The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1917-04-05


lay In the gas office and that he was
really very great surgeon and had
saved DR.. Max Wilson.
The Street, which was busy ut the
time deciding whether to leave the old
sidewalks or to put down cement ones.
had one evening Of mad excitement
over the matter-of H.. not the side
walkS--und then had accepted the new
situation.
But over the news Of KS approach.
ing departure 1t mOurncd The Street
made resolve to keep X, If possible,
IL he had shown any "high and mighti-
ness as they called 1t, since the
change In his estate, 1t would hive let
nm go without protest. But when q
man Is the real thing-so that the
newspapers give column to his hay.
ing peen In the city almost two years
ana still goes about in the same shabby
clothes, with the same friendly greet
ing lor everyone, 1t demonstrates clear
~ us the baritone put 1t, that 'he's got
no swellcd head on him; that's sure"
a little later, X. coming up the
street us he had that first day, heard
the baritone singing
Home Is the hunter, home from the hill.
ana the sailor. home from the sea-"
Home! Why, this was home. The
! street seemed to stretch out it's arms
~ MN. The nilnnthus tree waved In
the sunlight before the little house.
Tree ana house were old; September
illu touched thcm.~ Christine sat sew
ing on the balcony. A boy with n piece
OF chalk was writing something on the
new cement under the tree. He stood
Dack, heud on one side, when he had
finished, and inspected his work. X,
read in chalk on the smooth street:
Max Wilson.
Sidney Page.
| The baritone was still singing; but
now 1t was I'm twenty-One, and she's
eighteen The light was gone from
| MS fnce again. After all, the Street
meant for him not so much home as it
meant Sidney. And now, before very
long, that book of his life. like others,
would have to be closed
He turned and went heavily into the
| little house.
Christine called to him from her lit
tie balcony:
Il thought heard your step outside.
Have you time TO come in?"
*. went through the purlor and stood
in the long window. His steady eyes
looked down at her.
II see very little Of you now" she
complained. And, when he did not
II i,,,,N Il al, q
amy definite plans. K.?"
II shall do Max's work until he is
able to take hold again. After that"
You will go away?"
II think SO. l am getting q good
many letters, one way and another. I
suppose, now I'm back In harness, I'll
stay. My old place is closed. I'd 20
back there-they want me. But II
seems so futile, Christine, to leave as
did, because l felt that had no right
to go On as things were; and now tt
crawl back on the strength of huvin,
had my hand forced, and to take III
things again, not knowing that I've
bit more right to do it than when
lcft."
Il went to see Max yesterday. Yo,
know what he thinks about all that"
lie took an uneasy turn up and dowr
the balcony.
But who| he demanded. "WhC
would do such thing? 1 tell you
Christine, it is impossible"
She did not pursue the subject. Her
thoughts had flown ahead to the little
house without H., to days without his
steps on the stairs or the heavy creal1
or his big chair overhead as he dropDed
into it.
But perhaps it would be better if he
went She had her own. life to live.
she had no expectation of happiness.
nut, somehow or other she must build
on the shaky foundation OF her mar
rlhge Il house Of life, with resignation
serving for content, perhaps with fear
lurking always. That she knew. Rut
with no active misery. Misery implied
affection, and her love for Palmer waa
quite dead.
Sidney will be here this afternoon. !"
Good" His tone was noncommit.
tai.
HAS 1t occurred to you, X, that Sid
ney is not very happy?"
He stopped in front of her.
"Shc's had a great anxiety"
"Shc has no anxiety now. Max IS
doing we'll"
! 'Then what is it?"
I'm not quite sure. but 1 think ]
know. She's lost faith in Max. and
she's not like me. II knew about
Palmer before I married him. It's all
rather hideous-I needn't go into It,
But Sidney has more character than \
have. Max isn't what she thought he
was. and l doubt whether she'll marry
him."
Is. glanced toward the street where