Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1908-07-29
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l nave maze better nsnt slnce tnth'
That is all l dare say. ! know what
men think about man like me. |
know they demand character, pride,
self denial. But. Plank, l am driving
faster ana faster toward the breakers.
and these anchors are dragging For
4 Is not In my case the physical fail
ure to obey the will. 1t is the will It
self that bad been attacked from the
first. That is the horror OF II. 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 to
dor
There is a spiritual strength" said
Plank timidly.
81 have never dreamed OF denying
H." said Siward. II have tried to find
II through the accepted sources-ac-
cepted by me too. God knows that
desire to be decent He must be
aware, too, that all anchors save one
have failed to hold me-"
"You mean Miss LandisY'
Yes. 1t may be weakness; 1t lay
b to my shame that the cables OF
pride and self respect, even the spir
itual respect for the Highest cannot
hold me when this one anchor holds.
She said that I might see her. l have
waited long time. l have taken my
lighting chance again, and I've won
out SO far"
He looked up at Plank. curiously en-
barrassed.
"Your body is normal; your intelli-
gence wholesome, balanced, sane, and
want to ask you II you think that
perhaps without understanding how |
have found in her or through her In
some way the spiritual source that /
think might help me to help myselff"
"You ask me II I believe 1t possible
that she can be the Medium
Eyes"
Plank said deliberately, Eyes, l de
think so.'
The silence was again broken by
Plank: "Siward, you have asked me
what think. Now you must listen to
the end II you believed that through
her-her love, marrying her-you stood
the best chance In the world to win
out, 1t would be cowardly to ask her
to take the risk. AS much as | care
for you l had rather see you lose the
fight than accept such risk from her.
Now you know what / think, but you
don't know all. Siward, | say to you
that II you are man enough to take
her, take her! And l say that of the
two risks she is running today the
chance she might take with you Is in.
finitely the lesser risk, for with you.
II you continue slowly losing your
fight the mental suffering only will be
hers. But if she closes this bargain
with Quarter, selling TO him her body,
the light will go out of her soul for
ever"
He rose, stridlng the length of the
room once or twice, turned, holding
out his broad hand.
"Goodby," he said Harrington is
about due at my Office. Quarter will
probably turn up tonight. | am not
vindictive. l shall be just with them
as Just as know how, which is to be
as merciful as l dare be. Goodby,
Siward."
When he had gone siward lay back
In his chair very still, eyes closed. A
faint color had mounted to his face
and remained there.
1t was late in the afternoon when
he went downstairs. using his crutches
lightly. Gumble handed him q straw
hof hA NJ fxvo rd
cautiously descended the stoop, stood
for few moments on the sidewalk,
looking up at the blue sky, then wheel
ed and slowly made his way toward
Washington square. The avenue was
deserted. His own house appeared to
be the only remaining house still open
In all that old fashioned but respecta-
BILE quarter.
A cab. driven smartly, passed
through the park, the horses feet
slapping the asphalt till the echoes
ratified back from the marble arch. He
followed 1t idly with his eyes up Fifth
avenue, saw II suddenly halt In the
middle of the street saw a woman
spring out, stand for moment talk
Ing to her companion, then turn and
look toward the square.
She stood so long and she was so far
away that he presently grew tired Of
watching her. A dozen ragged ur-
chins were prowling around the foun-
tain, casting sidelong glances at dis
tant policeman. But il was not hot
enough that evening to permit the
children to splash In the water and
the policeman drove them off.
poor little devtlsi' said Siward TO
himself and he rose adjusted his
crutches and started through the park
with vague
idea OF seeing
IN EW N what could be