Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1906-09-20

uiu0 mucQ matter Wlat uuplSAtN.
AS he passed up the street he was
conscious Of an impudenr curiosity II
the covert slances the idler> Oh the
corners shot at him. With hardly al
exception they turned 10 gaze after him
as he strobe by. He realized that an
nnsavory distinction had been thrust
upon him. He had become & marked
man. He set his lips in 4 grim smile.
This was what he would have TO meet
until the silly wonder OF il wore OF or
! fresh sensation took its place. And
there would be the men at the shops.
nere intercourse had hitherto been
rather pleasant and personal. rs he
had recognized certain responsibilities
In the relation which had made him de
sire to be more than q mere taskmaSter.
The thought OF his theories caused him
to smile again. His humanitarianisnl
had received 8 JOLT from which it would
not recover in many q long daS.
The hands already hated him rs q
fyrant and probably argued that his
authority was impaired by the events
Of the morning. though how they arriy-
ed at 4 such conclusion was beyond
him. but he had felt something OF the
kind in Branyon's manner. When the
opportunity came it would be a salts
faction 10 undeceive them. and he was
not above wishing this opportunity
might come soon. for his mood was bit
ter and revengeful when he recalled
Their ignorant and needleSSly brutal
insolence.
Early as he was he found. as be had
anticipated when be started out. that
Ryder was ahead OF him. The editor
a. lounging IN the Emorys porch with
the family, he had dined with them.
As Dan approached he caught the
sound OF Cons1ance's voice. There was
no other voice in Antioch which sound
ed the same or possessed the an
quality Of refinement and culture. His
heart beat with Quickened pulsations
and his pace slackened. He paused for
an Instant in the shadow of the lilac
bushes that shut Of the well kept lawn
from the street. Then he forced him
self 10 go On. There was 10 gain in
DIFFERING his sentence. Better have il
over with. Yet when be reached the
gate he would gladly have passed it
without entering had it Tot been that
he never abandoned any project simply
because il was disag-eeable. He had
done too many disasreeable things not
TO have outlived this species OF COW
ardice.
The instant he saw him the doctor
tose from his seat On the steps and
zane quickly down the walk There
was 10 mistaking the cordially be
gave his greeting. for he intended there
should be none. Mrs. Emory. too. took
pains that be should feel the friendli-
ness OF her sentiment toward him.
Constance. however, appeared embar-
raised and i'll at ease, and Dams face
grew very white. He felt that he had
no real appreciation OF the changed
conditions since his fathers story had
become public property. He saw it
made a difference in the way his
friends viewed him. He had become
hardened. and it had been impossible
Tor him to foresee just how it would
affect others, but to these people it
was plainly q shock. The very kipdli-
ness he had experienced at the hands OF
The doctor and Mrs. Emory only served
10 show how great the shock was. In
their gracious. generous fashion they
had sought to make it easy for him.
Oakley and the editor did not speak.
Ciyility seemed the rankesr hypocrisy
nninr Tho SjrnJI M ~ r.... i.,-.N-
p%erceptible inclination Of the head Suf-
aced, and then Ryder turned abruptly
10 Miss Emory and resumed his con
gersatiol with her.
Dan seated himself beside the doctor
ON the steps. He was completely
crushed. He hadn't the wit 10 leave.
and he knew hat he was 4 fool tor
staying What was the good in carry
ing on the uphill fight any longer:
Courage is a fine quality. no doubt. bu,
1t Is also we'll for a man 10 have sense
enough TO know when he is fairly
beaten, and he was fairly beaten.
He took stock of the situation. Quite
independent OF his hatred of the fe!.
bow, he resented Ryder's presence there
0SS1OS SouStduSe. bul "ual Was Tie
nse Of struggling: The sooner lie ban.
ashed all thought OF her the better i,
would be for him. His chances had
never been worth considering.
He stole a glance az the pair. wLc
had drawn q little to one side ant
were talking in low tones and with the
intimacy Of long acquaintance. II,
owned they We're wonderfully vel
suited to each other. Ryder was NJ
snean rival. had it come TO that. tn,
world had given him It's rub. He knew
perfectly the life with which Miss In.
Ory was familiar. His people had bee:
the right sort. He was well born am
well bred. and be showed IL.
II dawned upon the unwilling Oar.
ley slowly and by degrees ,hnt Ia con
stance Emory he must be nothing NOR,
Dr. less than the sou Of . Mlla. ,c,
He had never quite looked ~ II 10 'Au
Hight before. He had been occgpi",
with the effect rather than the caus.
but he was sure that II Ryder bad ,pl,
hsF his fathers history be- bad mad