Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1906-12-15

Duke tried hard to think. then gave
IL up and looked helplessly at Joe.
Il don't know. l cant remember
After that everything is clear enough.
Was IL cold last night2"
Gold enough for me TO wear my
coat"
"Oh, well, may have checked it in
the hotel; maybe l left II at the sa-
loon Look here. Joe. don't you worry
about me. cid fellow" He stood up
and faced the other man. ITS no
body's fault but mine. and I've been
thinking II all out. l mixed up with
that crowd deliberately, and now
won't whine or lie about IT, But. Joe,
I want you to believe me. did not
mean to kill that poor devil: he was
too drunk TO hurt me. even il he did
have fork in his hand-he couldn't
stand up. I came 20 town in a bad
temper, mad at everybody and every
thing-that's all there is to il. Now
I'm going 20 give myself up and take
my medicine--it can't be worse than
what l took last night tell you,
| Joe. hell is right here inside OF us,
and a fellow can't get away from
himself. no matter how hard he tries.
I've done a lot OF thinking since you
went away"
Joe looked at him in blank surprise;
he never supposed that Duke could
take this view OF the situation.
But. Noel. you don't understand
what that means"
enough OF that last night I've done
foolish things. I know. but they've
been right out I'm the open where
everybody could see I've never been
sneak. and I won't begin It now"
You're fool; you won't even be
suspected"
Yes. have been a fool. a great
fool; but now I'm going to be a
man"
do you realize what will happen
the penitentiary. the gallows. dis
grace? You shall not do it: you are
going to stay in the cellar for awhile.
and sleep here with me- Jim will
walt on you. and even these people in
the house viii never know it."
Duke shook his head. u can't be
disgraced any more than am. II is
simply a question Of having people
know about it. and / don't mind that
II know it. that's sufficient; the rest
doesn't matter"
This drove Joe Balfour 70 a better
argument.
"Oh, by the way" he said. and be-
/ gan fumbling in the pocket OF dis
dress coat He took out letter with
| the Gibraltar club monogram on its
back. Duke watched him listlessly
until he saw that the envelope was
addressed to himself. in Anita's hand.
He sprang up, but Joe held the letter
behind him.
Wait a minute Noel. let me tel
you. Last night Miss Cameron sat out
two or three figures with me. in the
writing room. and we got 90 talking
about you. She caught a glimpse OF
you yesterday on the street and
thought. OF course. you'd come TO the
coullion-"
Duke snatched the note away,
walked TO the window. and his hand
tremb led as he opened IT, Something
fell out and nuttered 20 the hoor-a
withered jonquil lie stopped 20 pick
Il up. with such a smile as Joe had
never seen before. Needless OF any
other presence ne touched the flower
70 his lips. and began To read:
My Dear Mr.. Duke. DON'T Doe angry
couldn't help BE-. indeed couldn't NV
aunt hurried as OF SO unexpectedly that
I had no way OF letting YOU know.
And don't hc too hard on Aunt Alice.
h she's been suffering wrctchedly FOR day
or TWO. but she's better now. I saw you
going out 20 that horrid old rooster-aght
You did that Just 90 make me feel that I
was the cause % &c.
Who was your frIende The one I'm the
/ red Jacket You associate with some very
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES people. The one
that went with you,
You must come and get down on your
knees before viii forgive And
wouldn't tell Won Co save your lie that ]
am going 70 Mamie Kerr's precisely al II
. tomorrow
Aunt Alice is dragging us 10 Mardi Gras
on the one o'clock train You know how
crazy ] have been about going TO the
carnival. but now believe had rather
stay al home
We are going 90 stay NJ curious old
! place called the Hotel Louis le Grande.
/ Aunt Alice SAYS IL is way down In the
/ French part Of town. on Nalois street
ANITA.
P. s.-Here is your jonquu-you under
stand?
Duke did understand; it glorided-
and crushed him. He stood at the
window staring into vacancy. then
/ came back slowly and took his seat
before the fire.
Joe sat on the edge OF the bed and
watched him; he seemed to be think
/ ing very hard. Duke turned his head
with jerk and asked. Joe. when a
fellow is arrested they search him.
don't they2"
yes"
II took him a long time to make mp
his mind, then he commenced tearing
Anita's note into strips. and laid them
on the fire. The jonQul he kept His
lips quivered as he watched the frag.
ments shrivel. fame up and crackle
into dead black ashes.
Then he dropped his face into his
hands and sobbed like a child.
Joe stretched out his kindly arm
and had almost put it around the
4 Df hers chp~r1aar. hrtf ho T-a.,r E.,f~