Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1909-10-09


comfort What was the user To at
tempt escape now would be to fall into
the hands OF the police sleuths who
must be on the lookout for him. He
surmised that the weather had driven
the watchers to take shelter and had
enabled him 10 slip into the house IN
noticed or unrecognized. No, he had
done with life and all it's worries an6
disappointments. Better death thar
the consequences OF living. He would
have to die at some time or other any
how.
He poured out a large glass OF
whisky and swallowed 1t. The fiery
stuff warmed him ali ever. He sat
down to think. and his thoughts took
, the shape of a review of his life. He
had never been any good TO himself
or anybody else-never. Brought up
by a maiden aunt. who had taken him
In when as young boy he had lost
his widowed mother he bad repaid
! her with waywardness and indlffer
ence. In the declining years Of her
life when she needed aid and he was
a young man he had kept his earnings
! selfishly for himself. doing out TO her
few dollars at irregular Intervals
aud he was glad when she had ceased
1 70 be burden by dying in hospital
I He had played his cards well. ingra
tiated himself into the favor Of Mr.
Harris, bis employer and by good act
ing had won the love OF Emma. This
had been the great coup Of his career
but IL had availed him little. Fortune
after smiling at him. had turned her
back. and life had been a failure ever
since.
/ AS he summed Il all up and contem
plated himself ms a pariah. a hunted
man at bay amid the wreck Of hope
love, lie itself, driven to the alterna
Z tive Of a criminals cell or self destruc
ton, as he brooded over the way IN
which he had been spurned and cast
out 10y those who might have loved
and hopored him, tears rolled from
his eyes again.
2 yes" he groaned. repeating Emma's
words. Eyes. have been paid in full.
and 7 have paid I'm full"
Then he grasped the revolver and
faced himself at the mirror again.
g This time his fingers were warm and
supple. once more he raised it 20 his
temple. once more pale fear obtained
4 the asceudeucy.
/ There was plenty OF time. why
since he was TO die that night. should
he De I'm such n hurry? Men who
were dying or who were about 10 Doe
/ specdcd into eternity for tranSgres
! sion OF the commandment that placed
n ban on murder generally prayed. or
prayers were said for them He had
/ not prayed since ne could remember
I What would happen after HIS lcar
/ into the unfathomoble void2 He had
/ always derided the idea that anything
I would happen. Still. ne did not know
/ lie went go the clothes closet. arr
/ from among some books. mostly nov
/ els hcaped In disorder on shelf. hc
/ brought forth n Bible II had be-
/ lOngcd 70 his aunt. aud he had kept
Z 81 because 10 had looked well TO have
one IN evidence IN the parlor and be
\ cause IL was nicely bound IN soft
/ leather. He opened the book az haz-
ard Its pages divided II Ecclesiastes
and he began 60 read Though the
. liquor was fast Clouding his brain De-
/ became fascinated with the great i'm.
/ mortal masterpiece OF possimism. the
terrible monument Of negation I'm
which humanity's everlasting wounds
are laid bare and bleeding.
have seen an the works that are done
/ under the sun. and. behold. all IS vanity
and veNation OF spirit
That which is crooked cannot be made
straight, and that which is wanting can
NOT De numbered
I communed with mine own heart. say
ms. 10. arm come 20 great estate an
have gotten more wisdom than an they
that have been before mo In Jerusalem
yea, my heart had great experience OF
wisdom and knowledge
And gave my heart 10 know wisdom
and 10 know madness and folly I per-
/ ceived that this also Is Vexation OF spirit
For IN much wisdom IS much grief ana
he that increaseth knowledge increasetb
sorrow.
That's right" he assented, that's
dead right. Nothings worth while.
nothing matters"
What hath man OF an his labor and OF
the veNation OF his heart wherein he harb
/ labored On >er the sum-
] For all his days are sorrows and his
! t'ovau grief-yea. his heart taketh nor
rest IN the night This is also vanity.
The verses succeeded each other
with their recapitulation OF the futility
o. ursfh