Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-02-01


light above the desk from which ST.
ward had risen at her entrance. "You
quarrel enough to marry. Why don't
your
II wish we could" said Sylvia sim
ply.
Grace laughed. What q little fool
Won are" she said tenderly, seating
herself in Slward's chair and dropping
one hand over his where 1t rested on
the arm. stephen, can't you make
her-a big. strong fellow like you? oh,
well: on your heads be 1t! My con-
| science IS now clear for the first time,
and I'll never NEEDLE again" She
| gave Siward's hand a perfunctOrt pat
and released him with discreetly sti-
fled yawn. I'm disgracefully sleepy.
| The wind blew like fury along the
coast Sylvia, have you had n good
! time at Shotover-the time Of your
life?'
Sylvia raised her eyes and encoun-
| tered Siwards
81 certainly have" she said family.
The dinner was very gay. The cere-
|
which Quarter had won. proceeded
with presentation speech and speech
of acceptance faultlessly common
! place. during which Quarter wore his
which was the only humorous
thing he contributed
| The cup was full Slward eyed It,
perplexed, deadly afraid, yet seeing no
avenue of escape from what must ap-
pear a public exhibition of contempt
for Quarter If he refused to taste it's
| contents. That meant a bad night for
| him. Yet he shrank more from the
| certain misinterpretation OF a refusal
to drink from the huge loving cup.
with its heavy wreath Of scented Or
chids, now already on its way toward
him. than he feared the waking strug-
| gle so sure to follow.
| Marion received the cup. lifted It in
| both hands and said distinctly. GOOD
| huntingw as she drank to on n.
| Her brother Gordon took 1t and drank
, entirely too much. Then Sylvia lifted
the orchids. ITO your. she murmured
| for Siward's ear alone. then drank
gayly, mischievously. ITO the best shot
at Shotoverw And Siward took the
cup. II salute victory" he said, smil-
Ing. always and everywhere. To him
who takes the fighting chance and
| wins out! To the best man! Health!"
And he drank as a gentleman drinks,
with gay bow to Quarter and with
death in his heart.
Later the irony Of 1t struck him SO
| grimly that he laughed. and Sylvia,
beside him, looked up, dismayed to see
the gray change in his face.
| Later at cards the aromatic odor Of
Alderdene's decanter reused him to
fierce desire, but he fought 1t down I'M
| til only the deadened, tearing ache re-
manned to shake and loosen every
nerve And when Ferrall finishing
his usual batch Of business letters, ar
rived to cut In If needed Siward drop
ped his cards, with shudder. and
rose so utterly unnerved that Captain
Voucher, noticing his drawn face, ask
ed him IL he were not i'll.
He was leaving on an earlier train
than the others, having decided to pass
through Boston and Deptford. at which
| latter place he meant to leave Saga
more for the winter in care of the
manager Of his mothers farm, so he
took quiet leave Of those to whom
the civility might pot prove an inter
ruption. In the big hall he passed
Marion and stopped to take his leave.
No, he would do no hunting this sea-
son either at Carysford or with the
two trial packs at Eastwood. Possibly
at Warrenton later, but probably not
Business threatened to detain him In
town more or less.
And that was all, unless he disturbed
Sylvia, seated at cards with Quarter
and Major Belwether and Leila Nor
timer and very intent on the dummy.
very still and trife pallid with the
pallor Of concentration.
| So that was all, then.
Ascending the stairs, servant hand
ed him letter bearing the crest of the
| Ienox club. He pocketed 1t unopened
and continued his way.
In the darkness of his own room he
sat down, the DEVILS own clutch on his
shrinking nerves, deathly desire tear
ing at his very vitals and every vein a
tiny trail Of fire run riot. He had been
| too long without 1t, too long tn endure
the craving aroused by that gay draft
from Quarters loving cup.
The awakened fury of his desire ap-
palled him, and for awhile that occu-
p.ted him, enabling him to endure. But
fear and dismay soon passed in the
purely physical distress. He walked
the floor, haggard, the sweat starting
on his face; he lay with clinched
hands stiffened out across the bed,
deafened by the riotous clamor OF his
pulses, conscious that he was holding
out. unconscious how long he could
hold out.
He turned on the light later to look
for his pipe, and he caught glimpse
of himself in the mirror. 1t was a
sick man who stared back at him out
Of hollow eyes, and the physical revul-
sion shocked him into something re-
sembling self command.
OH your he said fiercely, set
ting his teeth and staring back ut his
reflected face "I'N kill you yet be-
fore I've finished with your