Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-02-21
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OUTSIDE
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CHAPTER II.
Check to-
Bv CLARENCE BoUTELLE.

ago tonight, wasn't it?"
Gilbert Sem looked up from the
chessboard into his friends face as he
spoke.
Check! Hin! l wasn't looking for
lust that. Let me see. There"-moV-
ing a piece-"I think that settles your
plan for the present. What were you
saying? Ten years ago; what was IT
that happened ten years ago! Oh. yes
remember: it is ten years since then;
ten long years since the 5th of Novem-
Der. lS60.".
Ten years-ten years-check to
your king-and-"
See here, Senn." interrupted walter
Aldrich. good -naturedly. you are tax
ing decidedly unfair advantage or me-
You Get me to thinking in sentimen-
tai mood, perhaps, if man with my
health can be sentimental, and then
YOU crowd me to the wall. Welr'-
moving a piece reluctantly and irreso-
lutely-"that is bad enough, but it's the
best 1 can do"
Check"
"I-I-" And Aldrich thinks long
and looks earnestly before he ventures
to make another move, and makes II
with a vague hope which is not war
ranted by the probabilities when his
friendly antagonist is as keen man
as Gilbert Sem.
Sem studies the board. His hand
wavers doubtingly over piece, drops
resolutely upon it. and he makes his
move.
"Checkmate!" he says, "and now let
us put away the board and the men and
talk of more important battles than this
mimic warfare. Chess IS not half so
much like the battle of life as some
would like us to think; if 1t were, |
shouldn't be winning over you"
NO? l don't know. Life has its
complications which are far stranger
than any which chance or circumstance
can bring into our favorite game. One
day a man is up, another day he Is
down: one day rich, another day poor;
honest now, now lost; the admiration
of friends today, the scorn Of foes to-
morrow" "a
Don't be a cynic, Aldrich," said
Sem: IF any one in the whole wide
world has a right to keep the fact of
the ups and downs of this life in his
mind always, have. But am not so
foolish as to scorn the present nor so
weak as to doubt the future"
And the past"
Tears sprang up in Senn's eyes. He
reached his hand across to his friend,
and clasped his in warm and cling
ing grasp.
The past? You know of what was
thinking little time ago. I have new
er done thanking you, in my heart for
making it possible for me to have a
part in the battle of life: have never
forgotten what you did ten years ago;
1 never shall forget it, If there ever
comes a time when my life, my fortune.
Or"
"There-there-that will do, 1t was
nothing. Any one could have done
what did"
But you did it."
And l would have done it for any
one. L"
For any one!" interrupted Sem, his
face coulded and his tone a little bitter;
for any one. l should think So Ten
years ago was any one tramp.
vagabond, an Outcast; not a criminal,
not a beggar, not a drunkard; but life
had narrowed-narrowed-
until the indistinct buildings in the half
darkness seemed in another world,
There was wealth there-gold, goods,
clothes, food, pictures-and was
clothed in rags and had barely quar-
ter of dollar which l could call my
own. l stood on the platform at the
station. and looked in at the window of
the ticket Office-in from my darkness
and misery, at the joy and carelessness
and happiness of those within. l could
not bear it. The contrast was too great
Nv heart was hungering for home;
my soul was crying for home; l had
dreamt of home every night for months
omc-hOme-hOme sweet home; and
the train was coming; l could hear its
thunder through the evenings dark and
silence; il could take me home in a
single night-but l had no money; do
YOU know how long it will take wea-
~. discouraged. disappointed. SICK
half starved wretch to walk. mind you
as far as an express train can go in
twelve hours ?"
For Gods sake, Semi
Wait. Hear me out. You never
knew the half you did. 1 am not sure
YOU ever can. for l know my recital
Of it must fall far short Of the truth.
shrank back from the lighted window
into the darkness. Is it any wonder
was careless? Down the track, l could
remember sorrow and tears and hun
ger. Up the track, lying so strong and
grand under the lights of the station,
like two long lines of silver, was my
future-my fate-with more tears, and
more sorrow, and more hunger and
weakness and WEAKNESS l think Twas
= little delirious; had not tasted food
for twelve hours; the train was COM
ing. 1 saw it's headlight come round
the curve. flash up the track. and push
the lines Of silver little further-just
q little further-into the shadows. And
them
stop moment. 1 shall be crying if
YOU go on. want to ask you two or
three questions. You will answer them
truthfully, will you not?"
"Truthfully?" cried Sem. have you
ever known me to answer any question
in any other way?"
NO. l never have" said Aldrich
firmly; Il never have. Only-as these
ouestions are little peculiar-and-
and-personal-I thought you might
not care to answer them. | confess
shall not blame you if you tell me 1t is
.o,a of nv huSineSS