Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1917-01-18
<continued>.

He was SO subject to his WI
thoughts that he did not hear the street.
door open behind him. Not even tho
Swish or a woman's evening gown came
into MS consciousness. Sullivan. leaving
MIN staring at the glass, went to meet
n 1 she was young, scarcely more than
70, and tall and slender. She wore in
her black hair a red rose. and her
opera cloak, falling slightly away from
her shoulders, showed her columnlike
neck. As she stood, graceful even in
her stiffness. awaiting S%ullivan's ap-
proach, her welcoming smile illumined
the grave beauty Of her face. She SEEM
ed to sense the tragedy.
rs there anything very wrong ?" she
asked in a whisper.
She was all loneliness and fragrance
and graciousness.
He's pretty sick. Miss Edith the
old man whispered back. Blu don't
you worry"
Help him. can't you?" she ques-
toned. and, seeing Sullivan's nod, add
ed: Il came to see the matron. You
know, I'm going to Washington tomor-
row, and
Smith. pointing once more at the
glass, had begun to speak;
It's my enemy" his voice doomed
forth. It's the thing that stole my
soul away"
The girl, %n1otioning Sullivan to go
back to the sick man. stood and
watched the scene.
It's 100000 women's tears, the
fountain Of another 100000 women's
tears. Women's woe! It's full of the
! lips and twisted smiles Of starving
children. Children OF hunger! It's the
ruin of strong men whom it has cheat
ed. Poor, ruined men!"
He snatched the glass from the desk,
splitting the whisky, and held it far
from him In his left hand. Without
taking his eye from It. he put the
heavy grip Of his right hand on Sulli-
vans shoulder.
"Ah. mani" he entreated. Look at it.
Can't Q see? There! The thing that
makes it's home there. His hands are
TOO white, and he's got ashes on his
shoes-ashes of dead souls. Think
where he walks! He's dancing with a
m She's a pretty All,
watch! She's laughing. They're going
out through that door-and the laugh
ter freezes on her lips! Out into the
long, dark corridor thai leads to no
where-forever! INC In that corridor
are ghosts, grim ghosts, ghosts of muir
dered loves, ghosts of great intellects,
ghosts of ambition, ghosts of those once
V~lrtuous. And she will meet them, will
Sit in that congress of eternal woe, weep
forever with that everlasting troop Of
torment"
" Tie RIlD ia
his shoulder say that the girl at the
door leaned forward, her lips half-part-
ed, her eyes wide with establishment.
Look quick!" John Smith was say
Ing. He's talking to a young man,
telling him lies, charming lies! But his
stains under his finger nails. Did you
hear that door slam? The young mans
gone-gone! | heard one like him
scream, up there on the edges of eter-'
nifty"
His voice shrilled:
Look how he Notwithstanding the
backs of men, breaking the hearts Of
women, stealing away the laughter OF
children. Look at him-all ghoulish
eyes. His mouths a Erinning gap And
he's got ashes on his nice new shoes
ashes Of dead SOULS
He pushed Sullivan from him, and
with both hands held the glass close
against his chest, stopping. over to the
foor-the last few drops OF the whisky.
There was no thunder lift in his voice.
Emotions played with hin as high
winds thresh the trees in November. All
his old terror beat upon him.
I'm afraid Of him!" he shrieked, the
sound bringing a half-stifled cry from
the girl at the door.
BIS hands drew nervous and the
glass dropped, unbroken, to the floor.
He looked at Sullivan, the torches Of
terror relit in his eyes, and whispered
hoarsely:
"old man, that's what I'm afraid of.
Pm afraid OF him!"
On he end Of that confession one
great sob shook him, and he screamed,
clasped his left hand to his shoulder:
Hes got mel" he lamented. 'I've fled
for 1000 years-and-he's got mel"
He stood, weak and uncertain on his
feet, and wept, the tears flowing un-
needed down his sunken cheeks. Then.
suddenly. In q flash, fury tensed him,
made him strong enough to grind the
glass to pieces under the ragged sole
OF his shoe
Curse him. Curse him!" ne yelled. |
Damn him!"
Immediately, al quickly as 1t had
come, the false strength left him.
Whats the use?" he moaned weak
ly. "Hs's GOT"
The girl, rushing forward, reached
him as o. as Sullivan. Both Of them
caught him as n reeled and was about
to fall.
obi" she said, looking down upon
hin between them.
He's in awfultsbad shape, Miss
Edith" Sullivan explained, his voice
lowered inyoluntarily.
upright, shaking of their support. HeI
was sunpatuya1lly calm.a An insane smile
played with his lips.
Look behind me-" he said. his voice
low n strained. his eyes fxed. Look
behind me and tell me exactly where
he's standing-exactly. You can tell
him by the ashes on his shoes"
The girl, putting a hand on his shout
der. leaned forward and tried to engage
with her glance hts unwaverinR Raze,
Who are your she asked.
He wa. silent, the smile still play