Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1908-06-12

Inc cup was full. Siward eyed 1T.
perplexed, deadly afraid, yet seeing no
avenue of escape from what must APP
pear a public exhibition of contempt
for Quarter if he refused to taste its
contents. That meant a bad night for
him. Yet he shrank more from the
certain misinterpretatioh of refusal
to drink from the huge loving cup.
with it's heavy wreath of scented or
.chids. now already on its way toward
him. than he feared the waking strug-
gle so sure TO follow.
Marion received the cup. lifted.it in
both hands and said distinctly. Good
huntingw as she drank to Quarter.
Her brother Gordon took ii and drank
entirely too much. Then Sylvia lifted
it. her white hands half buried among
the orchids. "To your she murmured
for Siward's ear alone then drank
gayly. mischievously. "To the best shot
at Shotover!" And Siward took the
cup. 81 salute victory" he said, smil-
ing. ALWAYS and everywhere. To him
who takes the fighting chance and
wins out! To the best man! Healthy'
And he drank as a gentleman drinks,
with a gay bow to Quarter and with
death in his heart.
Later the irony Of it struck him so
grimly that he laughed, and Sylvia.
beside him, looked up, dismayed to see
the gray change in his face.
Later at cards the aromatic odor Of
Alderdene's decanter reused him to
fierce desire but he fought it down IN
til only the deadened, tearing ache re-
NAMED to shake and loosen every
nerve. And when Ferrall. finishing
his usual batch of business letters, ar
rived to cut in If needed Siward drop
ped his cards. with a shudder, and
rose so utterly unnerved that Captain
Voucher, noticing his drawn face. ask
ed him If he were not ILL.,
He was leaving on an earlier train
than the others, having decided to pass
through Boston and Deptford, at which
latter place he meant to leave Saga
more for the winter in care Of the
manager Of his mothers farm. so he
took q quiet leave Of those to whom
the civility might not prove an inter-
ruption. In the big hall he passed
Marion and stopped to take his leave.
No, he would do no hunting this sea-
son either at Carysford or with the
two trial packs at Eastwood. Possibly
at Warrenton later. but probably not.
Business threatened to detain him In
town more or less.
And that was all. unless he disturbed
sylvia, seated at cards with Quarter
and Major Belwether and Leila Nor
timer and very intent on the dummy.
very still and triie palid with the
pallor Of concentration.
So that was all. then
Ascending the stairs, servant hand
ed him letter bearing the crest of the
Lenox club. He pocketed 1t unopened
and continued his way.
In the darkness of his own room he
sat down, the DEVILS own clutch OIL his
shrinking nerves. deathly desire tear
ing at his very vitals and every vein
tiny trail of fire run riot. He had been
too long without it. too long to endure
The craving aroused by that gay draft
from Quarters loving cup.
The awakened fury of his desire APP
palled him, and for awhile that occu-
pied him, enabling him to endure. But
fear and dismay soon passed in the
purely physical distress. He walked
the floor, haggard, the sweat starting
on his face; he lay with clinched
hands stiffened out across the bed,
deafened by the riotous clamor of his
pulses, conscious that he was holding
out, unconscious how long he could
hold out.
He turned on the light later to look
for his pipe, and he caught a glimpse
of himself in the mirror. 1t was a
sick man who stared back at him out
of hollow eyes, and the physical revul-
sion shocked him into something re-
sembling self command.
Oh your he said fiercely, set
ting his teeth and staring back at his
reflected face. "l'n kill you yet be-
fore I've finished with your
Then he filed his pipe and, opening
his bedroom window, sat down, rest
Ing his arm on the sill. A splendid
moon silvered the sea. Through the
intense stiffness he heard the surf,
magnifcently dissonant among the
reefs, and he listened, fascinated,
loathing the tides as he feared and
loathed the memorable tides that surg
ed and ebbed with his accused desire.
Once he said to himself weakly, for
he was deadly tired, What am l
making the fight for anyway" And,
"Who are you making the tight forT
echoed his heavy pulses.
He had asked that question and re-
ceived that answer before. After all,
It had been for his mothers sake
alone And now-and now? His
heart beat out another answer, and
before his eyes two other eyes seemed
to open, fearlessly, sweetly, divinely
tender. But they
!. !. ]: !. ! !: !. !.
"a were no longer
SHkA his mothers
KEN grave gray eyes.
N%N After the Sec
~, ~ WA ond pipe he re-
(|ESl M membered his
" ~ ANA, letter. 1t gave
NJ %\fAHW him something
0AN to do, SO he
opened it and