The Elbert County tribune., 1917-10-12

out like Don Quixote and search for
vague adventures"
Because you are a mani" she an
swered swiftly. you have brain and
soul too big for your life here. You
eat and drink. and physically you flour
ish, but part of you sleeps because 1t
is shut away from the world Of real
things. Don't you sometimes feel 1t
in your very heart that life. as we were
meant to live 1t. can only be lived
among your fellow men?"
He looked over his shoulder, at the
little cluster of farm buildings and cot
tages. and the gray stone church.
"It seems to me-" he declared simply,
"that the man who tries to live more
than one life fails in both. There is
a little cycle of life here, among our
thirty or forty souls, which revolves
around my brother and myself. A
passer-by may glance upward from the
road at our little hamlet, and wonder
what can ever happen IT such an out
of-the-way corner. 1 think the answer
is just what have told you. Love and
marriage, birth and death happen.
These things make life"
Her curiosity now had become
merged in an immense interest. She
laid her fingers lightly upon his arm.
"You speak for your people," she
said. "That is well. But you your
self"
~ am one of them" he answered.
"a necessary part 'of them"
"How you deceive yourself! The
time will come, before very long, when
you will come out into the world; and
the sooner the better, think, Mr.. John
Strangewey or you will grow like your
brother here among your granite hills"
He moved little uneasily. All the
time she was watching him. 1t seemed
to her that she could read the thoughts
which were stirring in his brain.
"You would like to say, wouldn't
you," she went on, that this Is a use
full and an upright life? So 1t may be,
but it is not wide enough or great
enough. Some day you will feel the
desire to climb. Promise me, will you,
that when you feel the impulse you
won't use all that obstinate will power
of yours to crush it? You will destroy
the best part of yourself, If you do.
You will give it chance? Promise !"
She held out her hand with little
impulsive gesture. He took it in his
own, and held it steadfastly.
81 will remember" he promised.
Along the narrow streak of road,
from the southwark, they both watched
the rapid approach of large motor
car. There were two servants upon
the front seat and one passenger-a
man-inside. 1t swung into the level
stretch beneath them, a fantasy Of
gray and silver in the reflected SUM-
shine.
Louise had been leaning forward, her
head supported upon her hands. AS
the car slackened speed, she rose very
slowly to her feet.
"The chariot of deliverancel" she
murmured.
at is the prince of Seyre," John re-
marked, gazing down with slight
frown upon his forehead.
She nodded. They had started the
descent and she was walking in very
leisurely fashion.
"The prince is great friend of
mine," she said. 81 had promised to
|
portion Of the evening, at Raynham
castle on my way to London"
He summoned up courage to ask her
the question which had been Oh his lips
more than once.
"As your stay with us is so nearly
over, won't you abandon your incog-
nito?"
"In the absence of your brother" she
answered, II will risk it. My name is
Louise Maurel."
"Louise Maurel, the actress2" he re-
, peated wonderingly.
81 am she," Louise confessed. "Would
your brother" she added, with little
grimace, feel that he had given me q
nights lodging under false pretenses.'
!, John made no immediate reply. The
world had turned topsyturvy with him
; Louise Maurel, and a great friend OF
. the prince of SeyreI He walked on
mechanically until she turned and
. looked at him.
"wellr
n am sorry" he declared bluntly.
"Whyw she asked, little startled
at his candor.
81 am sorry, first of all, that you are
! a friend of the prince of Seyre."
"And again, why7"
because of his reputation in thess
parts"
, "What does that meanP she asked
II am not a scandalmonger," John
replied dryly. 81 speak only of what
know. His estates near here are sys
J tematically neglected. He is the worst
landlord in the country, and the most
unscrupulous. His tenants, both here
and in Westmoreland, have to work