The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1911-04-18


but YOU we're man ut last. ] wasn't.
|! stay here. 4 Won't disturb you y
BY heayenl aaid IanEfofd, fiushl
lns; YOU are man now. No, Won't
Stay, but ] thank You for your offer,
and ! WIN nay yotf for AZ 4,
Gharnock put up his hand.
4 want no pay ~
Ri fthel less. You shall have III z.
lsinsisted the Other. Twill give you 4
word % advice. although to do i'll
danns mel,
He paused, laid his hand upon his
heart again. clenched the clothing
about his breast as ~ he would fain
tear " OF. He was white once more,
the sudden flush, had gone. but his lips
were set determinedly. III. K,
jssListen !wellsto what ] tell yo,i, 4 he
said slowly. u break! my word to do
sit. ] am false TO my oath In what /
say. Nevertheless ! say II, Go back
to- the island z II A 4.
''What?'' cried charnock.
Don't you hear me:r asked the
man, intense bitterness ID his voice.
Now that he had made the plunge, lie
realized more keenly than eyer.what
it3meant to him even In the very az
Sticles Of death to think Of Chsrnock
and tile woman. do r have to say II
sagain?s he went on. Go back to the
island" 4; Il u \, e &
His voice rose until he almost cried
the five words In Charnock' s face. The
gVirginiang stood. absolutely appalled,.
gLangford looked at him a moment,
laughed bitterly, turned, and went
slowly down the steps. More than
ever he hated him.iIn one bound
iCharnock was by his side. ~
You have said too much or too lit.
tie" he cried, laying his hand upon
the other. What do you mean? Why
should ! go back, TO the island !? Is she
;there?' ,. 81
In his agitation, he even shook the
Trailer, slighter, feebler form OF the
man who had Just uttered those
words. Z
Unless" said Langford coolly, you
want me to die. on your threshold, you
would better take off your hand. The
doctors told ME that the least physical
violence or ,exertion would be fatal
to me. /" {, evi Il e ~ 4,
Releasing him. charnock spoke
again. fssa
But won't you tell me what you
mean? Great God, man, think what
your words conyey?'
Il will tell you nothing, q nothing
further. This Is my last Will and test.
ament to you. Though l die here, i
have nothing further to say to you
than this: Go back to the island.
Damn your,
He turned away again and went
down the steps leaving Charnock
standing staring after him. He reeled
slightly as he went, but he caught
himself and marched on with as great:
N resolution as ever any soldier mani;
Tested in the point Of danger. He had
displayed weakness once In the press
ehce Of his enemy He would not do!
1t again. And while Charnock stared
at himt hetstepped out through the
gate from under the trees, entered theS
big car and was whirled away. I
Left to himself Charnock sat down
uPen the bench, and pressed his head
,irf His hands his Sthoughtss in a wild
whlJilrl .Go back to the island! Why
had he said that? Who was there?
Did some fantastic spirit Of revenge
send him half way round the world on
some FOOLS errand !? Hatred spoke II
the mans voice. He had coupled his
Injunction with curse which was
sufficient attest to the bitterness Of his
feelings. And yet truth spoke there,
too. Go back to the island! What
could it mean? 59 -
"A long time he sat resolving in his
mind his course, although 1 he knew
what 1t would be from the very mo.
ment that the words had fallen from
Langford's lips. He must 60 back, II