The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1920-04-09
CHAPTER X-continued.

"Why-in way, yes"
The doctor achieved a perfect CIR
ciet. and beamed at it.
Something elseg
"A good deal else" said billiard, abb
stracted. But that's no reason for
ne to bother you with it. didn't know
it was SO apparent"
Silence.
IT'S not my habit" said the doctor
presently, 'r0 offer any advice unless
I'm asked for it. GratuitOus advice
never did anybody any good. And no.
body takes it unless it costs some
thi' g-and not often then. And I'm
ueirher your regular physician nor
your confess0r. But if I had made 4
dia sn0sis at CHS present minute I'd
say that y0u need Il preacher a great
deat more than you do a d0ctOr."
"F j.. do" said Hilliard' look
Ing up sharply. Only its cut
Of HE question. Just personal things,
,I06tor-nothing I can very well talk
abluE."
Jul LIUAlAE. 1l4AA -RNLNN l. 80 -
sfsE't physical as much as it is spir-
itliaL It's nothing but taut nerves. It's
E6tI5ng bur your struggle against the
restraints YOU put upon yourself. How
10 I know? You've told ne so q.
5veTs time I've seen you Ir's in your
Urea, my boy. It's in your eyes. Con
S1aatIy. And it looks IS though the
i.T4ference IS about ever Be
f1use if that isn't Carol coming up the
5feps. nv ears aren't half IS good. as
khey used to be-"
Both men were on their feet as she
same in, swirilng.
"Ohl" she cried to billiard. 81
aIdn't know you were coming up to-
aigEtl Suppose I'd missed you"
He merely smiled and made no an
swer; nor did be speak TO her until
after the doctor, protesting d sudden
1esire for solitude, had waved them
Hospitality out Of the study into the
living room. Carol was in the old ia
nfItar corner OF the sofa; Hilliard was
standing by the fireplace, peeri1g
down into the empty CRATE. He c0ughed
harsIlIy, and an expression Of utter
h0peIessness crept into his eyes. He
turned abruDtIy
Well be said. Just how much
would you have cared if you had2'
There was a stately old lamp stand
Lng at height behind the sofa; its
shadows were gracious and it's Light
ss It creDt through d shade of painted
saIlum, touched Carol softly, in Il
Ielicacy Of radiance which was infn-
.teIy caressing Her hands We're lying
Idle in her lap she bent her head, and
viewed them stIIdiousIy.
why, I should have cared great
DEAL" she said I'm always dIsap-
pofnted when miss seeing u friend Of
mine What makes you so pessimistic
al Of u sudden|
billiard Redeemed, and his eyes grew
brighter
"Friendshipp' he said tardiIy
what an acc0rdi0nIike sort Of thing
shat is
why Mr.. HiIliardr' Her tone was
at the same time lnterr0gat0ry and re-
proachful.
''Oh. I'm not speaking Of you" he
said. only of the thing itself.
IT'S big or little, close or distant
ard ii hasn't anything to say about it
You'll have to excuse nIe-I
was thinking out loud
apIease dor she said. You we're
Ga the way to be interesting. Think
014 loud sone more
billiard glanced sharply at her.
Don't laugh at me = he said. almost
roughly. "F0r heavens sake, don't
you know that the one time you
shouldn't Iaugh at Il man is when be
deserves tL2''
Carols attitude was vaguely less
suggestive Of ease.
Il wasn't laughing at you" she said,
truly. But what you said was 50
50 queer
.Oh. yes. billiards. accent was
very fat. IT suppose it was. 1t must
nave been. 1 always seem to be
r1ore or less up in the air when come
90 see you. don't IL The Iast time We
talked about friendship
gut that was at least a month ago"
she said hastily, and in the mean
zine. you'v~ been Just as nice and
cheerful IS anybody. I thought you
we're all over YCAr troubles"
aCheerfuIness wasn't what you
asked for. HiIltard swallowed hard
Il I came up here, Miss Dur
gant. to have Il really serious talk with
gou really serious. It's been
delayed too long already. It took NE
TWO solid days to get my courage Up
to it. and and now I'm here,
I don't even know how to begin
He sc0wIsd heavfIy into the vacant
fireplace, and held OUT his palms with
= mechanic gesture as though TO warm
them at an imaginary BLAZE. You
Know be said absentLY, your father
. Il very extraordinary ulan-very.7
The compliment TO the doctor had
frs fnvariabIa efeet upon her; she
-lowed Under il.
eve always known that IN
glad You realize It, too