The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1914-09-05

morse, without urging, Sloppeu Will ITO
nose against him A more skilled OBJ
server than Mark might have noticed
that some villagers mirror and comb
had been utilized to the advantage or
Unity's hair and that her hat had been
readjusted to its most becoming angle;
and would have drawn certain in
ferences.
Mark did not He merely smiled at
her over the horses head.
She seemed rather impatient with
his obstructiveness. you've bought
the pike, then? | hadn't heard"
He laughed and waved his hand air
ily. This morning the world is mine.
Do you know. we haven't shaken
hands,
oh. haven't we?' Her tone at
tached no Importance to the omission.
Nevertheless, when he stood aside,
she drove the horse forward length
and laid a limp hand in Marks.
Also" he continued, you haven't
said you're sorry that | was hurt"
Obi" she repeated, with perfume
toriness unrelieved, I'm sorry
He laughed again. You needn't
mind now. You'll have plenty of
chances before long"
Meaning"
The road to your house is still open
to the public, isn't it? I'm thinking
of buying a new horse. Unity" he re-
turned to gravity. there isn't any rea-
son why we shouldn't be good friends,
| is there?'
People will talk"
He paraphrased a classic formula.
Unity" he said earnestly. "drat the
people!"
You can say that. You don't have
! to stay here"
But I'm going to stay here"
Not for good?"
For good"
Why"
Mark laughed shortly. when you're
put out of the race, you don't want to
stay where you have to watch the
others still running"
She inspected him again, more
closely. He thought he was sincere.
But he did not know that despite the
crutches and his drawn white face he
had not the resigned dispirited air of
the man who has accepted a perma-
nent seat on the shelf.
Look as long as you want to- he
suggested at last. In the meantime
will you set the dogs on me when
drive down your way?"
"Oh, WE'LL" She tried unsuccess-
fully to return to indifference. If you
really want to come It's been a
dull season. l suppose it would be a
mercy to the gossips to give their
tongues a chance to clack once more"
She drew the reins taut.
"A real philanthropy" he assented,
grinning, as the horse lumberingly re-
sumed Its journey.
Mark swung slowly along homeward.
He smiled pityingly. He had read
Alright the new interest in Unity's face
that Of the condemned prisoner who
has heard rumor of reprieve. He was
sorry for her. And pity-we have 1t
from the poets-is loves poor relation.
Mark regained measure of strength.
He discarded one crutch and began
each day to take few steps expert
mentally with no support but cane.
He spent many beautiful idle hours,
alone or with Richard Courtney. driv-
ing his new horse among the hills.
Sometimes-often-U was with
him on these drives. Tongues clacked
according to prophecy. But Mark did
not care. And Unity did not care.
Mark fell placidly and easily in love
with Unity again. At least, the while
protesting, he decided that it must be
love.
But the protest was half-hearted.
He wanted to love.
Are ye goin' to stay here in
Bethel?' Simon broke long silence
to inquire, one rainy evening"
Il don't know" Mark answered out
of brown study, off his guard. But
he added quickly: Yes. l do know.
I'm going to stay"
Then, what are We goin' to do?"
Il don't need to do anything. I've
got twenty thousand dollars. That'll
last me-in Bethel"
Simon shook his head gravely. Eye
can't stand that. Ye've got to dc