The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-07-08

long, we'll shaped fingers clutched the
cord Of the purple gown.
1t isn't as though we were asking
you to give up the hermit business for
good" argued Magee. Its just for
a short time maybe only for few
days. should think you would el-
come the diversion"
Mr.. Peters shook his head vigorous
~. The brown curls waved flippantly
about his shoulders.
"My instincts" lie replied. "are away
from the crowd. explained that to
you when we first met, Mr.. Magee."
Amy man." commented MIR. Max.
fought to be able to Strangle lis in
stincts for good salary, payable in
advance"
"You come here" said the hermit
with annoyance. land you bring with
you the sentiments of the outside
world-the world l have foresw0rn.
Don't do it. ! ask you."
II don't get you." reflected Mr.. Max.
mo. pal don't quite grab this her.
NIT game. 1t amt human nature,
soy. Way up here miles from the little
brass rail and the sporting extra and
other things that make life worth liv-
ing. It's beyond me-"
I'm not asking your approval" re-
piled the hermit. "All I ask ls to be
let alone"
LET me speak," said Miss Norton.
"Mr. Peters and have been friends.
you might say. for three years. 1t was
three years ago my awed eyes first fell
upon him. selling his postcards at the
inn. He was to me then the true rO-
nance, the man to whom the world
means nothing without q certain wO-
man at bis side. That is what be has
meant to all the girls who came to
Baldpate. He isn't going to shatter
my ideal Of him-he isn't going to re-
fuse lady In distress. You will come
for just q little while, won't you. Mr..
Peters?"
But Peters shook his head again.
Il dislike women as q SEX" he said.
but I've always been gentle and easy
with isolated examples Of 'em. Ii
amt my style to turn 'em down. But
this Is asking too much. I'm sorry.
but ! got to be true to my oath-l got
to be hermit"
Maybe" sneered Mr.. Max. "hes got
good reason for being a hermit. May
be there's brass buttons and blue uni.
forms mixed up In It,"
"YOn come from the great world of
suspicion" answered the hermit, turn.
ing reproving eyes upon him. "Your
talk Is natural. 1t goes with the life
you lead. But 1t isn't true"
And Mr.. Max is the last who should
insinuate." rebuked Mr.. Magee. "Why.
only last night he denounced suspi.
ci0n and bem0aned the fact that there
is 80 much Of 1t in the world"
"Well he might" replied the hermit
suspicion Is the keynote Of modern
life, especially in New York." he
drew the purple dressing gown closer
about bis plump form. II remember
the last time l was in the big town
seeing q crowd of men in the grill room
OF the Hoffman House. One of them
long. lean. like an eel, stopped down
and whispered In the ear Of q, little
fellow with q diamond horseshoe desc
Grating his haberdashery and pointing
to another man near by. No. l won't.
says the man with the diamonds. i
don't introduce nobody to nobody.
Let every man play his own game,
say That's New York. That's the
essence Of the town. Il introduce no
body to nobody"
1T seems odd," remarked Mr.. Ma.
gee. Ito hear you speak of the time
you walked on pavements."
II haven't always been on Baldpate
mountain" replied the hermit. "Once
/. too. paid taxes md wore a derby
hat and sat in BARRIERS chairs. Yes.
I sat In 'em in many towns. in many
corners Of this little round globe. But
that's all over now."
The three visitors gazed at Mr.. Pc
ters with q new interest.
"New York." said Mr.. Max softly. as
q better man might have spoken the
name Of the girl he loved. Its a great
little Christmas tree. The candles are
always burning. and the tinsel pres.
snts always look good to me-"
The hermit's eyes strayed far away
down the mountain and beyond.
New York." said he. and bis tone
was that 10 which Max had said the
words. "a great little Christmas tree
It Is. with fine presents for the reach
Ing. Sometimes at night here l see It
as 1t was four years ago. l see the
candles lit on the great white way. |
hear the elevated roar and the news
bOys shout and Diamond Jim Brady
applnuding Mt musical comedy's tirst
night. New York;"
Mr.. Max rose pompously and pointed
yellow finger at the hermit Of Bald
rato m0untatn