The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1920-03-05


''HOw do you meanf"
"Why," said Hilliard, "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"
"What?" 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.. Hilliard. But man
can resist his inheritance for good
many years, and suddenly stop resist
ing and revert to his family type. lie
can do it voluntarily or invOluntarily.
It's what we call atavism." He paused
and smiled sadly. "The pity of It," he
said, SIS 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.
"PityW Hilliard Strengthened. rms
was the third time in two days that he
had caught the intimation that he
could have come home decently ana
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.. billiard, but
l wouldn't for the world have had him
do anything else than what he did.
No-but l 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 we're distended.
"You were rather harsh with him,
doctor, as p
eve were just, Mr.. billiard"
"But if you recall the gist of Por-
tia's speech :"
81 dol" 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.
It's not the time for that now. He's
done all that any man can do, and he
was most loyable boy--most low
able"
billiard nervously addressed himself
to Carol.
81 hope you agree with your father,
Miss Durant-that eventually he'd
have succeeded in Syracuse?"
81 never doubted it," she said 10y
ally.
And then the three of them fell 81
multaneously to musing, and for the
space of a 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 VINO sat there
wondering how he could ever escape
from the tolls Of his own cleverness.
GLOW long are you to be in town,
Mr.. HilliardT inquired the doctor, ir-
relevantly.
'"That can't say, sir. l 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, II came to Syracuse half a dozen
| times one winter--on business. / sup
pose could find my way around even
now, if had to. But comparatively
speaking, I'm stranger"
you're a business man, Mr.. Hill
liard?"
81 told you he was, DEAR" said
Carol.
Hiliiard nodded.
eyes, Doctor Durant. That isl
was. I have no business connections
now. That's why my plans are so I'M
| certain"
Again heavy silence. HilIiard was
| cursing the impetuous haste which had
caused him to lie himself into an in
| vulnerable network.
"Tm 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.
hope we shall see you again before
| you CO."
| II hope so" 'said billiard, duly. he
was whipping his brain to find u 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.
Hilllard, impelled to go and equaHa
constrained to stay, fidgeted in his
| vacillation. He was uncomfortable
and unhappy, yet curiously enough he
had no inclination to depart. He as
sured himself that he cared not the
snap of his finger for Carol Durant; on
the contrary, he was intOlerant of her
very presence; still he fingered, wish
| ing that he hadn't stultiied himself.