Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-03-19
Continued from page 4

physically sick. The walls of his throat
seemed to close For an instant he had the
impulse to fling himself on John Rhodes and
fight hand to hand for his freedom. This
stalwart, uncouth Southern version of Don
Quixote was demanding more than his life.
And yet, the next instant, he knew with that
infallibility with which we know our limita
tons in supreme crises that though he was
yielding more than his life, he could not buy
freedom at the immediate risk of his life.
There must be some other way out. This
was ridiculous The very absurdity of it
made him angry. The stolid Impotence of
the countryman, as he waited for his an
swer, Infatuated him. He saw himself little,
little and absurd, oddly absurd, helplessly
absurd, at this Virginia farmers mercy.
"Look here, John!" he broke out suddenly.
"Be reasonable. Lefty doesn't really love me.
l don't love her. You'd only be making
misery for us both. Why, see here, John
I'll" He was actually going to propose that
they take a shot at each other in old Virginia
fashion, when John Rhodes interrupted.
@Please not to call me by my name, Mr..
Mayo" said he. u don't see as I've any
call to stand that"
And Innes choked on his own words. But
now he looked at the other in open anger.
II think you must be crazy" he said at last.
"What l want is your word of honor that
you'll man. Lefty when she's Free
@And if don't promise?"
John looked at him TRANQUILITY. u told
you l come a bad stock" he said.
There was lad silence for sometime. At
last Rhodes took wad of paper and foun-
tain pen from his pocket.
II want it in writin' too" he said.
@Do you know that you're playing the
part of bully and coward Rhodes?" said
Innes coldly. do you know that the law
does not recognize oaths made under COM
pulsion?"
II know Mayo's word once given don't
need no law to make it good" said John
Rhodes as coldly. He put the paper open
on a book and handed them to Innes.
"Write it out clear, he said. @It's gettin
to- ads mornin'."
HERE the door opened and Lefty came
- into the room. She was deathly white.
Her eyes were circled, almost as from blow.
The child look had gone from her face.
About her bare head her hair hung down in
heavy loops and wavings. She moved with
a strange, still dignity, like one walking in
her sleep.
AS the two men gazed at her astounded.
ayes, listened" she said, speaking to her
husband. u knew you saw. was lookln
your way. l followed you here. I've been
here ever since you came in, there at that
door. had a right to listen. And I've got
a right to say my part, too She paused
for moment; then, still to her husband,
@John," she said, 3you are too good for me:
And you," she turned to Innes, "aint good
enough-nor bad enough. I've finished"
And with that she went out as swiftly as
she had entered.
Neither of the two men said anything;
then John Rhodes took up the bit of paper
and his pen from the bed where he had
placed them, laid an envelop beside Innes,
and turned to leave the room also.
In bound lines had reached him, grasp
ing him by the arm with all his strength.
"Where are you going? What are you going
to do?" he cried, beyond all personal fear in
the dread of some brutal tragedy.
Rhodes looked at him calmly, almost
mockingly, Innes thought. 3There's no
need to get scared he remarked.
"But you can't go like this! l must know
what you're going to do! | must"
"Well," said John Rhodes slowly, "as l
don't never expect to see you again, might
as well answer your last request, | spose.
I'm going to send Lefty to school,
Innes dropped his hands, and the other
went quietly from the room, closing the
L: