Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1910-08-12

CharnOck hesitated. No one had
ever spoken to him like that. He had
said these things to himself many
times, but no one else had ever as
sumed or presumed to do so, and had
anyone but this man ventured upon
such words, he would have met with
short shrift indeed. But there was so
much justice and so much truth in
what Langford said that, r%esentful
though he was, hating the man as he
did, he could not be bIind to it.
You are right" he admitted at last
but with great reluctance. There Is
more guilt on my soul than yours, but
no other man under heaven should
have told me So"
Nor should 1 have told 1t to any
other man." returned Langford.
But that doesn't explain why you
come here"
"Why!" exclaimed the other. II
don't really know"
In that instant the tension under
which he held himself ave way. He
reeled slightly, put his hand to his
heart. FOL the first time CharnOck
noticed how white he was, nov sick
and wretched he looked. Although he
could not bear to touch the man, there
was unconscious appeal in his weak
ness which the stronger man could not
resist. He sprung instantly to his
side. He caught him by the arm.
Whats the matter?" he asked al
most roughly. you look i'll, weak, SUI
fering."
1T is nothing" answered Langford,
struggling manfully to control himself
and to fight back the ever tightening
pain about his heart. MY times
about up. II I could sit down some
where"
Here" cried Charnock.
He half led, half carried the man,
supporting him with his powerful arms.
to a sea on the terrace across which
the shadow Of the house fell in the
morning.
Thank you," said Langford. NOW"
he fumbled In his pocket and pulled
out a little phiaI with shaking fin
gers, "1f you will be kind enough to
open that and give me n Of these"
he gasped, II am hardly up to It,"
Quickly, deity, Charnock took the
phial, opened it, placed n of the
tablets in the others hand and waited
anxiously. Above on the porch a ser
rant appeared and him Charnock bad
bring water, wine, restOratives. Pres
emily LangfOrd recovered himself, the
powerful medicine acted, the tearing
pain at his heart abated. If left hin
f~earfully weak and broken but his
master.
Well" he said with cynical bitter
ness, you see."
Yes" answered Charnock gravely,
Il see.'
Il am going in one of those some
day and mighty soon now, and it is
because Of that hat I came to see
you. I wanted to talk to you about
her"
mo man speaks to me about her"
But you can't refuse the dying, you
know. You can't go away and leave
me here. You can't stop me by force.
When l am weak, 1 am strong" he
quoted almost sardOnically.
81 shall not leave you," said Char
mock. You are paying for what you
did. My God, / could envy you your
going. Do you think life is sweet and
pleasant to me with the memory of
what l ola ranKllnS
mo, I suppose not" said Langford,
but didn't really come so much to
talk about her as to talk about you"
"T can't conceive that I am a proper
subject for your conversation"
He said it firmly but not unk1ndly.
Langford was too pitiable a spectacle
for that.
It's about your project went on
the other. will you tell me about
it?"
Haven't you read the papers?"
Yes, but 1 want to hear from your
own lips What you propose to do. I
am a business man accustomed to
large affairs. l want to hear with my
own ears all o it."
Charnock hesitated. After all, why
not. Standing before the other, he
outlined all his plans. Rapidly, dra-
m%atically, concisely, he builded before
the others eyes the castle Of his
dreams.
1T is to be for her, a memorial to
her, you see, so that her name shall
be remembered and prayers and bless
ings called down upon her head by
generations yet unborn"
1T is a practicable scheme" said
Langford, land a great one. Who has
it in charger"
Men you know" answered Char
mock, rapidly naming them.
They car make 1t go If anybody
can. 1 congratulate you upon 1t. 1t
is a great Idea. As usual" he laughed
bitterly, you have got ahead Of me.
While you have beer working and liv-
ing these two years, 1 have been idling
and dying. But 1 can make some
amends at least You will see pres
emily. Now I must go"