The Washington times., 1913-06-25
CHAPTER XVIII.
The Little Figure In Black.

A SEASON Of intense depression
~ almost Of meiancholia. came tc
~ Douglas. He grew more re.
served than ever. with his col
leagues on the stan Of the Courier,
who regretted his aloofness and would
gladly have drawn him into the ranks
Of their pleasant comradeship. He
avoided the club. where his absence
was commented upon. and where he
was in a fair way to become popular
member.
On the threshold Of his ambitions.
when the way seemed fair before him.
life had suddenly become distasteful.
With a fierce effort Of concentration.
he continued to work at his novel
which progressed but slowly.
He spent much time sitting alone.
pondering upon subjects which, from
such a standpoint as his present one,
seemed terrible enough. He had seen
good deal Of the underneath lite of
London, had suffered bitterly. and he
began to think of the city which now
sheltered him as city of lost souls
criftnS onward to a mysterious and
awful goal
Though he had thrown away in the
his creed, the religious sense was still
strong In him. In those dark days It
became almost a torment. He felt
that ne, too. was going under The
springs OF his ambition the lusty love
of living and fighting grew weak. as
physically his muscles frew fiaccid.
He thought often Of Strong-broken
on the wheel, creature hopelessly
lost. Was he drifting toward this? One
night a strange. sickly excitement came
in his hand His head swan and voices
which he had almost forgotten rang
In his ears. Little specks of red fire
danced before his eyes-he lost hold
upon his consciousness-he was doubt
ful even Of his own identity. He had
become unit. lost unit. and for a
moment or two he babbled like a child.
He set his teeth. walked swiftly up
and down the room. struggled and re-
covered himself. Yet he felt as though
and he were still among the tumbling
waters. He stood before the window
and cried out a passionate prayer-to
that God he scarcely knew-yet IL
soothed him. He put on his hat hastily
Afterward he knew that he had stood
that night In deadly danger A wild
craving to escape from himself and his
sontuoe py some unusual means beat
against the walls of his heart So far
hood. vigorous love for things beauti-
ful. an intense self-respect, an epicu-
reanism half instructive. half incuI-
Gated by his country life and innate
spirituality, had kept him from even
the thought Of things evil
Yet tonight The handspring of his life
was out Of gear. II was distraction. in
slant and immediate. he craved for-of
any kind. almost at any kind. He
walked blindly. and a curioCs sense of
trresponsibilfty possessed him The
lights Of a little restaurant finred in his
face-he entered, and called for wine
He sat at small table with champagne
before him. and the men and WOMEN
who crowded the place looked az Rim
euriossly: Doggedly he filled his glass
and drank
Some one came and spoke to him
from whom at another time he would
have turned away. He shared his wine.
talked purposelessiy and listened. A lu-
minous moment came. however; he paid
his bill and walked firmly from the
place. In the Strand the church bells
were ringing, for II was Sunday He
turned westward and walked rapidly
toward Westminster.
Even In the porch he hesitated Since
ne had left he had never entered a.
church nor chapel The sound of the
organ came peailpg cut e him. ofhsrS