The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1906-07-18
CHAPTER I.
CHAPTER I.
N Y EARLY the entire boat load OF
IN passengers was jammed along
Il NJ the forward gates, ready to
X Y spring out upon the Jersey

NJ the forward gates, reaoy 10
i Y spring out upon the Jersey
wharf. restive to reach the waiting
trains, but quite apart from all these
whose faces were set westward three
people-a girl, man nearing forty ana
q slim lad-lingered on the after deck
as though loath to take their leave OF
the imperial city.
The resemblance Of the monstrous
hive Of humankind to height OF land
was so marked, so singular, that the
girl remarked upon it, and the boy,
pale lad of seventeen. cried out in shrill
staeeato:
.Yes; but think Of the real mountains
were going to climb!
The girl did not speak for a moment,
and when she did her voice was dis
tinctly sorrowful. 81 feel as though |
were saying goodby to everything
worth while"
.sIncluding me? asked her escort.
She did not smile, but her accent was
kindly as she answered, eyes, Wayne,
including you"
.soh, sis, you make me tiredp' cried
The boy. "Just as if going west were
bidding goodby to everything" He
beat his thin chest. .sI'm just begin
ming to live now. I'm glad to get away
from the stufy old town. | want to
! see something besides Fifth avenue
and Central park"
Wayne Peabody laughed good natur-
edly down at the boy. "You wouldn't
care IL civilization did stop at the west
bank of the Hudson river, would you"
81 should say not. I'm tired OF it
aN-the noise and the pavements and
the heat and the Wetness. ] want to
get out where the wolves and the
cranes and the cowboys are; I want to
hit the trail and find where fathers
camps were"
The girl spoke musingly. 'Tt's singu-
lar, but have a premonition Of some
dark fate some vague sorrow. nev-
er felt so before-not even on my trip
to Egypt. If don't come back want
you to note that was forewarned.
Let's go forward"
Peabody remarked in a low voice:
ssLouis is transformed already. 1t will
do him all kinds Of good to 60 west"
1.I hope so,' she replied rather dreari-
sly, @but he seems unwholesomely e2-
cited at the present moment"
Hell get over that"
<I fear he will be disappointed. Fa-
Tiers trip was made nearly twenty
five years ago, when it was really
. wonderful land"
sHe is yoEng. He will reimagine it"
The boy stood like some beautiful an
amal poised for spring as the ferry
:shouldered its clumsy way into the
Jersey dock. He was Of less bulk than
his strong, composed, modish sister,
and his face was as dark, as mobile
and as eager as hers was fair and i'm
passive. Peabody experienced once
again twinge Of keen regret that Ann
had rot some Of her brothers radiant
enthusiasm.
Surrounded by porters and wearing
AN air Of command, Louis led the way
to the sleeping car, impatient Of his
sisters deliberation. On one hip he
carried pair of large field glasses and
over the other a costly camera, while
half concealed cases Of pencils and
pads of drawing paper bulging from
his pockets announced his artistic in
tention.
AS the time for the train to start
drew near Peabody strove to win some
softer word from Ann, but she was
not of those who manifest emotion.
Her training and her temperament
were alike opposed to easy expression
When he tried to take her hand sec
ond tire with eyes that entreated she
cecoiied
No, no! You have no right to expect
ehat,,'
He was 10 longer bog, and be was
bred 10 self control; therefore, though
his voice trembled little, he spoke
quietly: "Goocby. Ann. Write every
Gay, won't YOU
In voice which chilled him she re-
411SO. LhS.S GdS - p4Sit9 oAtCi4, DuI
you will hear from me. Go and see
mother, please She will not say SO.
but she will be glad to have you come
depend upon me-" he said, lifting
his hat. His bearded face betrayed nc
emotion, but his eyes We're hct With
pain AND grief.
The girl on her part felt q suddes
swinge of reraorse as she left bin
there, a fine, strong, manly suitor, wh'
uttered no complaint, though sh'
wounded him. The twitching of his
lips troubled her, but she did not re
1ent. In her heart she said: Il can
help IT. 1t isn't in me- He shouldn
ask it.
Louis threw himself fat on the couci
in their stateroom and said poyishiy
Gee. We're off at last. Now let hel
wbiz. This old train can't go fast
enough for me- >
Looking down at him at that mo-
loco,o cyvo1iod with 1y