The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1915-06-11
PHOTOPLAYS AND PLAYERS
The Last Leap
of Will Godfrey

I've nothing TO cCeer me now.
Tiff might even so on dreamiCe
about the sport; things are deucediy
real in lream. Lyn. vow last nigh;
I saw the meet clear and distiacI-tre
bare trees ard the hedges standing Gus
against yeilow;sh sky-and I was
/ coming up with the rest. tearing. gal
Looping in a mad .sort OF way-and !;
was real. Lyn. much more real than
this"
At that moment the two were inter
rupted by the entrance Of Priscilla
T Stainfcrth, wills aunt. his mothers
sister. She was q terrible woman. with
a genius fer administering spiritual
4 consolation TO her relations and friends
at supreme moments in their lives
With the best OF motives. she made
/ herself extremely Objectionable. and in
times of trouble and difficulty was
avoided like the plague. She had
/ called very often for the purpose Ct
/ seeing VIII. but had been refused adj
mission. On the present occasion She
entered the bedroom unlimited, au(
advanced to the couch.
There had been no time to make any
] preparation for her arrival The table
was strewn with papers OF a sporting
character, q yellow-backed novel lay
on the pillow.
VIII. could not restrain myself: l
was Obliged TO come" she said. with
almost piteous earnestness. You are
NY own sisters child. Could I ever for
give myself if I neglected my duty
toward you al such time? You have
led selfish pleasure-seeking life. but
its not too late to seek for mercy.
She paused, and looked a. Evelyn.
Where is you Bible?" she said sor-
rowfully Il see sporting papers II
profusion. but the one Book which Will
give your husband comfort. The river
Of death is very near. Will" she went
on solemrly: 1T flows at the bottom
Of the valley. Soon you Will be at
the margin. I hear the time is pro
longed in which TO prepare for the
crossing. l beseech you. use it we'll"
Go away. Aunt Priscilla, said Eve
Ign, fercely. Go away-leave him
to me VIII. dou you remember father
VIII looked at his wife, and his face
lighted up
He was a good man. a saint upon
earth. There's no one could throw q
stone at father. | am the youngest and
quite different from all the rest, and
people said I was fast because I liked
hunting and sports of all kinds, and
some one spoke 10 father and said that
it was q scandal that an Evangelical
clergyman's daughter should care Tor
such things. And father'-Evelyn'
v0ice~broke-"h took me into his
study was seventeen then-and he
made me tell him just how l felt, and
he said I had my grandfather's blood
in my veins. (Grandfathe, had lived
in the bush, and that was where father
was BORN And father said it would
be cruel TO stife all the desires and
instincts which were mine by nature.
and he saved up and bought me
horse, and. as YOU know. used to go
to the meets. and it was there l met
you. Will"
She paused moment out of breath.
trying to choose the right words for
the many thoughts which crowded in.
= want to try to remember what
father said-the very words; they were
something like this. He said he could
understand because he was my father,
and that was why God understood. He
knows all about us through and
through, and He wishes us to be our
best selves. as We are. You are q
sportsman and an outdoor man, ard
He cares for you like that. and He
make you happy in your own way NO
in some one else's way. And you don
want any teaching about some things.
After that VIII lay quite still with
his eyes half closed In a few minutes
he was fast asleep. breathing regularly
like a child. II was evidently a hap
py slumber. He was dreaming, and tie
dream was vivid and Intensely rea
His lips were curved in an almost 10y
ful smile
After short interval he began to
speak
ne mare Is fresh today, Evelyn
he murmured in his sleep. This is
our first ride together since my acci-
dent. Oh. it's good to be we'll"
Yes" she answered, in a low. clear
voice, which had the ring of laughter
in it. its good to be riding together
again, you and l, you on the Black
. Princess and l on Star"
But the radiant look vanished.
shadow crossed her husbands face like
the wing of a dark cloud.
His Aunt Priscillas words were evil
IDENTIFY haunting him.
Tie river" he murmured, in a dis
tressed tone Of voice I'm close to it
now"
Leap it," she cried suddenly. you
can do it. I'm certain. Why, I could do
it. VIII"
4 Only for an instant dia Will hesitate.
/ Then his expression changed 10 a 10y
F Gus ecstasy Of resolve.
BY Jove. I'll have to try Ign"
he whispered. still in his sleep.