Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1914-03-20
CHAPTER XIV.
A FaIsehood Under the Palms.

SI1AA ISks a.
A Falsehood Under the Palms.
We'll, it seems he'd bought a
ticket for that loud colored country
where / met him and come down there
to forget. 1 could buy the ticket he
said, as soon as learned how to pro-
nounce the name of this town. But
can't forget. I've tried. It's hope
lessu And he sat there looking like
a man whose best friend had died
owing him money. / won't go into his
emotions. Mr.. Bland, up at the inn,
is suffering that at the present mo-
ment, I'm told. They are unimport-
ant; I'll hurry on to the lie. l simply
say he was sorrowful, and it seemed
10 me a crime, what with the sun so
bright and the sea so blue and the
world so full of a number Of things.
Yes 1t certainly was a crime, and 1
decided he had to be cheered up at any
cost. How? I thought awhile. gaz-
ing up at the sky, and then it came
to me-the lie-the great, glorious
lie-and 1 told It,"
The hermit looked in defiance
round the listening circle.
You are chock full of sorrow
now,' / said to McMann. but it won't
last long He shook his head. Non
sense / told him. Look at me. DO
you see me doing heart bowed down
act under the palms, And he couldn't,
the lie unfolding itself in such splen-
dor to me. 'You?' he asked. Me- 1
said. Ten years ago 1 was where you
are today. A woman had spoken to
me as Mabel-or Marie-or what was
it?-spoke to you
II could see l had the boy interest
ed. / unfolded my story as 1t occur
red to me at the moment. Yes said
l. ten years ago saw her first. Dane
ing as a butterfly dances from flower
TO flower. dancing on the stage-a
fairy sprite-I loved her, worshiped
her. 1t could never be. There in the
dark of the wings she told me so. And
she shed a tear-a sweet tear of sor-
row at parting.
"I went to my ROOM, l told Nc
Mann, with a lot of time tables and
steamship books-bright red books;
the color came off on my eager hands.
| picked out a country and sailed
away. Like you, 1 thought l could
never be happy, never even smile
again. Look at me-
He looked l guess my face radi-
ated bliss. The idea was so lovely.
He was impressed could see it.
I'm supremely happy, l told him.
Il am my own master. | wander
where / will. No woman tells me my
hour of going out or my hour for
coming in. / wander. For company
] have her picture-as l saw her last
with twinkling feet that never
touched earth. AS the spirit moves l
go. You can move the memory OF
woman in a fash my boy, but 1t takes
two months TO get the real article
forgot everything of Importance. Ever
thought of that? You should. You're
going to be as happy as / am. Study
me. Reflect l waved my carpet
slippered feet toward the palms. l
had certainly made an impression on
Alexander McMann.
LAS we walked back over the sands
and grass grown streets to the hotel
his heart got away from that cupid's
lunch counter and he was almost
cheerful. 1 was gay to the last, but
as l parted from him my own heart
sank. / knew l had to go back to her
and that she would probably give me
a scolding about the carpet slippers.
parted from McMann with last word
of cheer. Then l went to the ship
to her, my wife. That was the lie,
YOU understand. She travelled every
where with me. She never trusted
me.
I'VE were due to sail that night,
and l was glad, for l worried some
over what 1 had done. Suppose my
wife and Alexander McMann should
meet. An estimable woman, but
large. determined. but little suggest
ing the butterfly of the footlights l
married long before. We had bad
session over the carpet slippers. The
boat was ready to sail when McMann
came aboard. He carried bag, and
his face shone.
"'She's sent for me- he said. Ma
rie wants me. 1 got letter from my
brother. I'll blow into Kansas like a
cyclone and claim her
II was paralyzed At that minute
a large black figure appeared on deck.
II headed for me. Jack it says
you've sat up long enough. Go below
now
"McMann's face was terrible. / saw
il was all up. 1 lied. McMann,' eX-
planned The idea just came to me
il fascinated me, and l lied. She did
turn me down-there in the wings
And she shed that tear j spoke of too
But when I was looking over the rail-
road folders she sent for me. l went
on the wings of love. 1t was two
blocks. but I went on the wings OF
love. We've been married twenty
years Forgive me. McMann.'
''McMann turned around. He picked
up the bag. I asked where he was 60
ing. Ashore he said. to think.
may go back to Kansas City-I may
But I'll just think a bit first And
he climbed into the ships boat. new
or saw him again
The hermit paused and gazed dream
lily into space.
That" he said. was my one great
lie. my masterpiece. A year after
ward / came up here on the mountain
TO be q hermit"
'As a result of it," asked Miss Nor
ton.
Yes" answered Mr.. Peters, Il tolc
the story to friend. I thought he
was friend. So he was. but mar
ried. My wife got to hear of 1t. Sc
YOU denied my existence" she said
AS a Joke told her. The jokes or