Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-02-01

lifted their hands and chccred. Women fiut |
tered their handkcrchcts. and Herr Schmidt !
iubilant, called 10 the band to play See, the |
Conquering Hero Comes
Quite slowly. and with set face, Burnah |
descended, and as he came. tagging. step by |
step, thew discovered that there was no glad |
ness in the clear eyes that stared down on
them. The face above them was as death |
mask, cold. inmobile. unSiniling. There was
a cold majesty in his department, blended
with some valiant intent that radiatcd from
him like chill, purposcful rays.
a woman's hand that had bravcly fiat |
tered wisp OF lace stopped as ii arrested III
midair. The shout OF praise stranglcd.
choked, died. i'll the throat of Little Billy.
who stood at the steps with hands out
stretched in the blind idolatry that he had
conceived for the maStcrful, grotcSque man
above Lester, whose affection had grown
in proportion to the dislike that he had pre-
viouslv sustained for him, halted as he lett
Arabellas side and brushed hand across
his eyes, as if seeing behind Burmah some
tragic, portentous figure. The Colonel
alone smiled affcctionatelv and beckoncd.
Step by step, rcsolute and slow. BurInah
descended until he reached the middle of the
broad stairs. where he halted and raised his
hand, seeming, from where he stood, to
tower above them alone. Herr Schmidt sud
denly waved toward the window, and the
band ceased its salute.
Burmah's firm lips opened twice before
sound issued from them. and then there was
inhexible commandand profound melancholy
in his voice.
you are my friends. he said. and there
was something OF pride and love expressed
there, pregnant, in his words. and YOU We
called for me, TO tell me OF it. and 10 say
things that | can't accept. I'm done with
pretense. All my life I've lived a lie, | lied
to YOU when YOU first came. | he'd to you
afterward-to all OF you-save Lester. He
knows! l used You. played with YOU as
tools for my unworthy hands. | was a hvpo-
critic. never knew that the road was COM
ing. | didn't believe IT could. ! wasn't mt
to clean the streets over which Your trusting
feet walked. | was everything that was
base, and mean, and nerccnarv. That
you've made money, and that Port Hatch
has made good, was no work OF mine. 1t
was Testers and the nel's-God protect
hin!-and yours You Il hate me after this
but III be true 10 myself. and L II so away, to
begin over again. and maybe, sometime
when I've proved that m fit. II come back
and beg you. clean people that You are, to
call me friend. | cant now | want no
thanks from YOU | want truth. want
His voice broke suddenly, and his arms
We're flung forward as if in appeal Tor some
i4ttiN f1i ~ -. - -
peratelv. imploring. His lips moved With
out sound and he struggled 10 finish his
unspoken words, then rceled as ii the world
was slipping from beneath him. and pitched
forward, head foremost, and iel crulnplcd
at their feet. The big palm at one side OF
the broad steps was overturned. There were
screams and ordinations As they rushed
forward to pick him up
TN an awed hush they carried him back up
the stairs down which. as a dominant,
forceful man, he had lately descended.
Into the room they took him, where all his
pitiful belongings everything he had in the
world. We're scattered as he had LETT them.
A doctor thrust the distressed ones who had
followed out OF the room, tore open the
crumpled dress shirt. and bent his head
above the struggling breast
Colonel, he said, turning round with the
grave, professional look that 50 seldom hes
please dismiss Your guests. And viii you,
Pickett, get a nurse al oncc-although She
NAV not be needed: she may be too late.
Mr.. Todd, would you mind getting someone
to run to my home instantly and bring my
emergency case am afraid he said.
Il am afraid that our friend is leaving us
leaving US on longer journey than he has
ever talon n, his stormy life !"