The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1907-12-04

1nuc0tte Stih held the cigarette be
tween his lips. The paper had becom,
dry. and he moisteued II as be leanet
toward his companion.
Don't mind me- he said. I'm
rather-rather unstrung tonight and
this thing gave me jar. To be can.
did. my Imagination took head in the
fog. and ! got 10 fancying was talk
ing 10 myself
And pulled up to find the fancy in
some way realY'
YES. something like that"
Both were silent for moment Chill
cote pulled hard at his cigarette. then,
remembering his obligations. he turned
quickly TO the other.
Wont You smoker he asked.
The strnnser accepted a cigarette
from the case held out to him, and as
he did so the extraordinary likeness to
himself struck ChilcOte with added
force. Involuntarily he put out his
hand and touched the others arm.
ITS my nervesg' he said in explana-
ton. They make me want to feel
that you are substantial Nerves play
such beastly tricksp He laughed awk-
wardly.
The other glanced up. His express
sion on the moment was slightly sur
prised, slightly contemptuous, but he
changed 1t instantly to conventional in
terest. II am afraid / am not an au-
thority on nerves." he said.
But Chilcote was preoccupied. His
thoughts had turned into another chan
mel
How old are your he asked sud-
denly.
The other did not answer immediate
ly. My age?g he said at last slowly
ooh, believe / shall be thirty-six to-
morrow, TO be quite accurate"
Chilcote lifted his head quickly.
why do you use that toner he
asked. II am six months older than
you. and only wish it was six years
Six year nearer oblivion
Again slight incredulous contempt
crossed the others eyes. "OblivionY
he said. Where are your ambitionsY
"They don't exist"
Don't exist? Yet you voice your |
country? l concluded that much in |
the fog"
Chilcote laughed sarcastically.
when one has voiced ones country
for six years one gets hoarse. It's a
natural consequence"
The other smiled "Ah, discontentr'
he said "The modern canker. But we
must both be getting under way. Good
night. Shall we shake hands-to prove
that we are genuinely materialT
Chilcote had been standing unusually
still, following the strangers words,
caught by his self reliance and i'm
pressed by his personality. Now, as
he ceased to speak, he moved quickly
impelled by a nervous curl
osity
"Why should we just hail each other
and pass-like the proverbiaI shipsT
ne said impulsively. IF nature was
careless enough to let the reproduction
meet the original she must abide the
The other laughed, but his laugh was
hort. "Oh, l don't know. Our roads
lie differently. You would get nothing
nut of me. and ~ He stopped and
gain laughed shortly mo he said. a
I'd be content to pass il were you. n
The unsuccessful man is seldom a f
profitable study. Shall we say good Il
ight?" =
He took Chilcote's hand for an in
tant, then, crossing the footpath, he
assed into the roadway toward the I
trand. o
1t was done in a moment, but with /
is going a sense of loss fell upon Chill p
ote. He stood for space, newly con- Ii
cious of unfamiliar faces and unfa- n
liliar voices in the stream of passers- !.
Y. Then, suddenly mastered by an Inn :,
ulse, he wheeled rapidly and darted 8
tier the tall, lean figure so ridiculous -
; like his own. &c
Halfway across Trafalgar square he fc
7ertook the stranger. He had paused W
/ one of the small stone islands that fe
teak the current of traffic and was cc
aiting for an opportunity to cross the ar
rect In the glare of light from the
mp above his head Chilcote saw for
e first time that, under a remarkable >.
'atness of appearance, his clothes Oh
ere well worn-almost shabby. The ca
scovery struck him with something hi
ronger than surprise The idea Of ge
verty seemed homogeneous in connec- co
IN with the reliance, the reserve, the On
of the man. With certain =
lbarrassed haste he stepped forward -
d touched his arm. -
Look here" he said as the other -
rned quietly. 81 have followed you
exchange cards. 1t can't injure
her Of us, and II wish to know ?"
Z other self" He laughed nervousiy
he drew out his cardcase ~
The stranger watched him In silence. =
ere was the same faint contempt
t also there was reluctant interest !
his glance as it passed from the
gers fumbling with the case to the Ing