Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1908-08-28

Although everybody mad cynicany
used Plank. nobody had ever before
found him necessity.
"Go on" he said unsteadily. "1f
can be of use to you, Siward, In Gods
name let me be. for have never been
necessary to anybody in all my life"
Siward rested his head on one
clinched hand. "How much chance dc
you think l have% he asked YEARLY.
Chance to get well?"
"Yes."
Plank considered for moment, then
"You are not trying, Siward."
81 have been trying since : since
March. In March Miss Lands spoke
to me. I've made better fight since >
Plank's serious face darkened. us
she the only anchor you haveT
"Plank, am not even sure of her
have made better fight since then
That Is all dare say. | know what
men think about man like me.
know they demand character, pride
self denial But, Plank. am driving
faster and faster toward the breakers
and these anchors are dragging. Fol
1t is not In my case the physical fail.
ure to obey the will. 1t Is the will it
self that had been attacked from the
first. That is the horror Of 1t. And
what is there behind the will power
to strengthen it? Only the source OF
will power-the mind. 1t Is the mind
that cannot help me. What am / to
doT
There is q spiritual strength" said
Plank timidly.
81 have never dreamed of denying
It," said Siward. 81 have tried to find
1t through the accepted sources-ac-
cepted by me too. God knows that l
desire to be decent. He must be
aware, too, that all anchors save one
have failed to hold me-"
"You mean Miss LandisT
"Yes. 1t may be weakness; 1t may
be to my shame that the cables of
pride and self respect, even the spir.
itual respect for the Highest, cannot
hold me when this one anchor holds.
She said that I might see her. I have
waited a long time. have taken my
fighting chance again, and I've won
out so far"
He looked up at Plank. curiously en-
barrassed.
'Your body is normal; your intelii-
gence wholesome. balanced, sane, and
l want to ask you IL you think that
perhaps without understanding how I
have found In her or through her In
some way the spiritual source that !
think might help me to help myselfT
"You ask me If believe it possible
that she can be the medium"
Eyes"
Plank said deliberately, Eyes, do
think So"
The silence was again broken by
Plank: "Siward, you have asked me
what / think. Now you must listen to
the end. If you believed that through
her-her love, marrying her-you stood
the best chance In the world to win
out, It would be cowardly to ask her
to take the risk. AS much as | care
for you had rather see you lose the
fight than accept such risk from her.
Now you know what think, but you
dent know all. Siward, say to you
that II you are man enough to take
her, take her! And / say that Of the
two risks she is running today the
chance she might take with you is In.
finitely the lesser risk, for with you,
If you continue slowly losing your
fight, the mental suffering only will be
hers. But if she closes this bargain
with Quarter, selling to him her body,
the light will go out Of her soul for
ever"
He rose, striding the length of the
room once or twice, turned, holding
out his broad hand.
''Goodby," he said. Harrington Is
about due at my Office. Quarter will
probably turn up tonight. am not
vindictive. shall be just with them
as just as l know how, which Is to be
as merciful as ! dare be. Goodby.
Siward."
When he had gone Slward lay back
In his chair, very still, eyes closed. A
faint color had mounted to his face
and remained there.
1t was late In the afternoon when
he went downstairs, using his clutches
Gumble handed him q straw
hat and opened the door, and Siward
cautiously descended the stoop. stood
for a few moments on the sidewalk.
looking up at the blue sky, then wheel
ed and slowly made his way toward
Washington square. The avenue was
deserted. His own house appeared to
be the only remaining house still open
in all that old fashioned but respecta-
BILE quarter.
Al cab, driven smartly, passed
through the park, the horses feet
Shaping the asphalt till the echoes
ratified back from the marble arch. He
followed it idly with his eyes up Fifth
avenue, saw it suddenly halt In the
middle of the street, saw a woman
spring out. stand for moment talk
ing to her companion. then turn and
look toward the square.
She stood so long and she was so far
away that be presently grew tired OF
watching her. A dozen ragged ur-
rhins woro prowlinp around thp fOun.
tain, casting sidelong glances at dis.
tant policeman. But it was not hot
enough that evening to permit the
children to splash in the water and
the policeman drove them of.
"Poor little devils!' said Siward to