Cheraw chronicle. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1896-2005, 1921-08-11

"Michael-Ever.Falthfui MichaeII"
Out of the gates there came slowly,
yet firmly. dressed in peasant clothes,
the stalwart but faded figure Of Dyck
Calhoun.
Terribly changed he was. He had
entered prison with the flush upon his
cheek, the tilt Of young manhood in
his eyes, with hair black and hands
slender, and handsome. There was
no look Of youth in his face now. 1t
was the face of middle-aged man
from which the dew Of youth had van
ished, into which life's storms had
come and gone. Though the body was
held erect, yet the head was thrust
slightly forward, and the heavy eve
brews were like a penthouse. The
eyes were slightly feverish, and round
the mouth there crept smile, half
cynical, but little happy. All fresh
ness was gone from his hands. One
hung at his side, listless, corded; the
other doffed his hat In reply to the
salute Of his two humble friends.
AS the gates closed behind him he
looked gravely at the two men, who
were standing not foot apart. There
swept slowly into his eyes, enlarging.
Frightening them, the glamor Of the
Celtic soul. OF all Ireland. or all who
had ever known him, these two were
the only ones welcoming him into the
world again!
Michael Clones, with his oval red
face, big nose, steely eyes and stead
fast bearing, had in him the soul Of
great kings. His hat was set firmly
on his head. His knee breeches were
neat, If coarse; his stockings were
clean. His feet were we'll shod, his
coat worn, and he had still the look
that belongs to the well-to-do peas
ant. He was a figure Of courage and
endurance.
Dyck's hand went out to him and
warm smile crept to his lips.
"AIichael-ever-faithf Michael"
A moisture came TO Michae's eyes,
He did not speak as, with look Of
gratitude, he clasped the hand Dyck
offered him.
Presently Dyck turned to old Chris
topher with kindly laugh.
"Well. old friend You, too, come
TO see the stag set loose again? You're
not many, that's sure" A grim, hard
look came into his face, but both hands
went out and caught the old mans
shoulders affectlonately. This is no
day for you to be waiting at PRISONS
gates, Christopher; but there are two
men who believe in me-two in all
the world. 1t isn't the killing" he
added after q moments silence-'it
isn't the killing that hurts so. If It's
true that | killed Erris Boyne, what
hurts most is the reason why killed
him."
"One way or another-does it matter
now?" asked Christopher gently.
at is that you think nothing mat
ters since I've paid the price, sunk
myself in shame, lost my friends and
come out with not penny left?"
asked Dyck. "But yes" he added
with a smile. wry and twisted. "Yes,
I have little left"
He drew from his pocket four small
pieces of gold and gazed ironically at
them in his palm.
Look at themw He held out his
hand, so that the two men could see
the little coins. Those were taken
from me when entered prison.
They've been in the hands of the head
of the jail ever since. They give them
TO me nOw-all that's left of what
was"
"No. not all, sir" declared Michael.
.Therc'S something left from Play
more-theres ninety pounds, and it's
in my pocket. 1t was got from the
sale Of your sporting Kit. There was
the boat upon the lake, the gun and all
kinds of rifrraff stuff not sold with
PlaymOre."
Dyck nodded and smiled.
"Good Michael :"
Then he drew himself up Stiffly and
blew in and out his breath as if with
tbe fov of living. For four hard years
he had been denied the free air Of
free men. Even when walking In
the prison yard, on cold or far days.
when the air was like knife or when
II had the sun of summer iu It, it still
had seemed to choke him.