Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1920-03-11
BY HOLW GRITTY HALL

demically-if you didn't go so far be-
yond the actual facts"
"How do you mean?"
"Why," said billiard, "for one thing,
in laying so much stress on his grand
parents. Dick was the one who went
overseas; his grandparents didn't
And his grandparents didn't go into ac-
ton on the western front singing Ste
venson's Requiem at the top Of their
lungs and knowing that it was mighty
appropriate, as Dick did!'
"WhatT said Carol, Strengthening.
whats that?"
mo" The doctors negative was
| quiet, but decisive. "a man doesn't
rise to heights of glory without some
reason for it, Mr.. billiard. But man
can resist his inheritance for a good
many years, and suddenly stop resist
ing and revert to his family type. He
can do it voluntarily or invoIuntarily.
It's what we call atavism." He paused
and smiled sadly. 1.-THE pity of it," he
said, "is that in spite of his having
failed in everything he tried to do in
| Syracuse, he would have made us
proud of him, sooner or later, if he had
stayed on here. I'm positive of that"
"Pity!" Hilliard Strengthened. This
was the third time in two days that he
had caught the intimation that he
could have come home decently and
humbly and been forgiven.
Not that | pity him for what he ac-
complished, or what it cost him."
warned the doctor 81 don't; l was
very fond of the boy, Mr.. Hilliard, but
| wouldn't for the world have had him
do anything else than what he did.
No-but do pity him because he can
never know what we think because he
can never know how much we gladly
forget; because he can never know
why we are proud Of him."
| billiards. pupils were distended.
"You were rather harsh with him.
doctor, as T.
I'VE were just, Mr.. billiard"
But if you recall the gist of Por-
tia's speech :"
II dow The doctor regarded him
Practically. "And it's very seldom that
mercy is asked to temper justice ex-
cept after it's become evident that
justice is actually going to be just.
Let's not deceive ourselves. And let's
not put each other in the position
either of attacking or defending Dick.
| he IInte
done all that any man can do, and he
was most lovable boy-most low
able"
Hilliard nervously addressed himself
to Carol.
81 hope you agree with your father,
Miss Durant-that eventually he'd
have succeeded In SyracuseY
81 never doubted it," she said 10y
ally.
And then the three of them fell 81
simultaneously to musing, and for the
space Of minute or two there was
quiet; the sort of quiet which comes
| just after the benediction. 1t was the
benediction which Carol had bestowed
upon wretched sinner who sat there
wondering how he could ever escape
from the tolls Of his own cleverness.
How long are you to be in town,
Mr.. billiards" inquired the doctor, ir-
relevantly.
THAT I can't say, sir. I had no
other errand than this"
you've never been here before?
That is, you haven't friends here?'
He had expected this question and
prepared for it.
Several years ago." he said casual
! ly, ~ came to Syracuse half a dozen
times one winter-on business. l sup
pose I could find my way around even
now, if l had to. But comparatively
speaking, I'm a stranger"
you're a business man, Mr.. Hill
liard?"
II told you he was DEAR" said
Carol
Hilliard nodded.
Eyes, Doctor Durant That isl
was. / have no business connections
now. That's why my plans are so I'M
certain"
Again heavy silence. Hilliard was
cursing the impetuous haste which had
caused him to lie himself into an in
vulnerable network. .~
I'm Sorry said the doctor, rising
abruptly, but I've a consultation at
half-past twelve. Thank you again,
Mr.. billiard, for coming to us; you've
lightened my heart tremendously. l
hope we shall see you again before
you 60"
Il hope So" said billiard, duly. He
was whipping his brain to find a way
OUT but how could he explain those
manifold, cruel falsehoods which once
he had thought to be his retribution?
The doctor gave him cordial smile,
parting pressure of the hand, and
went out directly, leaving the two
young people quite alone.
Hilliard, impelled to 90 and equally
constrained to stay, tldgeted in his
vacillatiOn. He was uncomfortable
nd ,Inv OF Il,