Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1908-03-27

.'You haven't discoursed upon art lit
erature and science yet. and yon can't
20 until you've adjusted the affairs OF
the nation for the next twenty-four
hours"
How soon will you he outI" inquir-
ed Fleetwood.
"Out? don't know. shall try to
drive to the Office tomorrow.
why the devil did you resign from
all your clubs? How can see you II
I don't come here?" began Fleetwood
impatiently. Il know. of course. that
you're not going anywhere. but man
always goes 10 his club. You don't
look well. Stephen. You are too much
alone"
Siward did not answer. His face and
body had certainly grown thinner
since Fleetwood had last seen him.
Plank, too, had been shocked at the
change In him-the dark. hard lines TN
der the eyes; the pallor. the curious
immobiity Of the man. save for his
fingers, which were always restless,
now moving In search Of some small
object to worry and turn over and
over, now nervously settling into
grasp on the arm Of his chair.
How is Amalgamated Electric"
asked Fleetwood abruptly.
IL think it's all right. Want TO buy
some?" replied Siward, smiling.
Plank stirred IN his chair ponder
| GSnnanlNA,lp 10 lial inU n IN
pieces" he said.
Somebody is trying to-" smiled 81.
ward.
Harrington" nodded Fleetwood. ST.
ward nodded back. Plank was silent.
"Of course" continued Fleetwood
tentatively, you people need not wor.
~ with Howard Quarter back Of
you"
Nobody said anything for awhile.
Presently Siward's restless hands,
countered a pencil lying on the table
beside him. and he picked II up and
began drawing Initials and scrolls on
the margin of newspaper. and all the
scrolls framed initials. and all the
initials were ihe same. twining and
twisting into endless variations of the
letters S. l..
Yes, | must go to the office tomor-
row." he repeated absently IL am
better-in fact. am quite well except
for this sprain." He looked down at
his bandaged foot; then his pencil NOV
ed istlessly again. continuing the end
less variations on the two letters. 1t
was plain that he was tired.
Fleetwood rose and made his adieus
almost affectionately. Plank moved
forward on tiptoe. bulky and noiseless,
and SIward held out his hand, saying
something amiahly formal.
Would you like to have me come
again." asked Plank, red with embar
rassment. yet so naively that at first
Edward found no words TO answer him
then:
would you care to come, Mr.
Plank"
YES"
Siward looked at him curiously. al
; most cautiously. His first impressions
Of the man had been summed up il
one contemptuous word. Besides. bar
: ring that, what was there in common
between himself and such a type a:
i. Plank? He had not even troubled
himself to avoid him at Shotover. HI
had merely been aware Of him whel
Plank spoke to him.
rhop Dlo,,ly hoI oha tarh q n
Siward had, for he found nothing of
fensive in the bulky young man now
nothing particularly attractive, either
except for a certain simplicity, a Ger
> tain direct candor in the heavy blu
eyes which met his squarely.
Come In for cigar when you hav
few moments idle" said Siwar
slowly.
1T will give me great pleasure,
said Plank. bowing.
And that was all. He followed Fleet
wood down the stairs. Wands he'll
their coats and bowed them out int
the falling shadows of the winter tw
light
Siward, sitting beside his window
), watched them enter their hanson an
drive away up the avenue. A du
flush had settled over his cheeks, til
;, aroma Of spirits hung in the air, an
- he looked across the room at the d.
canter. Presently he drank some c
his tea. but 1t was lukewarm, and
pushed the cup from him.
"Gumble, are you there?" he aske
y careessly.
The butler entered from the hal
way. "Yes. SIR"
"You may leave that decanter."
. But the old servant may have mil
understood. for he only bowed an
ambled off downstairs with the d.
canter either needless OF deaf to b
masters sharp order to return.
- Lamplight brought out sharply tt
. physical change In Siward-the angl
lar shadows fiat under the cheek bone
the hard. slightly swollen flesh in ii
blush shadows around the eyes. tt
= mark Of the master vice was there
= its stamp in the swollen. worn out he
lows: its imprint in the line lines
the corners OF his mouth; Its sig
manual In the faintest relaxation
= the under lip. which had not yet
come loOseness ,
For the last Of the Siwards had
last stepped into the highway whic
. his doomed forebears had Travelled
. fore him.
"Gumble!' he called irritably.
!, A quavering voice, an unsteady ste
and the old man entered again. M
Stephen. sir?'
&c Bring that decanter back. Didl
" you hear me tell you Just now?"
"SirW
I Didn't you hear me?'