Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-02-08

Y Y is world and his city had al
- most ceased to think Of ST.
ward But there were two
4 4 people who had not forgotten
him Howard Quarter and Beverly
| Plnnk-nnd one other, a third, who
could not yet forget him If she would,
but as yet she had not tried very des.
perately.
The day that Siward left New York
to visit everybody's friend. Mr.. Null
queen, in the country. Plank called on
was presently received in the south
drawing room. the library being linn
tied to an informality and intimacy
not for Mr.. Plank.
Siward. still lame and using unskill-
| fully two shiny new clutches, came
down the stairs and stumped into the
drawing room. which, in spite Of the
somber, clustering curtains, was bright
| ly Illuminated by the winter sunshine
| reflected from the snow in the street.
| Plank was shocked ut the change In
him-at the ghost of voice. listlessl!
| formal; at the thin, nerveless hand of
fered: startled 50 that he forgot his
| shyness and retained the bony hand
tightly in his and instinctively laid his
other great cushionlike paw over it.
holding 1t imprisoned unable. to speak
unconscious, in the impulse of the
moment, of the liberty he permitted
| himself and which he had never dream
ed of taking with such a man as 81
| ward.
The effect on Siward was composite
his tired voice ceased; surprise. in
ability to understand. tinged with in
/ stinctive dispeasure, We're succeeded
by humorous curiosity, and very slow.
| ~ it became plain to him that this
beefy young man liked him. was raive-
ly concerned about him. felt friendly
toward him and was showing it as
spontaneously rs child.
II thought I'd come" began Plank.
growing redder and redder as he be-
gan to realize the enormity Of familiar
fly committed only on the warrant of
impulse. You don't look we'll"
at was good Of you to think of me, -
said Siward. Come up to the library
II you've few minutes to spare an
invalid. Please 60 first. I'm trif1e
lame yet
IL am sorry" muttered Plank
Every, very sorry"
At first, in the. library, Plank was
awkward and silent, finding nothing t.
say and nowhere to dispose of hi
hands until Siward gave him ciga
to occupy his fingers.
Siward rang for tea, although the
hour was early. After little viii
either the toast or the tea appeared
act on Plank as a lingual laxative. TO
he began suddenly to talk. which j
characteristic of bashful men, and s.
ward gravely helped him on when h
noundered and turned shy. After
little matters went very well wit
them, and Plank, much more at eas
than he had ever dared to hope /
could be with Siward, talked and tall
ed. and Siward. his crutches across J. :.
knees, lay back in his armchair, chat
ting with that winning informality so
| becoming to men who are unconscious
| of their charm.
Watching Plank, 1t occurred to him
| gradually that this great, cumbersome
creature was not shrewd, thrifty,
| self made and self finished adult ut
all--only big. wistful, lonely boy
| without comrades and with nowhere
to play.
Plank spoke of himself after awhile,
sounding the personal note with tenta-
tive timidity. Siward gravely encour-
aged him, and in little while the out
lines Of his crude autobiography ap-
peared, embodying his eventless boy
hood in Pennsylvania town, his ca
reer at the high school, the dawning
desire for college equipment. satisfied
by his father, who owned shares In
the promising Deepvale Steel Plank
company: the unhappy years at Har-
vard-hard years, for he learned with
difficulty; solitary years, for he was
not sought by those whom he desired
to know. Then he ventured to speak
of his fathers growing interest in
steel, the merging and absorbing of
Independent plants. his own entry up
on the scene on the death of his ia
Their, and-the rest-material fortune
and prosperity, which perhaps might
stand substitute as a social sponsor
for him; stand perhaps for something
of what he lacked in himself, which
only long residence amid the best, long
formed habits for the best or long
Inheritance of the best could give. Did
Siward think so? Was the best be-
yond his reach? Was it hopeless for
such man as he to try? And why?
'Is it worth while?" repeated Plank,
| flushing heavily cit is worth while
to me. wish to be able to go where
such men as you go; be permitted,
asked, desired to be part Of what you
always have been part of. Is it a
great deal l ask? Tell me. Mr.. 81
WARRIOR don't knows it too much
to expect?'
81 don't think it is very high am
bition," said Siward smiling. What
YOU ask is not very much to ask OF
life, Mr. Plank"
Plank laughed little, and his squar,
ed jaws relaxed; then after few mo-
ments' thought:
ct is curious that what you cast
away from you so easily am waiting
for with all the patience have In me
And yet IT is always yours to pick UP
again whenever you wish, and l may
never live to possess 1t.