The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1906-01-11
THE IDES
OF MARCH
No. 1 of the serie.

3d6M0hv my disaster was much as
v6oHoAJ had left it. The bac-
carat counters still strew-
and the loaded ash trays. A window
had been opened to let the smoke out
and was letting in the fog instead.
Raf1les. himself had merely discarded
his dining jacket for one of his in
Vulnerable blazers, yet he arched his
eyebrows as though had dragged him
from his bed.
Forgotten something's said he
when he saw me on his mat.
NO. said !. pushing past him with
out ceremony. And led the way into
his room with an impudence amazing
to myself.
Not come back for your revenge.
have you? Because Pm afraid l can't
give it you single handed. was sorry
myself that the others
We were face to face by his fireside.
and cut him short
"Raffies,' said 1, you may well be
surprised at my coming back in this
way and at this hour hardly know
you. was never in your rooms before
tonight But l tagged for you at
school, and you said you remembered
me. OF course that's no excuse. But
will you listen to me for two min
utes? 2"
In my emotion | had at first to
struggle for every word, but his face
reassured ne as went on, and was
not mistaken in its expression.
"Certainly. my.dear man. said he;
"as many minutes as you like. Havea
Sullivan and sit down" And he hand
ed me his silver cigarette case.
NO" said i, finding full voice as
! shook my head; mo, won't smoke,
and won't sit down, thank you. Nor
will you ask me to do either when
you've heard what have to say"
"HeallyI" said he, lighting his own
cigarette with one clear blue eye upon
me. How do you know?''
Because you'll probably show me
the door," cried bitterly, land you'll
be justified in doing it! But it's no
use beating about the bush. You know
/ dropped over 1900 just now?'
He nodded.
81 hadn't the money in my pocket"
II remember"
"But / had my check book, and /
wrote each of you a check at that
desk"
"Well?'
Not one of them was worth the pa
per it was written on, Rattles. am
overdrawn already at my bank"
Surely only for the moment?"
mo. have spent everything"
But somebody told me you were SC
well off, heard you had come in fol
money"
$50 1 did-three years ago 1t has
been my curse. Now it's all gone-ev
cry penny Yes, I've been u fool
There never was nor will be such q
fool as I've been. Isn't this enough
for you? Why don't you turn me
out?" He was walking up and dowr
with very long face instead.
Couldn't your people do anything?'
he asked at length.
'"Thanli Cod" cried, 81 have ne
people! was an only child. 1 came
in for everything there was. My one
comfort is that they're gone and will
never know"
cast myself into chair and hid my
face. Raf1ies continued to pace the
rich carpet that was of piece witt
ole tn, hnr
was no variation in his soft and ever
footballs.
you used to be literary little
cuss," he said at length. Didn't you
edit the mag. before you left? Any.
way recollect tagging you to do my
verses. and literature of all sorts is
the very thing nowadays. Any foo
Gun make a living at It,"
shook my head. "Any fool COULDN'T
write off my debts" said l.
"Then you have fat somewhere
he went on.
"Yes. In Mount street."
"Well, what about the furniture?"
laughed aloud In my misery
There's been a bill of sale on every
stick for months!'
And at that Rallies stood still, witt
raised eyebrows and stern eyes that
I could meet the better now that he
knew the worst. Then. with shrug
he resumed his walk, and for some
minutes neither of us spoke. But Ii
his handsome, unmoved face read my
fate and death warrant and witt
every breath cursed my folly and my
,cowardice in coming to him at all. Be
cause he had been kind to me at schoo
when he was captain Of the eleven anf
Il his flag had dared to look for kind
ness from him now. Recourse wa,
ruined and he rich enough to pla.
cricket all the sum- aIt' - y F'il'T''
FOR the rest of the year had fatu
ously counted on his mercy, his sympa