaking Easton's face
mad remained quite grave, and. conse-
quently, very sad. There was a short ST
fence. Both had much to say. and thew
appeared to be thinking and searching for
suitable beginning. Easton spoke first.
L see," he said, that YOU are trim
and taut, and ready as usual. The ex-
ecutlve keeps up to the mark"
Yes" replied Tyars, my department
Is IN working order. The ship is getting
on well, and have found my first Off
cer''
The slight. delicate man looked at his
companions large limbs and half SUD-
pressed sigh. His wistful little face
contracted into grave, smile, and he
nodded his head
dislike you," he said, in his peculiar
~ humorous way, when you talk like
that. 1t seems to imply an evil sense
OF e1ultatlon in your physical superior
lty, which, after all, is feeting. You
are only dust, you know. But-but it is
rather poor fun staying at home and null
ing strings feebly."
1T has its adva ntages,'' said Tyars in
an unconsciously thoughtful tone, which
brought the restless eyes to his face AFT
once. Besides he added, more lightly.
you do not pull feebly. The tugs are
pretty strong, and the strings, you must
remember, reach a good distance"
Wees" Mathew Mark Easton had a
singular habit of elongating the little
word into several syllables, as if in order
| to gain time for thought. "Ye-esI 7 SIM
pose it has. But" he said, rousing him
self, Il have not been idle. That is TO
say, Smith-Pavloski Smith, you know.
He has been working terrifcallv hard
Poor fellow! His wife is out there-at
Kara"
Yes, I know. You told me-" inter
rupted Tyars, and his manner uncon-
sciously implied that fact once imna #
ed to him was never forgotten. Has he
heard from-or Other yet?''
mo, not for two years. He believes
she is alive still, and a report came from
Riga that she had been sent to Kara"
The Englishman listened without com
ment. His strong, bearded face was not
pleasant to look upon just then. for the
massive jaw was thrust forward. and
there was a peculiar dull glow in his
placid eyes.
There was a child, you know" con-
tinued the American, watching the eff
| feet of his words, Ito be born in prison
in a Siberian prison, where the attend
ants are the rifraff of the Russian army
more brutes than men. That would
| probably be a year ago.
He paused. his thin voice lowering to-
ward the end of the sentence in a way
that rendered his American accent singu-
larly impressive in its simple narrative.
II WONDER he continued. what has
become of that refined lady and that help
less infant-now. 1t brings the thing
light, to think that that man Sm-Pay-
loski, who comes here at half-past nine
every morning, goes out to lunch in a
small eating house next door, and goes
home to his lodging at FIVE o'clock; that
that man has wife in a Siberian prison.
A wife-a woman whom he has lived with
every day-day after day; whose every
tone. every little gesture, every thought,
/ So Y =.
must be worse than being in Siberian
prison ones self!''
| 1t is easy to set down the words, but
! TO render the slight twang, the wonder
| full power of expressing pathos that lay
hidden in this~man's tongue, is a task be-
yond any pen. Tyars stopped him with
a quick gesture of the head as if to init
| mate that all this was no news TO him.
Why he asked, CURLY, "are you
showering all this upon me? Do you
! think that | am the sort of fellow to turn
| back? ?"
'Oh, no :" answered Easton in an alter
ed tone. Then he turned in his chair
and, unlocking drawer in the pedestal
| of his writing table, he drew forth sew
| eral leather-bound books. which he set
upon the table in front of him. ''Oh,
nor he said, turning the pages. Only
you seemed to be of opinion just now that
| the pastime of staying at home and pull
| ing strings had its advantage
| 80 it has," was the cool reply; but
| that in no way alters the case as far as
| am concerned"
Then l apologize" said Easton, rails
| ing his eyes without moving his head. Il
| thought perha ps-well never mind ~
What do you think? ?"
Il had a sort of notion that some other
interest had sprung up-that you were
getting sick of all this long preparation"
"And wished to back out?" suggested
8