Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1908-01-31
THE UNSEEN CHAIN.

The young man started out upon the
open road in the clear brightness of
early morning. His veins throbbed
with life, his mind was filled with great
ambitions, and his heart exulted in the
joy and strength of manhood.
Suddenly Presence stood before him.
'Follow me-" it said gently.
Follow your" and the young man
laughed merrily. Follow you? Not
much. am not one to be lead around
by the nose. follow no an-nothing
on the earth, under it, or inIthe heavens
above, but my own sweet will. l am
free"
y The Presence turned sadly and went
away.
In little while the young man saw
the simmer of light on the fields to
the left. There were green leaves,
cool shadows and merry waters.
why not?" he said. Suppose il
is forbidden ground. Am not free
man? Why must obey rules and pre-
cepts laid down by other men? / am
free"
He continued on.
Many days after he returned. Some
Of the light had gone out of his eyes,
some of the buoyancy out of his step.
He stopped by the roadside to rest q
little while.
The Presence appeared.
Follow me-" it said, as before.
The young man laughed scornfully.
Follow you, old Long Face, old
Straight-Lace-follow you? / reckon
not. I'm going to see what is to be
seen as ! go along. I am going to get
all there is out of the trip. 1 am my
own boss. ! am free, you understand,
and / want you to remember it."
The Presence turned, shrinking from
the coarse tone, and went away very
sad.
The young man turned asisp again
very soon; and many, many months it
was before he returned.
Slowly he walked as he came back to
the road. his eyes heavy, his face seam
ed, his step halting. He sat down by
the road to rest.
Again the Presence came.
Follow me-" it said gently, once
more.
A sneer gathered on the mans face,
and he cursed the Presence.
Follow you? Oh, know you. I've
seen too many just like you, pretending
to be so clean and fine, but you an old
hypocrite. You are not a bit better
than the rest of us who don't pretend
to be good. Like as not you'd lead
me into trap if did follow you, and
rob me inside of mile. No, / don't
follow you nor anybody else. The
whole bunch is a rotten set of humbugs,
and a fellow has got to look out for
number one. I'n go where 1 please
and do as / please, and it's none of your
business. I'm free man."
Very sadly the presence turned away.
Many days after. the man dragged him
self back to the road. 1t was evening
and the darkness had begun to gather.
He was bent and wracked with pain;
his eyes glared with evil; he was old
and broken. He sank down by the road.
Around him stretched the plain, DESC
late-and gloomy. The shadows now hid
even the lure of the groves and the
twinkle of the red lights.
The man sat up and looked about him
and his heart was filled with a great
desolation. He looked at the road. an6
saw ne had come back to the place from
whence he had started. He had not
gone forward one mile upon the road
which he was to travel, yet now all his
years and strength, ambition anS
dreams were gone.
He bowed his head in bitter sham.
and remorse. The scales fell from hi:
eyes, and he saw himself at last. ans
understood. All these years he hat
been led, not by his will or his judg
ment, but by his appetite.
One touched him on the shoulder.
He looked up and a great wave O.
longing possessed him as he beheld tn,
beautiful, serene face of the Presence
Come with me, it said gently.
| But the man shook his head sadly
and his face was filled with a look O
unutterable regret.
81 cann0t-I am a slave
AS the Presence turned away, h,
clutched its garment and begged pit
eously for it to stay just little longer
"At least, pray you, tell me you
name"
4
my name," said the Presence, 81
Freedom"
1t vanished, and the old man, alon
in the gathering darkness, bowed hi
'head and wept.