Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-08-09
By REX BEACH.
.eBobr cried the other in shocked
Copyright by Otis I. Wood.

Il SSRyAAoANs - OS.~>> - B, y $500 Ill
.sBobr' cried the other in shocked
denial.
"Oh, You know it will come to that.
People don't like to feel pity forever
tugging at them. I've been a lonely
fellow and my friends are numbered.
For time they will come to see me
and try to cheer me up; they will even
try to include me in their pleasures.
Then when It is no longer new story
and their commiseration has VICE: .t-
self out they win gradually fall away.
It always happens SO. Ill be poor
Bob Austin and I'll 60 feeling my way
through life an object Of pity, stun
bling, incomplete thing that has no
place to all, no object to work for, no
one to care. God, I'm not the sort to
20 blind! Where's the justice Of It?
I've lived clean. Why? Why7 I know
what tho world is; I've been part Of
1t. I've seen the spring and the au-
tumn colors and I've watched the sun.
sets. I've hooked into mems faces and
read their souls, and when you've done
that You can't live in darkness. I can't
and-I won't!'
what do you meant"
"I'm going away"
when? Where?"
''When can no longer see Marmion
Moore and before my affection becomes
known to her. Where you can guess"
''Oh, that's cowardly, Bob! You're
not that sort. You mustn't It's IN
believabler' cried his friend, in panic.
Austin smiled bitterly. I'VE have
discussed that too often, and-rm not
sure that what intend doing is cow
ardly. I can't go now, for the thing is
too fresh in her memory. She might
learn the truth and hold herself to
blame, but when she has lost the first
shock Of It I shall walk out quietly,
and she will not even suspect Other
interests Will come into her life. will
be only memory. Then After a
pause he went on, II couldn't bear to
see her drop away with the rest" His
face writhed, and his muscular hands
clenched themselves tightly.
"Don't give up yet" urged the physi-
clan. 'She Is leaving for the summer,
and while she is gone we'll try that
Berlin chap. He'll be here in August"
"And be win fail, as the others did.
He win lecture some clinic about me.
that's all Marmion will hear that my
eyes have given out from overwork or
something like that Then I'll 90
abroad and-I won't come back" Aus
tin OWNED the rebellion in his friends
heart and esutinued quickly: you're
the only 90 who could enlighten her,
Doc, but you won't do It. You owe me
that much"
z I'll suppose do" acknowledged
suydam slowly. Il owe You more than
1 can ever repay
/ "Waitr' Tho sick man raised his
hand for silence, while . light blassd
up IN his face. 'She's comingT'
!; To the DOCTORS trained ear the noises
Of the street came IN confused muir
muir, but Austin spoke in an awed,
breathless tone, % II he were entering
some holy place.
II can hear the horses. She's COM
ing to-see me-"
"IN gov' exclaimed the visitor quick
", but the other shook his head
"Td rather have you stay"
Austin was poised in an attitude Of
the 1ntensest alertness, bis angular,
awkward body drawn to its height, his
lean face lighted BY some hidden fire
that lent 1t almost beauty.
! ashes getting out Of the carriager
he cried in a nervous voice, then felt
his way to his accustomed armchair.
Suydam was about to 30 to the bay
window when he paused. regarding his
friend curiously.
what are you doingT
The blind man had begun to beat
time with his hand, counting under his
breath: ''One! Two! Threer'
shell knock when reach twenty
i've. Sh-sh! He continued his panto-
mime, and suydam realized that from
repeated practice he had gagged the
seconds Marmion Moore required to
mount the stairs and took this means
Of holding himself in check. True to
Austin's prediction, at twenty-five" a
gentle knock sounded, and Suydam
opened the door.
"Come in, Marmion!'
The girl paused for the briefest in.
slant on the threshold, and the speaker
noted the heeting disappointment in
her face. Then she took his hand.
'This is surprisew she exclaimed
II haven't seen you for ever so long"
Her anxious glance swept past him to
the big, awkward figure against the
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