Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1907-10-05
CHAPTER 70.

To return 90 America, 20 work: 70
/ forget NJ it1e-that was the fever
ish impulse chat dominated me nov.
and yet 4 fingered a week ar Grindel-
valid. Il was Quixotic. perhaps but
at least I refused 70 run away
IL was not a pleasant week. If 7
walked up the village street the guides.
loahng about at the corners. uudged
each other and INDUCED In brutal
jests az my expense. In their stupid.
if honest eyes I had committed the
objectionable sin. had failed a fell
low-chmber az a moment of peril.
They delighted TO buttouhole the tour
ists-to make me still more notorious
by reciung 90 them the story of nv
disgrace. I was completely ostracized.
no one took The trouble of asking m
the blame were wholly my own was
labeled the coward. That was the end
OF f.
But when I had lived through the
interminable seven days each marked
with an insult. 7 packed my things.
vaguely hopeful after ALL 7 was SONG
home I was going 90 America. and
America is long distance from
Grindelwald. re was unlikely. tried
20 persuade myself that the story and
the kodaks would follow me there. But
II SO. at least my fellow townsmen
would givc me the benefit OF the doubt.
For once there had been fire and
panic in TIE theater. and 7 had been
lucky enough Co help a little. So. ~
tho story reached them. they would
listen before they condemned.
When my lugEaEe was placed ON the
root of the omnibus. and 7 was already
seated inside. the proprietor of the
hotel who had hitherto held himself
discreetly aloor deigued 90 wish me
Eood-by
"Adieu. Mt Haddon. To viii not give
you pleasure 20 remember my hotel Z
am afraid" he said with mournfuI
dimdence.
THAT would be too much 90 expect"
/ answered. cynlcally amused az his
enhancement
He hesitsted "a moment one foot on
the steps OF the omnibus
CIR. Haddon, may I say that have
sympathy for you2 DO not let the lit
he accidents spo1 your life. None OF
us are always brave And certainly
thcrC is courage OF the spirit as well
as of the body. The world condemns
hastily bat it viii doubt its verdict 10
you refuse TO accept TO- And YOU go
uow2'
ITO America" replied grimly.
where at present there is no verdict"
"But not 40 once2"
why not2" 7 asked in surprise
"It Is your affair of course. mon
sieur but 40 loast'-he was seeking "a
pretentious expression Of sympathy.
but he ended lamely-"but az least DO
not let this simple AFFAIR spoil your
digestion"
Perhaps ] shall Unger day OF
two at Lucerne." said good-naturedly.
"Ah. YES" he nodded in approval.
monsieur viii retreat slowly"
And So 7 came 60 Lucerne instead OF
sailing Immediately Co America as I
had intended 10 was not exactly
bravado that sent me there 20 meet
the scorn and sneers Of those who may
have heard Of my disgrace. 10 was the
sympathy OF the little innkeeper.
When I arrived. Lucerne was en-
fete. The Schweizerhof was crowded. !
But In the restaurant I was not recog-
nized. I began 90 hope that I might F
not be. In the writing-room. however.
London weekly advertised 70 the f
world the story OF my disgrace: and +
one Of those cursed kodaks adorned ,
the first page. IL was only q question
Of hours before / should be known. I b
walked out on the terrace for coffee. P
profoundly discouraged.
The terrace. screened by bay-trees
and cedars from the broad road that
ran along the lake. swarmed with the
people who came 20 Switzerland. not
TO see but 10 be seen. They were
chattering in every tongue In Europe.
I stood IN full view OF everyone until
a waiter beckoned 10 me: for there
were few tables unoccupied.
From the railway station to the
Hotel Rationale the quay was ablaze
with the flare OF multicolored lights.
Placed in screenlike receptacles at in
tervals against the facades OF the great
hotels, the white monotony OF outline
was transformed into fairy fabric OF
blue and green and red. The black
masses Of the people at the windows
and balconies. eager to see the process
sion OF the lake. were thrown into
garish relief Beneath the double rows
Of chestnut trees flowed a boisterous
stream OF Swiss peasants. arm IN arm.
shouting and singing as they marched,
and more sedate crowd OF townsfolk
and curious tourists.
The lake was a conventional scene
OF gaudy brilhancy. A procession OF
floats was passing as I took my seat.
each float distinctive OF some incident
o. Swiss life or of Swiss history aud
glory.
/ looked out on this stereotyped
scene Of gayety with a resolute show
Of interest. was determined not 10
let the incident OF the photograph rum
my digestion. as the little innkeeper
had said. Perhaps # was my morbid
fancy but already though people
were regarding me curiously. And
then was sure | heard my name
spoken by ? woman. refused TO look
around smoked my cigar deliberate
ly. looking out toward the lake.