Weekly Watertown leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1908-1909, 1908-07-31
AGATHA EIETH.

me moment SOIemnIy, then smiled
family, the very ghost of that splen-
did, boyish smile of his, so that it went
to my heart.
ooh, Arch" he burst out, every
things wrong! But it's not my fault;
how could l help loving herr"
| was amazed. What was the boy
talking about, and who was it that he
loved?
Yes, SIR he went on; Il met her
four miles from town carrying an old
beggar-woman's bundle because the
poor old thing had hurt her foot. And
when l drew up the dogcart and asked
her to get in and take the bundle too,
she shook her head, and, by Jove, she
wouldn't get in till let the old beg
gar-woman get in, tool" Vincent
turned to me positively radiant. "Ah.
Terhune!" he cried, you don't know
what it Is. love her sol"
And as he stood there, his face
TRANSPORTED, 1 grasped in moment
the meaning of the whole thing and
the understanding struck like blow
~ lily hColL d1o hhCW liz " oSoA eAAO
welfare of this boy was to me. Some
how, Vincent represents to me the
things 1 might have been, and am not,
the things l might have won, and
have lost; he represents the first flush
of my own youth. And now that L
had wasted those opportunities to lead
the selfish existence Of the average
q "A
again experiencing those first throbs
of living that had been mine, in the
person and life of young Vincent
AS he stood before me, glowing with
feeling, l felt that it was for me to
wipe that look from his face, cruel as
it seemed, and my anger at the wom-
an who had so deceived the boy by
Withholding from him the knowledge
that she was married helped me to do
the deed.
Vincent" I said, slowly, "do you
mean-do I gather from your rawlings
that you honestly-er-care for this
person." 1 had risen to my feet, and
rs l spoke Vincents whole express
sion changed in a fash.
aOo1 1hISIS uCS 10 pOi1CNIlJ SOI-
rect" he said. His face went white and
there was war in his tone, for he
perceived that l meant trouble.
The necessity of saving the boy l
loved from the consequences of his
own folly took possession of me, and
l was full of rage at Vincent and at
that constituencies woman in the gray
who had ontronnod him
You fool" 1 said, putting my face
close to his-square, cleft chin, why do
you throw away your chance in life
like that? What do you want to let
yourself get entangled with an ad-
ventures for? Don't you know the
woman's married? She confessed to
having one husband; she may have a
Dozen for all l know"
The inevitable happened, for Vim
cent, with a half-articulate cry like
wild animal, raised his clenched fist
and struck at me. Fortunately for us
both, he struck wildly in his anger and
l caught the blow on my arm.
You hari" he shouted, "oh, you
har!" and in a rage that shook him
from head to foot he rushed from the
room and slammed the door.
l was sick at heart as l stood staring
after him to think that matters had
come to such a pass between Vincent
and myself. Although no man can
hear himself called liar, even by
his best friend, without resenting it,
still, when the first fash Of my wrath
had passed, 1 forgave him for it, for
knew that the heat of his passion
would permit no satisfaction but vio-
lence, and, of course, if he really cared
for the woman, the words l had used
were about the most insulting possible
However, I had done what seemed to
be my duty, and only reproached my
self bitterly for not having told him
of the secretary's marriage before his
unhappy infatuation had gained such
Roadway. But he had disarmed my