Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1908-05-22

Flank slept the sleep Of utter ex-
haustion that night. The morning
found him haggard, but strong. cool In
his triumph. serious, stern faced. al
most sad that his work was done. the
battle won.
From his own house he telegraphed
O curt summons TO Harrington and TO
Quarter for a conference IN his own
office, then. finishing whatever bust
ness his morning mail required. put
on his hat and went 10 see the one
man In the world he was most glad
for.
ITS all over. Siward." he said, with
a laugh. Harrington knows il. Quar-
rler knows II by this time. Their
Judge crawled In yesterday and threw
himself on our mercy. and the men
whose whip he Obeyed will he on their
way to surrender by this time. Well
haven't you wordE"
Many" said Siward slowly. too
many to utter, but not enough to eN-
press what feel. II you will take
two on account here they are in one
phrase-thank you"
Debts Cancelled" said Plank, laugh
Ing. "Do you want to hear the de-
tailsi"
The narrative exchanged by Plank
in return for Slward's intensely inter
ested questions was simple, limpid
review of short but terrific campaign
that only yesterday had threatened TO
rage through court after court, year
after year. In the sudden shock of the
cessation from battle, Plank himself
was little daZed. Yet he himself had
expected the treason that ended all.
He himself had foreseen it.
plank" said Siward at last there
Is nothing in the world that men aid
mire more than u man. 1t Is Il good
deal of a privilege for me to tell you
So"
Plank turned red with surprise and
embarrassment, stammering out some
thing incoherent.
That was all that was said about the
victory. Siward, unusually gay for
awhile, presently turned somber, and it
was Plank's turn to lift him out of it
by careless remarks about his rapid
convalescence and the chance for va
cation he so much needed.
Once Siward looked up vacantly.
"Where am | to go?' he asked. I'D
as soon stay here"
but I'm going" insisted Plank.
1.-THE Fells Is all ready for us"
"The Fells! can't go there"
you once promised
"plank. III go anywhere except
there with you. I'd rather be with
you than with anybody. Can | say
more than that?'
II think you ought to, Siward. A
q fellow feels the refusal Of his Of
fered rooftree."
"Man. Man! 1t isn't your roof am
refusing. l want to go. I'd give any
thing to go. If it were anywhere eX-
cept where 1t Is, I'd 60 fast enough.
Now do you understand? Tiff Shot
over House and Shotover people were
not next door to the Fells I'd go. Do
Plank"
II think So"
81 have wondered. wonder now
how much you know"
Every little, Siward"
'How much?'
Plank looked up, hesitated and shook
his head. Zone infers from what one
hears"
''Infers what?"
"The truth, suppose replied Plank
simply.
'And what" insisted Siward, have
you inferred that you believe to be the
truth? Don't parry, Plank. 1t isn't
easy for me, and IL never before
spoke this way to any man. 1t Is
likely l Should have spoken tde my
mother about it. had expected to. 1t
may be weakness-I don't know. but
I'd like to talk q little about 1t to some
body. And there's nobody fit to listen.
except you. You know what pillow
Is to tired mans shoulders. want
to use your sane intelligence to rest
on a moment. It's my brain that's
tired, Plank"
Although everybody had cynically
used Plank nobody had ever before
found him necessity.
$50 on" he said unsieadiiy IF |
can he Of use to you, Siward. Ia God y
name let me be, for have never been
necessary to anybody in all my life"
Siward rested his head on one
cllnched hand. "How much chance do
you think have" he asked YEARLY.
"Chance to get wellT'
Eyes"
Plank considered for moment then,
"You are not trying, Siward."
Il have been trying since - since
March. In March Miss lands spoke
to me. I've made a better fight since -
Planks serious face darkened rs
she the only anchor you have?"
plank, | am not even sure OF her
have made better fight since then
That Is all dare say. know what
men think about man like me.
know they demand character, pride
self denial. But. Plank. am driving
faster and faster toward the breakers,
and these anchors are dragging. For
1t is not in my case the physical fail
ure to obey the will. 1t is the will it.
self that had been attacked from the
first. That is the horror of it. And
what is there behind the will power
to strengthen 1t? Only the source OF
will power-the mind. 1t is the mind
that cannot help me. What am l tC
do?'
"There is spiritual strength" sale
Plank timidly.
81 have never dreamed of denying
It," said Siward. II have tried to fine
1t through the accepted sources--ac