Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1909-01-02

through and through. At college be
had put him down for q weakling--
unballasted, misdemeanant Now he
knew him for what be really was-a
moral mollusk. a scamp In embryo.
decadent. realizing an ugly propensity
to a deplorable anale A consistent
career OF loose living had carried
Hugh far since those college days
when be had been dubbed "Satan'S
shadow" While TO Harry Sandersoo
the eccentric and agnostical had then
been. as II were. the mask through
which his temperament looked at life.
to Hugh II had spelled shipwreck.
Harry Sanderson had done broadly as
he pleased. He had entertained whom
be listed. had gone stunning" had
once boxed n, a finish for a wager a
local pugillst whose Acquaintance he
affected. known as Gentleman jim"
He had been both the hardest br<ser
and the hardest drinker IN his class.
yet withal its most brilliant student
Native character had enabled him TO
persist. as the exasperating function
OF success which dissipation declined
to eliminate. But the same natural
gra yitatlOD which In spite OF all aber-
ration had given Harry Sanderson
classical honors had brought Hugh
Stires TO the imminent brink OF expul-
sion And since that time without
the character which belonged 20 Har-
~ as a possession. Hugh had contin-
ued TO drift almlessly on down the
broad lax way OF prohigacy
The conditions he found upon his re
turn. however. had opened Hugh's
eyes TO the perilous strait In which he
stood He was a materalist. and the
taste be had had Of deprivation had
sickened him. 10 the first revulsion.
when the contrast between recent
famine and present plenty was strong
upon him. be had been at anxious
pains TO make himself secure with his
father-and with Jesslca Holme Har.
rvs mental sight-keen as the hunters
sight on .he rife barrel-was sharpen
Cd by his knowledge OF the old Hugh
an mtultive knowledge gained In a
significant formative period he saw
more clearly than the townfolk who
In a general way bad known Hugh
Sures all their lives. Week by week
Harry had seen him regain lost
ground IN bis fatGeFs esteem Day
by day he had seen him making studI-
Gus appeal 20 all that was romantic IN
Jessica, climbing TO the favor or each
on the ladder OF the others regard.
Hugh was naturally a poseur. with q
keen sense OF effect He could be
brilliant az win. could play little on
piano. banjo and violin. could sing a
little and had himself well In hand.
And. feeling the unconscious chord OF
romance vibrate to his touch. be had
played upon IL with no unsklllful I'm
gers.
Jessica was comparatively free from
that coQuetry by means OF which a vo-
mans instinct experiments IN emotion.
Although she had been artist enough
before the clustered years OF her blind
ness 70 know that she was comely. she
had never employed that beauty in the
ordinary Establishments OF girlish fas.
cination. But steadily and unconscious
~ she had turned in her darkness
more and more 10 the bright and ten
der air with which Hugh clothed all
their intercourse. Her blindness had
been OF too short duration TO have de
veloped thar tine sense perception with
which nature seeks 70 supplement the
darkened vision The incradicable
marks which nl governed living had
set In Hughs face. the self Indulgence
and egotism. she could uos,'see She
mistook impulse for instinct She read
him by the Enthusiastically light OF a
colorful Imagination She deemed him