The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1917-03-10
A Rcomhn the adventures andlo
nhcamem the lives Of David
Il / ~ Lnenc andAn
II edayswhen ponenw aehghh
red in the ndanawI demes
By SAMUEL Mccoy
Copyright. 1916 by Bobbs-Merrili Co.,

Scull turned paler. He had freed
himself from the girls clasp, and sud-
denly his knees loosened beneath him
and he sank at David's feet. Lydia
threw her arms around his shoulders.
"The mark!". cried Scull, raising
trembling hands.
David locked at the ribbon with a
start. "Why, yes. it is purple. But I
do not show it to you as sign that
am keeping my oath of the Brother
hood. No." AS he continued his voice
grew tender he seemed to be speaking
to himself or to some vision which the
wretched figure kneeling at his feet
could not see.
"You saved my life just now" he
went on. II would have thanked you
for ending it, as you ended the love
of the one loved most In the world.
For the sake Of that dead love I prom
Use you that no one shall know from me
what you have been, what you are. /
break my oath Of the Brotherhood"
The groyeling creature at David's
| feet raised face Of incredulity.
"You give up the Brothers ven
geanceY
Absolutely"
"You will not hold to your oathT'
81 have said no."
Scull looked up at him, a radiance
transferring his face.
"God bless you, Larrence," he said
chokingly. "You do not know what
death means. You have only your own
life; have-God help me 1.-TWO lives
to live for!" =
Lydia stopped quickly and lifted Da-
vid's hand to her lips.
She went hastily from the room. The
two men stood facing each other and
for a while there was silence. Then
David spoke slowly:
"Are you going to remain here?"
Scull Strengthened himself up.
"No! we shall 60 back to England
I have robbed you Of everything, and
you have given me everything. You
do not wish to see my face again. But
before I 60 I will tell Toinette the
truth. L"
David nodded YEARLY and went out
A cold and dreary rain was still fall
ing, but a ray of light shone from the
tavern door on the upturned face Of the
dead Indian. David stopped ant
looked down upon the sightless visagt
for a moment and then laughed. The
dreadful features were twisted into 6
smile as to ultimate victory, and {
little rivulet of rain trickled unceas
ingly from the corner of the mouth
No more Of wretched life; no more o.
firewater!
David's hand stole unconsciously tt
the pistol that hung heavily within thu
folds of his own blouse. His finger.
frightened on it and his lips drew to
gether In a harder line. VIII!
not? The thing so easily, s.
quickly done. Why not?
Was there anything remaining t.
make him hold to life any longer
What though Blackford did believe ii
him? What though hundred friend
believed In him? What mattered al
their friendships, their stupid greet
ings. the little kindnesses of daily in
tercourse? What did his dreams O
great things 20 be done in this nev
land amount to? Petty dreams, petit.
tasks, buying and selling, squabbling
over pennies, wranglings over littl
gains-a sordid prospect, the haritag
Of fools!
The rain fell steadily, chilling hin
to the very bones. Through its gra,
unceasing torrent he plodded, unchal
lenged in his loneliness, to his owl