The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1912-07-18


ly along the narrow aisle. nodding
mechanically. Then the strange silence
struck in on him. He raised his head
sharply, rhe lips parting little.
what is IT." he said. His voice
was high pitched and querulous.
From the street came the strident
voice of the newsboy. He was too
far away for his words to be distin
guished, but he was coming rapidly
nearer.
stop that newsie" man exclaimed
involuntarily.
"What is It? why stop the newsie?"
The tone was still sharp and queru-
lous.
The young man VINO cherished ideals
standing before Bob sought to hide
his paper behind his back. The move
ment caught Bob's attention. Just be-
fore the paper disappeared behind the
young mans back he saw in big. far
ing red letters, "Reming"-
He held out his hand. give me
that paper"
The young man stared at him mute
ly, scared look coming into his eyes
"Glve me that paperT Bob repeated
fercely. He caught the young man
by the shoulder, swung him around
roughly and seized the paper.
Then he unfolded II and read. The
crowd looked on in dumb discomfort.
Somehow cry one present found
himself suf ring horribly
AS he saw the 6aring headline Bob
felt his heart contract convulsively
There was a sudden sharp throb in his
brain, and then strange numbness
spread through him. He read througl
the affidavit without being able to
comprehend what II meant. There, In
its bold type. 1t seemed so impersonal.
so much the thing which he was used
to see in the newspapers, that he could
not realize that IL was Paul's. his
friends. public disavowal OF him. He
read 1t second time and still It did
not seem real-the numbness persisted
He looked at the young man.
"What does II meanY His hand
passed before his eyes. IL don't un.
derstand"
y
1T isn't true, Mr.. McAdoo? Say II
isn't true" . -,s.-..rf,--.....
Bob looked at him. the smile still
playing about his mouth.
rs II badT" The querulousness was
gone. The voice was tired and gentle.
"Then it's true-whatever 1t is"
The crowd stood stupidity mute. The
young man sobbed again. He caught
one Of Bob's hands in both his own.
II don't care If 1t is true" he said
brokenly. I'm stand by you" He
turned to face the others and through
unshamed tears looked defiance at
them. They stirred uneasily. A NUT
ter of approval arose.
Bob exerred all his will power to
bring back his straying mind TO the
thing before him. to realize what it
was that made these men stand
around him in stupid silence
The paper had fallen from his hands.
He was standing rigidly upright. his
head thrown back, his feverish, gilt
tering eyes taking no account of the
present. Haggin took a step forward
and laid his hand on Bob's shoulder.
Bob" he said--and no one wonder
ed then at the gentleness in the old
prizehghter's voice-'yere sick. Let's
go home, Bob"
Bob started. He looked at Haggin
with a puzzled, childish frown.
"Eh, Tom? | came TO see you about
something. | forget what. 1t was
something-Pm always forgetting to-
day. Tom, let MACPHERSON go TO
thunder, and you and Pll/go home"
Haggin took one of Bobs arms, the
earnest young man caught the other.
Together they half led, half support
ed, him to the carriage. Then they
got In with him and drove away.