The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1916-09-14
The New Clarion
Continued from Page One.

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Leaving her mute and still at the
gate. Howard walked toward the town
in the clear moonlight. Something III
Mary's talk had lifted him higher than
he had ever been lifted before. He
was beginning to realize what she had
been and was to him.
Ahead of him. outlined in the moon
light. was the roof of Craig's farm
house. The house was unlighted.
Craig lived there alone. attended by Il
negro woman who occupied a cabin
some distance i'll the rear. Howard
paused at the gate. What better OPP
portUnity to demand satisfaction could
he have? Craig was in the house
doubtlessly asleep. Why not rap OH
the door. call him out and demand all
apology: But he had promised Mary
that he would not Intentionally meet
the man, and he must keep his word.
He heard Il step down the road. Some
one approached and passed on the otn-
er side. 1t was man carrying Il plow
stock on his shoulder In the dark
ness Howard did not recognize him.
For few moments he stood in sharp
struggle with himself. through which
Mary's face. eyes and words were with
him.
A rugged hill. deeply wooded. rose in
the moonlight near by. He had read
Of philosophers seeking such places in
spiritual stress. and it seemed to beckon
to him. Suddenly and by sheer strength
of resolution he turned sharply away
and, plunging into the wood. began the
ascent of the steep hillside. Higher and
higher he climbed among the stately
pines, plunginS through retarding vines.
thorn bushes and briers, till the valley
in which the village nestled lay before
him. Only here and there lights show
ed. for the hour was late. The night
was OppresSively warm. A vast sense
of dissatisfaction and unrest lay on
him like Il weight. Throwing himself
down on a heap of sweet scented pine
needles. Howard gave himself up to
keen, even morbid. introspection. New
err had he felt SO Disconnected One
moment he would be filled with rage
at the memory of Craig's bloated face
and snarliny insults. and the mex,
Mary's suffering appeal would sweep
over him like a cooling breeze from
intinity itself. Presently he grew calm
er. and a drowsy feeling stole upon
him. AS he was drifting into uncon-
seriousness the thought came to him
that he might as we'll spend the re-
| maindcr Of the night there as in his
stuffy room at the hotel. and so he al
lowed himself to sleep.
He had many turbulent dreams. One
| that seemed to stand out more wildly
| than the others was this: He fancied
he heard horse trotting along the
road from barley to Craig's house. 1t
seemed to be Craig returning home.
| He thought he heard Craig call out at
the gate in drunken tone to some
| one A surly voice seemed to respond.
and then there was sound like the
sharp slamming of a door or the re-
| port of gun. This was followed by
the beating hoofs of a riderless horse
as it galloped off down the road.
With Il broom in his hand Sugart
was sweeping out the office the next
morning. and as Howard suddenly ap-
peared before him he shrank back as if
alarmed. Indeed he turned pale and
| leaned on the counter, dropping, his
| broom to the floor and awkwardly
bending down to recover it.
"What is the matter:" Howard ask
ed. With 4 smile. do look as tough
as all that:"
"Why-why"-S stammered as
he continued to stare open eyed-"l
thou"ht-we all thought that you
| Some said you'd left on the midnight
train
Left? Where to-" Howard asked.
his establishment growing.
Il don't know Susart was still
pale and wore the disturbed air of a
man unable to meet a delicate situa-
ton But the report is out that the
sheriff said you'd left. Him and the
! town marshal was down here together
when l got up half an hour ago. They
they asked me if you slept here last
night and when | went up and looked
to satisfy them and found that your
bed hadn't been used and told them so
they said you must have taken train
here at midnight or gone through the
woods, and mountains to get to the 9th
err road
! Towards Indignation was rising.
Did they think that would actually
leave the country?" he demanded. rs
there a man in this town fool enough
to think that would do all that to
avoid meeting Fred Craig? refuse to
believe it. Tom. I'm not coward
I've never been accused of it,
II don't know anything about it
SuGart was still quite bewildered. and
in angry impotence Howard assembled
the stairs to his room. Entering it. he
was about to battle his face and hands
when a colored chambermaid suddenly
entered, and. seeing him in the light
from the window. she uttered a sharp
scream and beat a hasty retreat down
the corridor What could it all mean ?
lie asked himself rs he changed his
clothing. Surely they were acting
Queerly.
Going down to breakfast at the first
sound Of the gong. he was met by 9TH
er surprises. He saw Mrs. I.angham
IN agitated conversation with Sugart
at the dining room door Seeing him
face to face. she started. bowed has
! tils and turned away as if anxious to
avoid him. At the table. us he sat
waiting for his breakfast to be brought,