The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1908-11-27

field dogs. Tn
"TaM to me, Or. ST. conversa tiol
lCdTd veered again to
ward the mystery of heredity.
DO you mean, Mr.. Siward, tina
heredity is an excuse for moral weak
ness q she asked.
II don't know. Those inheritini
nothing Of evil say it is no excuse"
at is no excuse"
You speak with authority" he said
with more than you are aware of,
she murmured, not meaning to say it.
She stood up impUlsiveIy, her fresI
face turned to the distant house, hel
rounded young figure poised in relief
against the sky.
Inherited or not, idleness procras
tination, are my besetting sins. Cant
you suggest the remedy, Mr. SiwardT
"But they are only the thieves of
Time, and we kill the poor old gentle
man"
"Leagued assassins," she repeated
pensively.
Her gown had caught on the cliff
briers. He knelt to release it, she
looking down, noting an ugly tear in
! the fabric.
Payment for my iniquities-the first
! installment," she said, still looking
down over his shoulder and watching
his efforts to release her. THANK you
Mr.. Siward. | think we ought to
start don't your"
He Strengthened up smiling await
ing her further pleasure. Her pleasure
! being capl Icious, she seated herself
was this: Evils that spring from he
redity are no excuse for misconduct in
people of our sort. Environment, not
heredity, counts. And it's our bust
ness, who have every chance in the
world, to make good"
He looked down, amused at the
piquant incongruity of voice and YER
nacular.
What time is it2' she asked irrele-
vanity.
He glanced at his watch She turn
ed her eyes toward the level sun, con-
gcious and a little conscience stricken
that it was too late for her to drive to
Black Fells Crossing unless she start
ed at once.
1t grew stiller. The wind went down
with the sun.
Doubtless he had forgotten to tell
her the time. She had almost forgot
ten that she had asked him. With the
ai1ouao nf cupcot n IopUi,nr tho iuFo
lence of content, crept over her. She
saw him close his watch with the alb /
sentminded air which she already as
ISOLATED with him, and she let the |
question go from sheer disinclination |
for the effort of repetition-let the pro I
1ected drive go-acquiescent, content I
that matters shape themselves without
any interference from her. The sense
Of ease, of physical well being, invaded
her with an agreeable relaxation as
though tension somewhere had slack
ened
The conversation drifted illogically.
Sometimes he stirred her to amuse-
ment, even hushed laughter Some
times she smilingly agreed with his
views. Sometimes she let them go
uncriticised or, intent on her own
IDEAS, shook her small head in amused
(,
The stiffness over all, the deepening
mellow light, the blessed Incidence of
he young world and their few years
n it-youth-that was perhaps the key
o 1t all, after all.
Tomorrow" she unused aloud, knees
,radled In her clasped flngers-"tomor-
ow they'll shoot, with great circum-
tance and fuss, a few native wood
ock-there's no fight yet from the
lorth-a few grouse, fewer snipe, a
tray duck or two. Others will drive
motor cars over bad roads. Others ,
will ride, sail, golf-anything TO XIII
be eternal enemy. You know the ma.
ority of the people here or coming,
ont your"
"Who are theyT !
She began, 1.-THE Leroy MortimersY'
"Oh, yes"
lord Alderdene and Captain youch- 9
r and the Page twins and MarionT v
eyes"
"Rena Bonnesdel, the Tassel girl, b
gatha Caithness, Mrs. Vendenning- Il
4 sorts, all SETS" And, with an eff
,rt, "If I'm to drive should like to- n
, know what time II is" 81
He informed her. and she. too indo- 81
mt to pretend surprise and finding W
,proach easier, told him that he had "
, business to permit her to forget HI
His smiling serenity under the re- u
uke aroused in her slight resent r
ent, as though he had taken some IN
ling for granted.
Besides, she had grown uneasy. She pt
nd wired Quarter. saying she would o.
eet him and drive him over. He had CT
piled at once, naming his train. lie o.
us an exact man and expected CT
ethod aud precision In others. She
dn't exactly know how II might af-
ct him II his reasonable demand was
satisfied She did not know him M
ny xyatI Nat