The French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1896-1912, 1910-09-15

~~
uSSs~
"THEY ALL HATE YOU, DON'T THEYf"
sleep, and If you leave I'll get up. ]
want some more light I'm going to
have some things the way / want
them"
Recognizing that flight was useless
and that the child was in deadly ear
nest, Kirby obediently turned up the
lamp.
you'll come very near getting a good
many things the way you want them
"You come and sit here" peremp-
torily ordered the General, pointing 70
q stool beside the sofa. And again
the man obeyed. For a moment the
child was silent, gravely contemplate
ing his pseudo hero. what is q
Id low gambler? p" he suddenly
inquired.
Its what some people call me-" re
piled Kirby after a pause. 'Tm sorry
they dc it before you"
"They don't Ike you any more, do
they-specially Dele? They all hate
you, don't they? I know why. It's
because you turned out to be the bad
prince" said the boy, nodding solemn
".
Again the other was silent. Gen
eral," he said at length. there's some
thing your sister never got quite
straight in the stories she's read you.
Sometimes the good prince is half bad.
and sometimes the bad prince-is half
good"
mo; there was never anything like
that in the books" reflected the Cen
eral, greatly surprised.
"And sometimes" added Kirby,
they are both just one man-half good
and half bad"
"Both just in one person.
Eyes. And when that person-half
good prince and half bad prince, re
member-gets, into a mysterious under
ground passage, say, and the adven-
ture takes him to where the people are
good, why, then he tries to be all good
too"
The child pondered over this truth
little comprehending those strange con-
tradictions and complexities Of the
soul, Of that dual personality which
has mysti1ed older and wiser heads
than his, that has ,baf1ed sage and sci
enlist alike and will battle them to the
end of time.
"Then are you trying not to be a bad
prince now-not any more at all ever?'
he finally asked.
"Net where you and your sister are, !"
said Kirby, his voice trembling.
"But you'll turn out bad again when
we 60 awayT' suggested the child.
II don't know just what will happen
them" confessed the man, staring duly
at the floor.
Silence came. Then the child sighed.
"Pd like to know the end Of that
story"
The man echoed the sigh, smiling
wanly. 'I'm afraid / can't tell you the
end"
Although no herald of intrusion had
been apparent, he was suddenly con-
scious that some n had entered the
room before the General had express
ed his wish. Rising. he discerned
| Adele Randall, who now anne swiftly
forward and ignoring him. assumed
protecting attitude over the child. as
IL to shield It from an infinitely con-
Eliminating presence. She appeared
the same as on the first occasion Of his
meeting with her-Pale. sad, dressed
entirely in black, hopelessiy emotion
less and uncompromistngly hopeless.
'rMiss Randall" he ventured at
length, ignoring her attitude. 81 have
something for you. Several times I
have sent one Of the servants to yon
requesting an interview. I don't want
you to regret all your life the fact that
you refused 10 listen to me-"
Without a word or a glance she
turned to the General and took him
by the hand, the child struggling with
all his small strength. please don't
make mefv he impIored. Dele, he's
trying not to be bad like they said.
And, don't you remember. / promised
to be his rrusty friend. Can't I ven
talk to him?"
'M1ss Randall" quietly interposed
Kirby, there isn't a slave on, this
plantation you wouldn't listen to If
he asked to be heard before you pun
tshed him. Won't you''-
But she had gone, half carrying the
still Intellectually struggling General
Kirby remained grimly eying a slip OF
paper he had withdrawn from his
pocket. It was his last card-the deed
to the plantation. Throwing it ON the
table, he sank into a chair, a prey to
the most hopeless detection.