The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-10-13
BY STEPHEN CRANE.

not positive now that he was going to
remain away forever, but at any rate
he was bound to infiict some more dam
age before allowing himself to be cap
tured. If he merely succeeded in max
ing his mother angry. she would thrash
him on sight. He must prolong the
time in order to be safe. If he held
out properly, he was sure of welcome
of love, even though he should drip
with crimes.
Evidently the storm had increased,
for when he went out 1t swung him
violently with its rough and merciiess
strength. Papting, stung, half-blinded
with the driving flakes, he was now
waif, exiled, friendless and poor.
With bursting heart. he thought of
his home and his mother. To his for
lorn vision they were as far away as
heaven.
Horace was undergoing changes OF
feeling so rapidly that he was merely
moved hfther and then ttither like a
kite. He was now aghast at the merci-
less ferocity of his mother. 1t was she
who had thrust him into this wild
storm, and she was perfectly indiffer-
ent to his fate, perfectly Indifferent
The forlorn wanderer could no longer
weep. The strong sobs caught at his
throat, making his breath come in
short, quick shiffles. All in him was
conquered save the enigmatical child
fsh idea of form, manner. This prin-
ciple still held out, and 1t was the only
thing between him and submission
When he surrendered he must surren-
der in way that deferred to the unde-
fined code. He longed simply to go tc
the kitchen and stumble in, but his
unfathomed sense of fitness forbade
him.
Presently he found himself at the
head of Niagara avenue, staring
through the snow into the blazing win
dows of Stickney's butcher shop. Stick
ney was the family butcher, not SC
much because of a superiority to other
Whilomville butchers as because he
lived next door and had been an init
mate friend of the father of Horace
Rows of glowing pigs hung head down
ward back of the tables, which bore
huge pieces of red beef. Clumps of at
tenuated turkeys were suspended here
and there. Stickney, hale and smiling
was bantering with a woman in a
cloak, who, with a monster basket on
her arm, was dickering for cents
worth of something. Horace watched
them through a frosted pane. When
the woman came out and passed him
the latch with his finger. but with
drew again suddenly to the sidewalk.
Inside Stickney was whistling cheerily
and asserting his knives.
Finally Horace went desperately for
ward, opened the door and entered the
shop. His head hung low. Stickney
stopped whistling Hello. young man. -
he cried, what brings you here?" y
Horace halted, but said nothing. He
swung one foot to and fro over the
sawdust floor.
Stickney had placed his two fat
hands palms downward and wide apart
er facing a customer, but now he
Strengthened.
Here" he said, what's wrong
What's wrong, kid?"
"Nothin'," answered Horace, huski-
ly. He labored for a moment with
something in his throat, and after
wards added. "On'y-I've run away.
and
Run away" shouted Stickney. Run
away from what? Who?"
trombone" answered Horace. 81
don't like 1t there any more. /" He
had arranged an grafton to win the
sympathy of the butcher; he had pre-
pared a table setting forth the merits
of his case in the most logical fash
ion, but it was as IL the wind had
been knocked out of his mind. I've
run away. +"
Stickney reached an enormous hand
over the array of beef. and firmly
grappled the emigrant. Then he swung
himself to Horace's side. His face was
stretched with laughter, and he play
fully shook his prisoner. "Come-come
come What dashed nonsense is this
Run away, hey? Run away?" Where
upon the child's long-tried spirit found
vent in bowls.
Come, come" said Stickney busily,
Never mind now, never mind. You
just come along with me. It'll be all
right. I'll fix ii. Never you mind"
Five minutes later the butcher, with
a great ulster over his apron, was lead
ing the boy homeward.
At the very threshold Horace raised
his last flag of pride. Mono" he
sobbed IT don't want to. 1 don't want
to go in there" He braced his foot
against the step, and made a very re-
spectacle resistance.
Nov, Horace" cried the butcher. He
thrust open the door with bang.
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