The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1920-07-29

morning Cutnt, WIN its hCtotnpuuyihk
horde of old regrets and n new and
sweeping thrush Of fresh halluclna-
tons.
To his tortured Imagination, he was
a greater paradox than even Jekyll
and Hyde; for he was billiard and
Dicky Morgan. the living and the dead.
without the boon OF the supernatural
to separate them. And yet he felt that
the wickedness OF what he had done
was the wickedness Of Dlcky Morgan.
and that he. billiard. the soul. was sit
ting in impartial judgment on Dicky
Morgan, the flesh. He conceded the
wrong; he conceded the penalty |;
nevertheless, his youth cried out to
him for mercy.
At the maids announcement. Doctor
Durant. who had been occupied with
nothing more momentous than filling q
pot-bellied calabash. rose hastily and
went out into the hallway.
Come In. billiard I" he said cordial
ly. Carols OF looking at somebody's
trousseau somebody's always get
ting married In Syracuse she'll
be In directly. Come smoke pipe
with me. and be soclable."
billiard. lingering nervousiy by the
outer door. started at the kind voice.
you're not busyf"
"Busily composing my mind" said
the doctor. He ushered Hllliard into
the comfortable old study and mo
toned towards a squat little smoking
stand. "All kinds OF poison there" he
said. "Cignr-cigarettes-- tobac-
CO. Suit yourself"
billiard laughed affectedly.
"You call It poisonf And you doc
tor-and smoklngf"
"Ah. but It's the pleasantest poison
there Is. I'm always having to
/ explain that 20 Carol. Matchesi
Well. what have you been doing to
/ yourselfi"
"IT Hllllard didn't look at him.
Nothing important, doctor"
''But that's not quite true. Is itf'
The tone was gentle but It filled Hill
Hard with portentious qualms. you've
been enjoying a little attack of insom-
MIA. haven't your
billiard WINGED.
"why-yes. As a matter Of fact"
The doctor attempted a smoke ring.
and smiled at the dismal failure.
I'm sorry. Business worriesT
"Why-in n way. yes"
The doctor achieved a perfect cir
clet. and beamed at H.
something else1"
"a good deal else" said billiard. alb
stracted. But that's no reason for
me to bother you with It. didn't know
II was so apparent"
Silence.
ats not my habit" said the doctor
presently. ito offer any advice unless
I'm asked for H. Gratultous advice
never did anybody any good. And no.
body takes II unless II costs some
thing-and not often then. And I'm
neither your regular physician nor
your confessor. But II had made
diagnosis at this present minute I'd
say that you need preacher great
deal more than you do n doctor"
81 do" said Hilliard. look
ing up sharply. "Only It's out
OF the question. Just personal things
Accommodating l can very well talk
about"
"Your trouble" said Doctor Durant
isn't physical as much as II is splr'
ituaL It's nothing but taut nerves. It's
nothing but your struggle against the
restraints you put upon yourself. How
do I known You've told me so
every time I've seen you It's In your
face. my boy. It's In your eyes. Con
stantly. And Il looks as though the
conference is about over be
cause II that isn't Carol coming up the
steps, my ears aren't half as good as
they used 10 be-"
Both men were on their feet as she
came In. swirllng.
"Ohr she cried TO billiard. q
didn't know you were coming up to
night Suppose I'd missed you'll"
lie merely smiled. and made no an
swer; nor did he speak 10 her until
after the doctor. protesting a sudder
desire for solitude. had waved then
Hospitality out Of the study into thu
living room. Carol was In the old ia
miliar corner OF the sofa billiard wal
standing by the fireplace, peerin'
down into the empty CRATE. He coughe'
harshly. and an expression OF ute
hopelessness crept into his eyes. III
turned abruptly.
"Well." he said. "Just how mucl
would you have cared II you hadf"
|
There was a stately old lamp stand
ing at height behind the sofa; II
shadows were gracious and Its light
as II crept through shade Of painte'
veilum, touched Carol softly. In
delicacy of radiance which was infin
itely caressing. Her hands were lynn
idle In her lap; she bent her head. an
viewed them studiously.
"why. I should have cared a grea