Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1918-01-04
The
Hill1,lan
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By
z. PHILLIPS
OPPENHEIM
Author Of "The Double Traitor"
The Master Mummer." etc.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.,
IlI NllI II.llIIlIIl III, IlUllu1lI


wac AAHANi'lIiNN' 49, ~
pallor and fatigue seemed to have van
ished. Her hend had fallen little back.
She was looking through the ceiling
into heaven. Then the light died away
almost as quickly ms It had come. Her
lips shook TREMENDOUSLY.
"You know you don't mean II, John
You wouldn't take me. And II you did,
you'd hate me afterward--you'd want
to send me back"
He suddenly drew her to him, his
arm went around her waist. She had
lost all power % resistance. For the
first time IN his life Of his own DELHI
crate accord, he kissed her-feverish-
ly, almost roughly.
"Sophy' he declared, "I have been a
fool have come an awful cropper,
but you might help me with what's
left | am going TO start afresh. !
am going to get rid Of some Of these
idens Of mine Which have brought me
nothing but misery and dlsappolut-
ment. don't want 10 live up to them
any longer. | want to just forget
them. want to live as other men
live-just the simple ordinary life.
Come with me! III take you to the
places we've talked about together.
am always happy and contented with
you. Let's try it,
Her arms stole around his neck.
"John," she whispered, hiding her
I face for a moment. "What can | say?
What could any poor, weak little crea-
ture like me say? You know / am
! fond Of you'll haven't had the pride,
even. to conceal 1t
He stood up, held her face for
moment between his hands, and kissed
her forehead.
"Then that's all settled" he de-
clared. ~ am going back to my rooms
now. l want you to come and dine
with me there tonight, at eight
O'clock"
Her eyes sought his, pleaded with
them, searched them.
"You are sure, John?" she asked, her
voice q little broken. "You want me
really? ! am to come"
81 am sure" he answered steadfast-
ly. II shall expect you at eight
o'clockw
John went back to his rooms fighting
all the time against a sense Of unreal
ity, q sense almost of lost identity.
He bought an evening newspaper and
read 1t on the way. He talked TO
the hall porter, he talked to a neigh
Dor with whom he assembled in the
lift-he did everything except think.
In his rooms he telephoned to the
restaurant for waiter, and with the
menu In his hand, few minutes later,
he ordered dinner. Then he glanced
at his watch-it was barely seven
o'clock. He went down to the barber
shop, was shaved and had his hair cut,
encouraging the barber all the while
to talk to him. He gave his hands
over to a manicure, and did his best
TO talk nonsense to her. Then he came
upstairs again. changed his clothes
with great care, and went into his
little sitting room.
It was FIVE minutes to eight, and
dinner had been laid at q little round
table In the center Of the room. There
was n bowl of pink roses-Sophy's ia
vorite flower-sent in from the for
lists; the table was lighted by pink
shaded lamp. John went around the
room, turning out the other lights, I'M
I'll the apartment was hung with shad-
ows save for the little spot of color
in the middle. An unopened bottle Of
champagne stood in an lce-pall, and
two specially prepared cocktails had
been placed upon the little side table.
There were no more preparations to be
made.
He turned impatiently away from
the window and glanced at the clock.
1t was almost eight. He tried to imag-
Inc that the bell was ringing, that So
phy was standing there on the thresh.
old in her simple but dainty evening
dress, with little smile parting her
lips. The end Of II all He pulled
down the blind No more Of the win
dow, no more looking out at the lights,
no more living in the clouds 1t was
time, indeed, that he lived as other
men. He lifted one Of the glasses to
his Inns and drained its contents.
Then the bell rang lie moved for
ward to answer It's summons with
beating heart. As he opened II. he re-
celved a shock. A messenger boy stood
outside. He took the note which the
boy handed him and tore II open under
a lamp, There were only few lines:
John, my heart Is breaking, but | know
you dc not mean what you said. ! know
II was only a moment OF madness with
you. know you viii love Louise all your
life. and will bless me all your life be-
cause I am giving up the one thing which
could make my life a paradise. l shall
be in the train when you read this on my
way to Bath. have wired my young
man, as you call him, to meet me. ! am
going to ask him to marry me, II he will,
next week.
Good-by! give you no advice Some
day think that life will right Itself with
you. SOPHY.
The letter dropped upon the table.
John stood for moment dazed. Sud-
denly he began to laugh. Then he re-
membered the messenger boy gave
him half crown, and closed the door.
He came back into the room and took
his place at the table. He looked at
the empty chair by his side, looked at
the full glass on the sideboard. 1t
seemed to him that he was past all
sensations. TIE waiter came in 81.
lently.
"You can serve the dinner" John or
dered, shaking out his napkin. "0pen