The Marshall republican., 1910-02-11

tfepueheu' bitIie Tlpptes Bcudded In
the moonlight. Faint clouds drifted
above them.
II should not mind being Chopin"
said the poet. His eyes we're on The
lake.
NO"
He had his life. His heart was
freed"
"Yes-and broke"
Il know. ! can't say it-yet. But
somehow I feel 1t. He had all that
life could give-even death-becauss
Of love-"
And because he held IT," said Der.
ring.
The other started. "You advise
me-"
Derring shook his head, smiling.
Don't put II on me. You know-bet.
ter than I can. I only know that
without love there is nothing. 1t lie
what life acknowledgement OF
small. Out Of the heart of It we came
and to 1t we shall return. The heart
must love II 1t would live. II a man
turns from 1t, puts 1t away, is afraid
OF it-loses it. He stopped sudden.
ly. A picture Of the wood-road
flashed before him and Seth Olney's
bent figure, short and stolid. That
was what had happened to Seth. He
had shut his heart. He ceased to
live.
In a few words Derring sketched the
story of Seth's life. That's what ]
mean" he said. He let love 60. His
life shriveled."
The poets eyes glowed. II shall
hold It," he said, quietly, and II she
fails me-"
You will still have love-"
Yes"
you will love some one-some
thing"
Like ShelleyT The poet stole O
smile at him, half-humorous.
Like Shelley, II you WILL" said
Derring, "or like Dante. The true sip
and the tickle drink at the same
spring. All that is good In Shelley
came from his fckleness. It is the
soul that is dissolved-freed by love
that makes glad the world. When
love goes, the soul grows hard, com.
pact-useless-except to fight with"
Except to fight within" said the
poet. Il am no fighter"
They had turned again and were
walking to the north. Clouds OBJ
scured the moon. The dusk wal faint,
ly luminous. Far up the distant road
a pair Of crimson eyes glowed through
1t, from an approaching vehicle.
With m accord they turned to
watch the lake. A summer storm
wal gathering. Lightning played here
and there, in open flashes, on the dark
water. Deep mutters of thunder fol
lowed It challengingly. The wind had
lulled. A silence held the air, fiutter
Ing with light. Upon 1t, in the dis.
lance, sounded the faint purr of the
crimson-eyed vehicle. It resolved IT,
self into the pufing approach of an
automobile. For a moment the moon
strove to reassert itself. A silver
simmer came in the darkness. The
striking Of the clock doomed through
It. They counted the strokes.
"Ten O'clock" said Derring. They
will be waiting for u.s."
Just a minute" pleaded the poet.
The hush of darkness gathered II,
self. Through IL sounded swift, whir.
ring puffs of the acknowledgements
and nearer-with hurrying, changing
bell.
Derring glanced over his shoulder.
They were racing with the storm.
Then he saw. The thing was past con.
~trol-rushing upon them madly. II
had left the roadway. 1t whirred
swiftly. The face of the chauffeur
glared, fixed and white, With a swift
turn of his arm Derring seized the
poet. He thrust him-straight across
the path of the t%hing--out of danger.
He lay, face down, his arms still out
spread to save his friend.
The rain fell in torrents when they
lifted him. It fell on his u~pturned
face and relaxed hands. The face,
beneath the rain, was strangely
sweet. as II a hand Of love had
touched It.
THE END