New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-01-12


that had sprung IN great beads 10 no, forehead the o'"rT
had raised his right hand.
Sherwood Frank Sherwood By the living Goi,"
Marvin came closer still. 90 / can br mistaken not -
not when ! scc-that
Ipon the forearm. the coarse sleeve Of which Wa
rolled backward 20 the elbow single -po, stood out
q small white scar, curved oddly like crescent, crop
ping in bold relief through all the seasoned tan.
The bearded mans voice sounded hollow and far
away "Ycs, YOU re- right. It. Frank Sherwood But
you-you haven't gone old like me. ! knew YOU Tor
Henry Marvin the minute heard your voice lus now.
| thought prayed for a moment YOU ddn make me
out Henry But los, my nerve, and thcn-my God!
Anyway, what brought YOU hcrc-hcrc,
He collapsed weakly on the log his face IN his
But it was the old birthmark the old hafmoon!" he
shricd cxcitcdly You couldn't forget IT, ch, Foolish
Of me- never thought Il forgot 1t was ihcre-and
we all have it, Sherwood. You wouldn't have
known but for that ch, Would YOU. now; Fool that |
was! raised my arm! raised my arm Tie went on,
babbing like a child.
Badly shaken Marvin fell into position on the log
few feet away. Prank, he got out at last. you've
spoken the truth. swear shouldn't have known. Do
you wonder? You were dead TO me- to us all And then.
in the life as you are, you've changed past belief
Sherwood"
Blanchard it is-Banchard You won't forget!
That's how I'm known here. The other had corrected
him, with weary gesture that seemed 10 include the
woods and mountains that pcnt them in. No one has
ever called me By the old namc-not since that day,
twenty years agothat day closed the door on hapqi
ness, me-" He blnkcd up at Marvin shifting his
for it all! Isn't 1t so-cvcr since
His breathing almost normal again, Marvin sat study
ing the aging lines in the carc-won face. No, Shcr
wood, don't. It's queer. There time, once but
it must have passed of years ago. think there's been
only question | ever wanted 20 ask YOU, badly.
Why, by all that's righteous did you ever DO it,"
Shcrwood's eyes were moist He was stretching for
ward imploringly First, I'd like TO know-ot her.
She is dead, ISIS she not"
you have heard, them"
"No, ncvcr-rcally. | never kncw-cxccpt here"
He struck his breast passlOnatcy. Something here
told me was so; that broke her heart pure SOUL My
work-ny work! And it was wasn't it, Again he
strained toward Marvin his face great interrogation.
And the little onc-tlc Ida we named her? What
She"
Marvin checked him soothingly 1--WE raised her,
Frank, your little girl raised her after your
wife went Frank. God gave Us none: we took her
gladly. There has been love for her to spare
Henry Marvin, you were always a man. | thank
Heaven for that He covered his face again. She
she has not known-of me-"
Marvins voice went slightly hard for moment. "Of
you-absoutcly nothing. She came to us early, and
people kind who could have talked. We raised
her a daughter; she loves us as one"
FOR a space neither stirred. Marvin who had turned
his head was watching where the warm band of sun
light crept and broadened on the soft green turf The
Stifcd voice caught his again.
Henry Marvin IN feeling old; yet | remember we
should be nearly of an age, you and l. know, some
way-somchow feel I've nearly reached the end of my
tethcr" The man shifted his position slightly the
log speaking off TREMENDOUSLY into the woods as though
to a favored confessional
when opened up our little foundry business
there in Emcryvie, had one handicap that you were
free from After Chicago, the place dull and had
the restless strain in my blood. The cards after
ward. II wasn't for big stakes in the beginning; but it
was a passion with me. 1t wasn't until began to lose
heavily that | found out what debts mcant-curse
thcml Well, Chicago was too near. | squared things
for a bit by turning to the brokers and buckctshops
Then the tide turned, and every stock played went
against me hard | was picked clean as a bone" He
groancd. There was little bank account-bor-
rowcd money most of it, to handle the busincsS-and
we making good. For awhile | kept off that; but