Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1910-04-20
A Promise Broken.
CHAPTER XIV.

A Promise Broken.
It was that same late spring morn.
Ing when John Charnock sat on the
porch overlooking the pale waters OF
Hampton Roads past Newport News
and Old Point Comfort and the blue
waters Of the Chesapeake and the
bluer ocean beyond. The motor car
was stopped outside the great gate
at the end Of the long avenue of trees
which led te the river road. It could
have been driven in, but as he APP
preached the house more nearly with
his mind still in a state Of indecision,
lin order further to collect his thoughts
and because he was tired from the
long ride and because he would not
trespass on Charnock more than was
absolutely necessary, Langford de-
cided to walk.
Now the sight Of motor car was
not unusual and Charnock glanced at
1t indifferently enough until 1t stopped
at the gate. That was out Of the com
mon, for most OF those who came to
8 visit him In such fashion turned in the
drive and stopped before the long
flight Of steps that led down from the
porch to the terrace and from the ter
race to the lower level Of the lawn.
He did not recognize the tail. slender
figure which came slowly up the path
by the side OF the drive under the
; great arch Of trees. Still az the man
& drew nearer, he arose and with true
Virginia hospitality, a hospitality he
had easily learned since It was in his
blood, he descended the steps to the
terrace and would have descended far
Their to the roadway but that he sud
denly recognized the visitor. He
stopped dead still, surprised, amazed,
4 Langford started, hesitated, threw
/ back his head and came resolutely on.
He mounted the first flight Of steps
and as he did so. Channock turned,
drew back a little to make way for
him and the two men faced each
other upon the terrace.
Great God!" cried the virginian,
at last. ."'you Of all men. What are
you doing here?p
His brow was dark, his hands
4 clenched. h 4. n \, S
why not II" answered Langford
coolly, bitter smile on his lips,
you say that to me after all that
: you have done?" q.
Man. said the other, didn't / do
everything under heaven that. man
could do to undo It. She forgave me.
can't your"
..No!" answered charnock, moving
toward him. ", D
.stop!H cried Langford.s as your
own record 30 clear7 Have you
nothing with which to reproaich your.
self? ruined her life; yes; 4 grant
It. but you drove her to suicide. why
have I not the right to fault you even
as you seem to. claim the right to fapI,
me? We have both sinned against
that woman. but at least in those final
hours ! did my best for her. Did you r
Charnock hesitated. No one had
ever spoken to him like that. He had
ssaid lhese' things to himself many
times, but no one else had ever as
sumed or presumed to do SO, and had
4 anyone but this man ventured upon
such words, he would have met with
short shrsft indeed. But there was so
much justice and so much truth in
what Langford said that, resentful
though he was; hating the man as he
did, he could not be blind 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 have told It to any
other man, !" returned Langford.
But that doesn't explain why you
: come here.
tsWhy!. exclaimed the other. II
don't really know
In that instant the tension under
which he held himself gave way. He
reeled Sights, put his hand to his
heart. For the first time Charnock
noticed how white he was, how 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.
What's the matter!" he asked al
most roughly. you look Ill, weak, suf-
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 could sit down some
! where
Here. cried Charnock.
He half led, half carried the man.
+ supporting him with his powerful arms,
to q seat on the terrace across which
Sthe shadow of the house fell in the
morning.
Thank you" said Langford. "Now."
he fumbled In his pocket and pulled
out q little phial with shaking I'm
gers, III you will be- kind enough to
open that and give me one of these"
he gasped, Il am hardly up to it.'
Quickly. deity. Charnock took the
phial, opened 1t, placed one Of the
tablets in the others hand and waited
anxiously. Above on the porch ser.
want appeared and him Charnock babe
bring water, wine. restoratives. Pres
emily Langford recovered himself, the
/ powerful medicine acted, the tearing
pain at his heart abated. II left him
fearfully weak and broken but his own
master. ~
Well" he said with cynical bitter
ness, you see.''
Yes" answered Charnock gravely,
II see."
Il am going in one of those some
day and mighty soon now, and it is.
because of that that / came to see
you. i wanted to talk to you about
her"
No 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 am weak, / am strong,'n he
nlIOtodE almost q ri opJna1Jy H. rtf