Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1916-03-23

Then, hand in hand, like frightened
children, these two stole down the tun-
nel-like passageway, through a small,
forlorn court, more like a we'll,
cramped between two tall old tene-
ments, and SO came out into the
gloomy, sinuous and silent Rue d'As-
sas
Here they encountered few way
farers; and to those few, preoccupied
with anxiety to win to shelter from
the inciement night. they seemed, no
doubt, some student of the Quarter
with his Observation-Disclosures in his
shabby raincoat, striding rapidly, head
and shoulders bowed against the driv-
ing mist, the girl in her trim Burberry
clinging trustfulIy to his arm.
Avoiding the nearer stops of the
underground Metropolitan as danger
Gus, Lanyard steered a roundabout
course through byways to the Rue de
Sevres station of the Nord-Sud. from
which, in due course, they climbed to
the surface again at the Place de la
Concorde, walked several blocks,
picked up taxicab, and in less than
half an hour from the time of their de-
parture from the Impasse Stanislas
were comfortably ensconced in a cabi-
net particuler OF little restaurant %
modest pretensions Just north of Les
Halles.
They Toasted famously-the cuisine,
il bourgeoise. was admirable and, bet
ter still, we'll within the resources of
Lanyard's emaciated purse. Nor did
he fret that, when the bill had been
paid and the essential tips bestowed,
there would remain in his pocket little
more than cab fare. Supremacy self
confident, he harbored no doubts of a
smiling future-now that the dark
pages in his record had been turned
and sealed by a resolution he held if
reyOcable.
His spirits had mounted to a high
pitch, thanks tc their successful eva
sion. He was young, he was IN love,
he was hungry, he was-in short-very
much alive. And the consciousness of
common peril knitted an enchanting
intimacy into their talk
For the first time in his history Ian
yard found himself in the company Of
a woman to whom he dared-and
cared-to speak without reserve-a
circumstance intrinsically intoxicating.
And stimulated by her unquestionable
interest and sympathy, he did talk
without reservoir old Troyon's and
It's drudge Marcel OF Bourke and his
Wanderings, of the education of the
Lone Wolf and his career, less in pride
than in relief that it was ended of the
future he must achieve for himself.
And, sitting with chin Graded on the
backs of her interlaced fingers, the
girl listened with such indulgence as
women find always for their lovers. OF
herself she had little to say. Lanyard
filled III to his taste the outlines of
the simple history of the young wom-
an Of good family obliged to become
self-supporting.
And if at times her grave eyes
clouded and her attention wandered,
it was less in ennui than because of
occult trains of thought set in motion
by some chance word or phrase Of
Lanyard's.
I'm boring you" he suggested once
with quick contrition, waking up to the
fact that he'd monopolized the CONVEX
sation for many minutes On end.
She shook a pensive head. mo,
again. But, l wonder, do you appreci-
ate the magnitude of the task you've
set yourself?"
Possibly not" he conceded AFRO
gantly; but it doesn't matter. The
heavier the odds, the greater the in
centive to win"
But" she objected, you've told me
a curious story of one who never had
a chance or incentive to go straight
as you put it. And yet you seem to
think that an overnight resolution to
reform is all that's needed to change
all the habits Of lifetime. You per-
suade me of your sincerity of today;
but how will it be with you tomorrow
and not so much tomorrow as six
months from tomorrow, when you've
found the going rough and know you've
only to take one step aside to gain a
smooth and easy way?"
eff fail, then, it will be because I'm
unfit-and I'll go under and never be
heard Of again. But / sha'nt fail. It
seems to me the very fact that | want
to go straight is proof enough that I've
something Inherently decent in me to
build on
Il do believe that, and yet" She
lowered her head end began to trace
a meaningless pattern on the cloth be-
fore she resumed You've given me
to understand that I'm responsible for
your sudden awakening-that it's be-
cause of regard conceived for me
you're so anxious to become an honest
man. Suppose suppose you were to
find out-you'd been mistaken in me?"
THAT isn't possible" he objected
promptly.
She smiled upon him wistfuIIy.
But if it we're"
"Then-I think" he said soberly-'T
think Id feel as though there were
nothing but emptiness beneath my
feet!"
And you'd-backslide?"
How can l tell?" he expostulated
Its not fair question. l don't know
what I'd do, but l do know it would
need something damhable to shake my
faith in you'll"