Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1908-03-21


There was an ugly cut on his fore
head caused by hts violent contact
with the sharp edge OF the window
casing. He was pale. but he had lost
none Of the old faith in himself or in
his power 70 dominate Affairs In the
cattle country. Defeat was intolerable
20 him. He refused to bow his head
20 e. To-day's check only made him
the more determined. II that we're
possible, to free the land Of its shame.
III pull myself together again,
never fear" said Gordon. Just give
me tonight You see that's not all.
I've something else 70 think about.
too. now that I have time. II takes a
fellows nerve away 70 have every
thing that is worth while drop out at
once. But I've rallied before. know
I'm beastly selfish not 20 talk TO you
tonight. but"
Dick" interrupted Langford. blunt
ly, did she turn you DOWN."
4 never asked her. She is going
back-home-next week"
If you let her"
You don't quite unerstand. Paul"
said Gordon. a little YEARLY. she
said she could never live in this coun-
try-never She would die here. Could
ask her after that? Could 1 ask any
way and be a MANI I know. She
would just pine away"
Girls don't pine-only in magma
ton. They are tougher than you give
them credit for"
But somehow. Mary seems differ
a. 80 !.
surprised a flush in his friends cheek.
You deserve her. old man. you'll be
very happy. She is the right kind.
congratulate you with all my heart"
An odd lump came into Langford's
throat. Despite Gordon's vigorous and
healthful manhood, there seemed al
ways certain patbos Of life surround
ing him.
I haven't asked hor. either" con.
fessed Paul But you have made IL
possible for me 70 do so-to.night-
to-morrow-whenever can find a
chance. Take my advice. old man.
don't let your girl 90. You'll find She
Is the kind after all. You don't know
her yet"
Paul left the room, and Gordon
paced the narrow confines OF his shah
by omce-back and forth-many
times. Then he threw himself once
more into his chair. The hours we're
long. He had all night TO think about
things. When morning came. all his
weakness would be over. No one
should ever again see him so I'M
manned as Paul had seen him to-
night And when Louise should go
HIS arms fell nervelessly % the table.
He remained thus a moment. his ewes
fixed and unsecing. and then his
head dropped heavily upon his arms.
Alone in the night Louise awoke.
She found - impossible 10 fall asleep
again. She was nervous. IL must be
something IN the atmosphere. She
tossed and tossed and hounced and
hounced. She counted up 10 thou
sands. She made her mind & blank
so often that she few TO thinking 10
escape the emptiness OF It. Stili her
eyes were wide and her mind fairly
a-quiver with activity. She slipped
out OF bed. She would tire herself
into sleep. She even dressed. She
would show herself II she must be a
midnight prOwler. she would wear the
garments people affect when they
have their thoughts and energies on
matters mundane. Drawing the oil
stove close TO the window fronting
the street. she sank into a chair, drew
q heavy shawl over her shoulders, put
her feet on the tiny fender and pre-
pared 10 fatigue herself into oblivion.
A MnA uAA
across the way. He was still at work.
then. He ought not to sit up so late.
No wonder he was looking so worn
out lately. He ought TO have some
one TO look after him. He never
thought Of himself He never had
time. She would talk to him about
keeping such late hours-if she were
not going back 20 Gods country next
week. Only next week, II was too
good to be true-and yet she sighed.
But there was no other way. She
ought never 10 have come. She was
not big enough. He, too, had told her
she was not the kind. Doubtless, he
knew. And she didn't belong TO any
body here. She was glad she was go
ing back TO where she belonged to
somebody. She would never go away
again.
Was that Gordon passing back and
forth in front OF the window? Some
thing must be troubling him. Was
Il because Jesse Black had escaped?
But what a glorious vindication OF his
belief in the mans guilt had that
afternoon been given! Nothing lacked
there. Why should he be sorry?
Sometimes, she thought he might care
that day crossing the river for in
stance; but he was reserved-he
never said--and II was much, much
better that he did not care, now that
she was going away and would never
come back There was nothing in all
the world that could make her come
back to this big. bleak. lonesome land
where she belonged TO nobody. But
she was sorry for him. He looked sad
and lonely. He didn't belong to any
body here. either. yet he wasn't going
to run away as she was. Well. but he
was a man, and men were different