The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1920-03-19

know Didn't you ever feau Leisi
| HuntY
"Just little" There was trace
of warmth creeping into her voice.
Hlnlard held his breath:
Say I'm weary. say I'm sad;
Say that health and, wealth have missed
me;
Say I'm growing old but add
Angela kissed me!
He had spoken the lines magnlti'
Gently, with the precise humor and
patnos which go TO make them Inn
mortal. I'm glad she iits into the
meter" he said thoughtrully, because
l can understand just how Leigh Hunt
felt about Jennie"
"And--how do YOU think that wasp
"Very sensitive" said billiard, "and
perhaps little repressed and--de-
crepit." He smiled reminiscently u
suppose there are very few things In
life that make a man feel more mind
full of his own crudlty and general
worthlessness than to have child's
! spontaneous affection" 1t was the
testing venture. She looked at him
sidewise.
"NIore than Tiff 1t weren't a
child"
Il think So" His tone was fault
less. "A woman can make q man feel
like Romeo, but it takes very young
girl to make him fee! like Launcelot---
at my age"
"She is adorable, isn't she2' His
heart jumped at her cordial accept
ance of his statement. "Only-she's
seventeen, Mr.. billiard"
81 know" he said gravely. "And
that's why Pm so conscious of my
own senility. Because all that beau
tiful innocence and ignorance is
doomed, Miss Durant--who knows
that Pm not the very last person tc
see it? Today, I'm only much Older
man, some one she likes; tomorrow
l may be man without the only,
and the more she liked me, the less
she'd show 1t. But there's been
mighty little of that sort Of thing fol
me in the last few years from any
body, and / do appreciate it, and In
not ashamed of it. either"
mo" she said, "you couldn't be
You're too human" She smiled al
him, and he was transported at the
proof of her sympathy IF l were ir
your place, I'd want TO feel the same
way about it,"
He thanked her in his heart. He
had saved both Angela and himself
and held his pristine advantage.
But there was no disputing the fac
that he had made an active enemy OF
Waring, and an alert rival out o.
Armstrong. He smiled grimly as h'
looked at the man ahead.
"Mr. Armstrong seems to be very
nervous" he said. mot that car
blame him for wanting to be In m!
place. On the contrary, I'm sorry foI
| him."
'That shows very good disposi
tiOn,". she said demurely.
perhaps it does, and perhaps i
doesn't. l believe every man owes i
to himself to get what he wants. Il
he does, he's a success; if he doesn't
it's his own fault"
AS he said this, they came abrras
of the others, and Armstrong, who
had heard the final sentence, whirieC
toward billiard.
Regardless of 6methods?" he de
manded.
"Why-to some extent" laughed
Hilliard. "Why not?"
Armstrong delayed, so that the two
men were a few PAGES behind the rest
of the group. "Is that your regular
creed, Mr. Hilliard?"
'Ny creed isn't composed of words
Mr.. Armstrong, but Of actions"
They had spoken so quietly that nc
one perceiying them would have re
motley suspected that challenge had
been offered and accepted.
factions do speak louder, of course
"Mine," said billiard, will give you
no offense. Butt generally get what
I want"
$50 do Shall we shake hands or
it?" Armstrong was very otTable, but
tremendously in earnest.
"Wlth pleasure. can count on
your generosity, | see"
"And on your courtesy"
"Thank you" He went complacent
Iy forward; but inwardly he was
stepped in perturbation. The man
was so deadly sure Of himself. Coult
it be that he was tacitly engaged to
Carol, in spite Of what Angela had
surmlsed, or so nearly on the road tc
an understanding with her that Hill
lard was only making a fool Of him
self?
Armstrong laughed gently. 1t was
like dagger thrust in billiards
heart.
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