The state herald., 1916-01-21
CHAPTER xvIII-continusd.

Deen simple d1nerence OetWeen us
famed into a quarrel which reached
Its elimination when he mentioned
divers name with taunt, which the
boy. for all his obstinate clinging to
his journalistic idea. did not deserve.
Knowing my own temper. I drew
back into the Hollow.
He followed me.
tried to speak.
He took the word out OF my mouth
This may have been with the intent
Of quelling my anger. but the tone
was rasping. and. noting this and not
his words, my hand frightened insen.
sibly about the stick which the devil
Tor John Scoville) had put In my hand
Did he see this. or was he prompted
BY some old memory Of boyish quar-.
rels that he should give utterance to
that quick. sharp laugh OF scorn! I
shall never know. but ere the sound
had ceased the stick was whirling over
my head-there came a crash and he
fell. My friend! My friend!
Next moment the earth seemed too
narrow. the heavens too contracted
for my misery. That he was dead
that my blow had killed him. never
doubted for an instant l knew It. as
we know the face ofiDoom when once
II has risen upon US. Never, never
again would this lump Of clay. which
a few minutes before had filled the
Hal1NU Nth chri
breathe or think or speak. He was
dead. dead. dead!-And ~ What was II
The name which no man hears un.
moved. no amount of repetition makes
easy 10 the tongue or welcome to the
ear! the name which I had
heard launched in full forensic elo-
quence so many times In accusation
against the wretches | had hardly re
garded as being In the same human
class as myself rang in my ears as
though intoned from the very mouth
OF hell. could not escape 1t. I should
never be able to escape It again.
Though | was standing In a familiar
scene-a scene I had known and fire.
quented from childhood. I felt myself
as Isolated from my past and as com
pletely set apart from my fellows a.
the shipwrecked mariner tossed to
precarious foothold on his wave
dashed rock. forgot that other
criminals existed.
In that one awful moment was In
my own eyes the only blot upon the
universe-the sole inhabitant OF the
new world into which had plunged
the world OF crime-the world upon
which had sat In judgment before !
knew
What broke the spell7 God knows:
all ! can say ia that. drawn by some
other will than my own. found my
glance travelling up the opposing biufY
TIL at its top. framed between the
ragged wall and towering chimney OF
spencer's Folly. saw the presence
I had dreaded. the witness who was
TO undo me.
II was woman-a woman with a
little child In hand. did not see her
face. for she was Just on the point OF
turning away from the dizzy verge. but
nothing could have been palmer than
the silhouette which these two made
agains, the flush Of that early evening
sky.
Al long as could catch a glimpse
Of this woman's nuttering skirt as she
retreated through the ruins. | stood
there. self-conyicted. above the man |
had slain. staring up at that blotch OF
he'll TO me. Not TIL their two figures
had disappeared and II was quito clear
again did tho instinct OF selfpreserva,
tion return. and with II the thought
Of night.
But where could ny1 No spot in
the whole world was secret enough to
conceal me now. was n marked man
Better TO stand my ground. AID take
the consequences than TO act the COW
ards part and sllnk away like those
other men OF blood ! had so often ss,
In Judgment upon.
Had I but followed this impulse
Had but gone among my fellows
shown them the mark OF Cain upon
my forehead and prayed. not for In
duigonce. but punishment. what day.
OF gnawing misery should have been
spared,
The horror OF what lay at my feet
drove me from the Hollow. Az m,
steps fell mechanically into the traiI
down which had come In innocence
and kindly purpose only a fow minute,
before. startling thought hhol
through my bonumbcd mind. The
woman had shown no hast. In her
turningi There had been n natural
ness 10 her movement, a dignity and q
grace which spoke Of ease. not shock
What II she had not scent what II
my deed was M yot unknowni Might
] not have umo for-for WHAT did
not stop TO think: Just pressed on
saying to myself. Let Providence de
eide. II ! meet any one before reach
my own door my doom In settled. Il
! do not"
And ! did not A | turned into IN,
innc from tho ravino heard n sount