The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-10-14
no 1ch
And
THE SKY-MAN
BY
HENRY KITCHELL WEBSTER
Aatboy f,rah .Saa,uei Mrutn) Of Calumet *
Copvrirht 1910 by The Century Company

, HIVES. a day AZ TIME. anu WV" -
died, he died without fear Doing
that ne not only helped himself, but
he helps las In way that he coulah
possibly have for.sern
Her eNes filled suddenly with Tears.
and smile, of "a divine sad tender
ness, touched fof an instant her
mouth But that isn't our case. YOU
know ours isn't az simple as that
What makes the difference But
he knew the answer
Your wings she said IT hardly
above "a whisper, and as she said II
she turned little pater and her brave
lips trcmhled But in &n Instant her
with had taken command again
am sure you see. It's quite PLAIN,
she went on steadily. IF son VIII
spread them, those great wings OF
yours. and take to the air with them
and fiy away. a. YOU arr free To do,
and leave me here alone. rs really
am alone. the only person marooned
here-sif Sou'll do that. then III fol-
low my fathers Eespe - But YOU
. won't go nwaA. Won can mot n
man like you. and l know that
know | mustn't even suggest IL
Her voice sank again and grew IN
STEADY While am starving. You
VIII te starving, too. And while /
am freezing, you WITH freeze. She
stopped there with a shadder and a
deep, gasping sab: then, Won't Yea
go o'' she cried out 'tY OH said once
that one of Us might be dreaming
but that one was not |. Can't you
believe it's So Can't Son wake up
from the dream that Is turning into
nightmare, and lily away No. YOU
can't, You can't,--There Is only one
way out az it,
+. There was the conclusion he had
fnreseen had foreseen long before
he could formulate 1.-THE inevitable.
conclusion that had led him To pray
for an hour And nov he thanked
God that the answer WAS ready
But before he could speak. he turn
I'd 10 him with a sudden transition
Of mood. which left him gasping. The
face she turned upon him now WAS
radiant. flushed with life. fearless.
She held out both hands to him
Come" she said. that's over You're
To forget it ever happened. and YOU re
TO do something for me that | want
I VIII YOU? ! want this fer a holiday.
lust as | set out TO make IL when /
saw the yacht was gone. The day $
as bright as II was then, and We
can make the hours pure gold. II
all depends on us, Come, Will you
do that for me
Giving him her hands. she had
meant him 10 assist her III rise but
he disregarded the Intention aud
I Jeanne, he said.
Her color huttered like a nag at
that, and she caught her breath.
Thank you.~~ Philip.
Wen have our holiday Jeanne.
hut We must have a better UNDER
standing first.
no, No more,-i can't
But he went steadily on You
said there was only one Way out,
I and | knew what you mean II Is
/ a way out,-a way that | can't deny
: your right to take. II were talking
Of rights During the five years thai
spent at Sandoval always regard :
ed II as q right that | could exercise
when chose Perhaps that is one
III the reasons | never exercised it.
But. Jeanne. il you elect 10 take that
way. shall take IL with YOU.
She struggled away from him. turn
ed and faced him with horror strick-
Ell eyes You must not say that
YoHye no right to threaten me with
that, No right" Then elutehing al
his hands again. You must prom
Use"
! Again site pulled her hands away
and covered her face with them She
was trembling uncontreiiably
( 1t Was not threat" he said
steadily ~ Was "A promise, a prom
/ iss 1 have the right to make make
il again. now. jeanne solemn
promise before God Whether it's
living or dying / shall 90 beside
Z you"
No right" she repeated IN a
whisper What possible right could
you have tn make a promise like that
"a threat that eails Itself prom
Use 3''
Il have the only right there Is
Listen. Last night, when you were
lying there ASLEEP, sat thinking
thinking about you, ahout the love
had for You; about the change whicf
that love had made in me and woult
go on making after I had lost you
| For / faced losing you. knew tina
! when they sent a boat ashore for you
should have to let xon 60 withon
ii word If ] could have heard ii pro
phecy then, that to-day ! should b,
telling YOU | loved yoH, telling IL witt
a clear heart and conscience. ! Shout,
have gone half mad for Joy. 1t seem
ed as II the thing could never happen
! am a man with "A stain upon me
and yesterday that stain made IL i'm
possible 10 say anything to you bu
goodby, | meant to say it. and TAX,
my way through the air again ant
live out the rest OF my life on what
from your bounty, YOU had airead.
given me
But the coming OF new day ma
changed all that II has given m.
the right 20 tell you what | have tolt
you and il gives me the right Il
make that promise Isn't that quit
plain? Don't you understand ?"
~ (To BE Continued