The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-03-21
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81 HALLI rRrILNIL RIVIS es:1 ss'ss' Sazs.
ILLUSTRATED 6I LAUREN STOUT

The box had originally held two
pistols. He shuddered as he stopped
TO pick up the weapon. and with the
crawling repugnance mingled a pang.
Ing anger and humiliation. From his
very babyhood II had always been so
that unconquerable aversion to the
touch Of frearm. There had been mo-
ments In his youth when this unrea-
soning shrinking had filed him with
blind fury. had driven him to strange
selftests OF courage. HIe had never
been able to overcome Ii. Analyza-
tion had told him that his peculiar
adherence was no mere outgrowth OF
this. IL lay far deeper. He had rare
ly, OF recent years. met the test Now.
as he stood In these unaccustomed
surroundings. with the cold touch OF
the metal the old shuddering held
him. and the sweat broke i'm beads
on his forehead. Setting his teeth
hard. he crossed the room. slipped the
box with It's pistol between the vol
umes OF the bookcase. and returned to
his seat.
The bulldog. aroused from nap.
thrust a warm muzzle between his
knees. IT'S uncanny. Chum!" he said.
ms his hand caressed the velvety
head. why should the touch OF that
fool thing chill my spine and make
my flesh tiptoe over my bones? Why
should I hate a pistol? DO you sup
pose was shot In one of my previous
lexistences?'
For long while he sat there, his
pipe dead. his eyes on the moon
lighted out-of-doors. The eery feel
ing that had gripped him had gone as
quickly as II had come. At last he
rose. stretching himself with a great
,boyish yawn. put out all save one OF
the candles and taking a bath-robe.
sandals and huge fuzzy towel from
the steamer.trunk. stripped leisurely.
He donned the bath.robe and sandals
and went out through the window to
the garden and down to where lay the
little lake ruffling silverly under the
moon. On It's brink he stopped, and
tossing back his head. tried to imi.
tate one OF the bird-calls but was un-
successful. With a rueful laugh he
threw OF the bath-robe and stood an
instant gllstening. poised In the moon.
light like a marble faun. before he
dove. straight down out Of sight.
Five minutes later he pulled him.
self up over the edge. his flesh tin
Cling with the chill Of the water, and
threw the robe about his cool white
shoulders. Then he thrust his feet
into his sandals and sped quickly
back. He rubbed himself to a glow.
and blowing out the remaining can
die. stretched himself luxuriously be-
tween the warm blankets on the
couch. The dog sniffed inquiringly at
his hand. then leaped up and snug
gled down close to his feet
John valiant's thoughts had fed a
thousand miles away. to the tall girl
who all his life had seemed to stand
out from his world. aloof and unsur-
passed-Katharine Fargo. He tried to
picture her. perfect chatelaine, grace
ful and gracious as tall. white, splen-
did lily. In this dead house that
seemed still to throb with living pas
sions. But the picture sub:ly eluded
him and he stirred uneas.ly under the
blanket
After time his hands stretched out
20 the reading.stand and drew the
glass with its vivid blossom nearer.
I'LL. In his nostrils. it's musky odor
mingled with the dew.wet scent OF
the honeysuckle from the garden. At
last his eyes closed. Every man car
ries his fate on a riband
about his neck" he muttered drowsily.
and then, Roses red
roses {"
And an ha fall .o1o.~