The searchlight. [volume] (Culbertson, Mont.) 1902-current, 1910-06-24
CHAPTER W-continued.


"Oh. sir" she palliated, Il thought
no wrong. sir-for her or you"
We'll. WELL" he waived. and said
significantly. "for me there's no good
In the world"
The old woman's hands were Chased
over her knitting-work, her wedding.
ring fine and yellow on her finger
he had seen the ring grow thin with
the years. His eyes were on It.
But there are good things. sir"
she whispered. softly. "a wife and
children"
He laughed, not pleasantly.
You must renounce your fairy.tales
The only ones that are left are grue-
some-tales with which to brighten
children"
He frowned and covered his face
with his hand; a fine hand, strong
and slender, nothing effeminate about
1t. albeit with the oval nails and
psychic finger-tips of the poet.
He recovered himself: "To return
to what / came to say-Miss Carew
must leave Craven"
yes, Mr.. Tempest"
Il shall never send her, shall
never show her. let her dream I wish
1t, because" his eyes flashed at abe
old. anxious face, 81 wish nothing
less-nothing less-in the world. Do
you hear?"
Eyes, Mr.. Basil"
"She must not come to-morrow-nor
again"
As he threw back his head the shad-
ows on his face appeared to creep
from his melancholy eyes and brood
over all his features. The spirits of
the night and darkness had banded to-
gether to cast their baleful wings
over him.
"She must not come again."
mo. Mr.. Basil"
II cannot bear it."
She understood him and sat silent,
her tenderness and pity fixed on his
bowed. brooding figure. As her eyes
met his he again covered his over
with his too frequent gesture and ex-
claimed:
Fire, Goals of live flames heated
red hot and on each lid. What Is this
cursed malady that is destroying me!
God! to be blind-blind-with the
love of beauty so knit in me that II Is
one with my life! To give up all the
images of the world. the forms of
life. the colors that plant the aspect
Of the uniyerse-to go into this self.
this dark. gloomy prison Of myself
with memories none too glad-or
brave or good, be sure! To live with
the ghouls Of the mind-the angels of
light all banished. Never to write
again. never to create, because my
selfish misery is too great; because !
am Slapped by revolt and not to be
reconciled. Why, tonight can
scarcely see you. and there have been |
days when would have torn my eyes |
open to see her more plainly! To |
potter around the earth l have been |
SO vain as to think ! trod well. to |
tumble for chair. to fall instead OF |
walking. to feel my way who have
broken 1t through!
"You have watched the malady come |
to me. Henly. as you watched 1t come |
to my father. You have understood. |
You have seen me suffer, and I knew |
you wondered at my control when |
within ! have shrieked with agony"
He paused. then said significantly:
"hnt there is oblivion"
In his anguish his eyes showed
as II horribly suffused with |
drops Of supreme Gethsemane. The
old woman's face was sublime in
tenderness: her tears were flowing
freely.
And I have dared for a moment to
think Of happiness!" he breathed. 81
have dreamed Of love strong enough
to 90 with me into that deadly dark
ness-the inferno. But it's madness!
madness! have proved It. It does
not exist and God knows I will pro
tect myself from suffering any more
deeply than now do. But. as said.
there IL oblivion-look here" Temp
est unfastened his cuff and rolled up
his sleeves to his inner arm.
The old housekeeper gave q cry.
ne tears froze on her lids. She sprang