The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-11-29

the music and pr tty women. of the
gorgeous crimson sunset. But. though
he wish, Il to remain, he did not wish to
be recognize d.
From the glances already turned to-
ward him he saw that in this little fam
lily gathering the presence of "a Stran-
ger was an event, and he was aware
that during the trial the newspapers
had made his face conspicuous. Also it
mis- ht be that stationed at the post was
some officer or enlisted man who had
served with him in cuba, China or the
Philippines, and who might point him
out to others. Fearing this. swanson
made a dctour and approached the
bandstand from the wharf, and with his
back To IA hawser post seated himself
upon the stringpiece.
He was overcome with an intolerable
melancholy. From where he sat he
could see, softencd into shadows by the
wire screens of the veranda, Admiral
preblc and his wife and their guests at
tea. \ month before he would have
reported to the Admiral as The com
mandant of the station and paid his
respects. Now he could not DO that;
at least not without inviting rebuff.
! shown his card to the Admiral's orderly
| and the orderly and the guard and the
officers mess and the Admiral himself
would have turned the post upside
down to do him honor. But of what
avail now was his medal of honor?
They now knew him as swanson, who
had been court-martiallcd, who had
been allowed to resign. who had left
| ~ h,
| knew him as civilian without rank or
authority, as an eX-officcr who had
robbed his brother officers, as an OUT
| cast
His position, as his morbid mind thus
distorted It, tempted swanson n,
,ongcr. For being in this plight he did
not feel that in any way he was I,
blame. But with a flaming anger
he still blamed his brother officers OF
the court-martial. who had not cleared
his name and with c.can bill of health
restored him to duty.
Those were the men he blamed. moi
! Rurn. the sergeant. who he be ieveC
| had robbed him, nor himself, who II
a passion # wounded pride had re-
signed and so had given reason fol
! guSs y, but the men who had not In
tones like a busle call proclaimed hi,
innocence. who when they had hand, {
him back his sword had given il
grudgingly. not with congratulation.
A. he saw it. he stood in a perpetua
pllory. when they had robbed hin
Of his honor they had eft him naked
and life without honor had lost it.
flavor. He could eat. he could drink
he could exist. He knew that in many
corners of the world white arms woul,
reach out to him and men would
bcckon him to IA place at table.
But he could not cross that litt!.
strip Of turf between him and the chat
ternG group on the Neranda and hant
his card To the A'miral's orderly. Swan
son loved life. He loved it SO that wtG
out help. money or affection he coulC
each morning have greeted it with {
smile. But life without honor II,
felt sudden hot nausea of disgust
Why was he still clinging to what haC
lost it's purpose. to what lacked tn,
one thing n~edful?
"If life be an i'll thing" he thought
Il can lay it down"
The thought was not new to him
and during the two past weeks of aim
less wandering n" had carried with hin
his service automatic. To rcassur'
himself he laid his fingers on It's col,
| smooth surface He would wait h,
% tcrmined. until the musicians ha,
finished their concert and Tn" Womci
and children had Il, parted. and then
Then the orderly would find hin
where he was now seated, sunk"r