Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1913-12-18


"The man had some mortal illness,
and knew he couldn't live a year,
though no one else knew it. He suf-
fered simple fortunes, too, with pain.
and wanted to shoot himself, and
yet he lived on because of his mother.
She never even knew he was ILL.,"
Christopher started. A certain
parallel in the story and his OVID
case struck him.
what happened in the end9' he
asked.
Gle died." said the girl softly.
"And afterward everyone realized
what a hero he had been, suffering
on like that and saying nothing. /
suppose it's what you would call
rather an impossible tale, but it's
so interesting"
The careless adjective cut him
like a knife. Never, had she but
known, would the girl have used it
then. He spoke deliberately, not
looking at her.
Suppose" he said carefully, "that
John Smith had not chosen to live
on and suffer, but had put bullet
through his brain, as you say IN
wanted to, what would you have
called him then?"
She flashed an indignant face on
him. Never before had he seen her
thus aroused.
Fancy you asking me that. A
coward, of course-nothing else"
He accepted the word silently.
"Do you mind telling me whyY'
he asked gently.
at isn't for me to judge" she
said wistfully. "But if it was a
man II cared for, and he did
that"
"Shot himself?"
Yes, shot himself. L think it
would break my heart-a coward"
she almost whispered the word to
herself.
'But extenuating circumstances
the suffering-the agony of waiting,
how is that to be borne? And a
mans life is his own and matters
to no one else"
at would have mattered to me-
she said steadily. "John Smith had
his mother, and there is always
some one."
She gave a sudden little shiver al
if the chill that had crept on Chris
topher's heart had clutched her too
He noticed it with conjunction.
"Shall we walk on? You are get
ting cold" he said.
They walked slowly to Stanhop
| gate talking lightly-heaven he'll
the man-of the thousand and on
interests, many of them mutual, tina
life was holding for both.
He made sudden suggestion.
81 wish you would ride that ba,
pony of mine," he SAID difidently
Zero, you know, the one you like
1T Ranelagh, he would make a CAPT
tai lady's hack"
SBut won't you be wanting hin
yourselfP You said you would b.
playing such lot of polo. Hav'
you altered your plans again ?"
He made them on the spur of thu
moment.
81 have had to alter them. ] an
going abroad next week for some
time, six months, or-or longer"
81 see. It's very kind of you t.
offer me the pony. He looks dear.
Her tones conveyed nothing. Sh,
was looking straight ahead to where
glitter among the trees disclosed
a squadron of cavalry that Londor
has affectionately ridiculed in nick
name. The "Tins" riding home t.
Knightsbridge barracks. And they
would ride again tomorrow, in /,
week, a month, six months.
Need the doctor have limited at flu,
ture suffering when there was this
At her fathers door he paused.
"No, thanks, l won't come in. AND
goodby, if l don't see you again"
She gave him her hand and hel
eyes asked-all unconsciously-s
question the man dared not answer
1t put the crown on his sufferings.
'Goodby, then-and good luck"
Christopher was delayed at the
corner of Hamilton place by Z
/ kkok LII oko.-.l l.