Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1910-07-21

on me angr1ly. fOu Te mere lOr copy.
You've got me. Think Of your head
lines. I'd have been worth more to
you SO than I'm worth
to anyone awe!
So that was It., And mere he stood,
quivering with life; and If l had
CHANGED to sleep one hour longer!
With what sailors neatness he had
planned It! One moment on the end
of his diving-board, mole In his tem-
Pile, and deep, sapphire waters meet
ing over his foolish, wasted youth!
While / was agonlzing for the word
to ease him, for the wisdom to hold
him and yet not make light of his
fault, the thing, the only right thing
of itself naturally happened. l was
crying, bitterly, as his sister might
have cried.
why do you do that?" he asked,
presently adding, I'm nothing to you,
only copy for your aunt"
The time had come TO speak You
are not even so much" took him up.
do you suppose we're scavenging for
things like that? My poor little aunt!
She's literary critic for our village
paper at home; she'd rather die a
thousand deaths than mention you!"
Then why Z? He pointed
downward to his lost pistol But
why not let me what bust
ness of yours?"
None" / confessed. "But come,
Frank Listonl Let us talk this Quit"
You're a woman" he objected.
"You )" He eyed me doubt
fully. You're not old"
ANY woman worth the name is old
enough for that"
But women-ladies-"h he corrected,
don't can't Z"
Listen, boy" / turned on him.
This Is bad enough, big enough, for
you to die of, you strong, young
thing, with a mother at home maybe,
and a sweetheart" How he WINGED at
that And you stop to think whether
we, you and /, two human beings, can
talk it out! And three days ago you
didn't stop at doing it,"
He shook his head. you don't I'M
derstand. No woman can! | don't
see why 1t is, myself. but SO it is"
After a minutes brooding q.
Suppose the people at home don't
find out! Can l go back. and al
ways think some day they surely will?
You don't know what she's like. She
believes!" The inarticulate young
creature paused, struggled with some
inner pocket, and held me out a pic
ture. A girl with starry. trustful look!
Again my eyes filled.
What is it?" he again asked.
"Only thinking how she would have
looked tonight, when the cable came.
You would have been well out Of it,
l could not spare him now.
He pondered. ''But if she really
! knew
Women" l broke IN, know far
more than you ever dream. Look al
me. You say am not old, You say
1 don't understand. Why, lad, its
simple, simple as the tides, and
death, and life! Why? Who can say!
But so it is"
when we came down here" at last
|
Everyone knows that" | treasured
him. Its only this. You had beer
kept thirsty in a desert. Thirst Is
natural. Deserts are torments. Then
you came where there were only gut
tiers. Saints and heroes resist! But
you are neither. And must you die
because you fall short of the best!
| Hok etr nj fo
turbing. That woman, yesterday, fell
defiled at being under the same roo
with you. Today, 1t seemed, poor lad
that you were copy for harry Of Q
newsmonger. You forgot that what
ever lay against you, you'd never beer
coward. You had risked all this
rather than leave dying girl. You've
stood like a man, ready to pay; WHY
default now?"
He raised his head little, not meet
ing my eye. II couldn't leave her!"
1.-THE others did" I laid my hand
on his shoulder.
Suddenly he broke out with his pent
up horror. IF you only knew how Lit
tie l liked It! Time and time agar
Iuey say, COIHe dSuOTe with US. AIT
you don't go. There's your girl a
home! And you write letters. 70,
read stale books. you smoke pipe aftel
pipe and but ther
there comes a time, you never know
why :"
"Ah, lad Who does? But i
you're fiawed, pick up the pieces ant
go on I'm often In New Hampshire
some day I'll see that girl Of yours
Shall she be wearing black. and liv
ing under silent dread, half knowing
half fearing to known?
But the trial, the court?" He oh
jected.
Write her today, don't leave It Il
chance!" l pleaded Tell her you'v,
been in a scrape, a bad one. Tha
you tumbled in. lad, because you wer'
a man, and for the same reason yo'
did not crawl out! That girl of your
will ask no questions!"
would you do that?" At last hi
eyes met mine.
"Good morning, you early birds!'