The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1920-08-07
CHAPTER x-contlnued.

SolHtluluS elSe!
"A good deal else" said billiard, alb
stracted. But that's no reason for
ne to bother you with it. didn't know
1t was so apparent"
Silence.
IT'S not my habit" said the doctor
presently, "to offer any advice unless
I'm asked for it. Gratuitous advice
never did anybody any good. And no.
boCy takes it unless it costs some
thGg-and not often then. And I'm
nel"her your regular physician nor
yorr confessor. But if l had made
dia Inosis at this present minute I'd
say that you need preacher a great
deGl more than you do doctor"
q | do" said billiard, look
ing up sharply. "Only it's out
of !he question. Just personal things,
doftor-nothing 1 can very well talk
abdut."
-Four trouble" said Doctor Durant,
isn't physical as much as it is spir-
itual. It's nothing but taut nerves. It's
nothing but your struggle against the
restraints you put upon yourself. How
10 know? You've told me so E.
svey3 time I've seen you. It's in your
5tcA, my boy. It's in your eyes. Con-
Maatly. And, it looks as though the
svsaference is about over be-
cause if that isn't Carol coming up the
Rteps, my ears aren't half as good as
Shey used to be-"
Both men were on their feet as she
Fame in, swirling.
"Oh!" she cried to Hilliard. 81
didn't know you were coming up to-
nlght! Suppose I'd missed your
He merely smiled and made no an
swer; nor did he speak to her until
after the doctor, protesting sudden
desire for solitude, had waved them
Hospitality out of the study into the
diving room. Carol was in the old ia
miliar corner Of the sofa; billiard was
standing by the fireplace, peering
down into the empty CRATE. He coughed
harshly, and an expression of utter
hopelessness crept into his eyes. He
surned abruptly.
WELL" he said 'just how much
mould you have cared if you had?"
i II
There was a stately old. lamp stand
ing at height behind the sofa; it's
shadows were gracious and its light,
as it crept through shade of painted
gellum, touched Carol softly, in a
lelicacy Of radiance which was infin-
itely caressing. Her hands were lying
lille in her lap; she bent her head, and
viewed them studiously.
"Why, I should have cared great
Geal,'' she said. "I'm always disap-
pointed when miss seeing friend of
mine. What makes you so pessimistic,
al of a sudden?''
Hilliard Redeemed, and his eyes grew
brighter.
'Friendship!' he said tardily.
What an accordionlike sort of thing
shat is!'
''Why, Mr. Hilliard" Her tone was
at the same time interrogatory and re-
proachful.
"Oh, I'm not speaking of you," he
gaid "Only of the thing itself. =.
its big or little, close or distant :.
and it hasn't anything to say about it
You'll have to excuse mel
was thinking out loud :"
please dor' she said. "You were
on the way to be interesting. Think
ou loud some more"
billiard glanced sharply at her.
Don't laugh at met" he said, almost
soughly. "For heavens sake, don't
you know that the one time you
shouldn't laugh at a man is when he
deserves it?"
Carols attitude was vaguely less
suggestive of ease.
81 wasn't laughing at you" she said,
"truly. But what you said was so
so aueer.'
ooh yes" billiards. accent was
very fiat. 81 suppose it was. It must
nave been. | always seem to be
more or less up in the air when I come
20 see you, don't 1? The last time we
talked about friendship"
"But that was at least month ago."
;he said hastily, "and in the mean
lime, you've been just as nice and
cheerful as anybody. l thought you
we're all over year troubles"
"Cheerfulness. wasn't what you
asked for" Hilliard swallowed hard.
~ | came up here, Miss Du-
yant, to have really serious talk with
you really serious. It's been
DELAYED too long already. 1t took me
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 scowled heavily into the vacant
fireplace, and held out his palms with
a mechanic gesture as though TO warm
them at an imaginary blaze. You
know" he said absently, your father
:. very extraordinary man-very."
The compliment TO the doctor had
its invariable effect upon her; she
glowed under it.
'rve always known that I'm
clad you realize it, too"
He stood erect, and faced her. i
1o it came to me, when l was
talking to him, what great privilege
If must be for you to have his advice