The Elk Mountain pilot., 1922-10-19
CHAPTER X

reproach which comes to us all, Virgil
awoke in a rage with himself. He had
been dreaming, had seen himself infirm
Of purpose. without character. Back
to Highland Bruce he traced his an.
cestry. and was he to be the first Of
his race to prove degenerate, to tram
pie upon the memory Of his father, to
loll in stupid love. to give his soul to
a creature far beneath him in birth
and schooling, girl whose father had
murdered! Out Of bed he got, and
bowed with the weight of shame,
walked the uneven floor, for his slow
steps were doddering.
Caught in an instant, fly in n
speck Of jelly, and have never been
able to get Free" he reproached him.
self. Even Liberty ShottIe. the slave
Of cards and dice. can see my weak.
ness and must laugh at me. But by
the God in Heaven 1t shall not be- In
this land there is no law. / bring my
own law with me, my oath, and smile
and word of fiattering love bade me
put 1t aside, and let 1t slip from me-
Now must redeem myself"
He stood at the window. Gamecocks
were Growing the dawn, a courageous
challenge to all the world. No, there
would be no weakening now. The
sweetish comedy had been played
Swiftly he dressed himself, stole
downstairs, out Of the house. down to
the river. There was no boat. but no
matter. he would walk to Willow Head.
Realizing that 1t was yet too early for
the execution of his grim purpose. he
halted at a wayside place. ate break
fast and waited for the sun. Then not
in fiurried haste, but deliberate In
strength, he walked on to Willow
Head, crossed over, found his neglected
rope where, IN a hollow stump in
hack3lIdfng weakness he had hidden 1t,
hLitoned 1t beneath his coat and strOde
down into the swamp.
1t was long way to his canoe near
the Muscadine Isle, and then long
pull to Periwinkle house. but there
was time enough. Stepho would not
go away till Thursday. All, he would
go away no more. for now on Tuesday
he must settle with the spirit of Alfred
Drace.
Mists lowered about, but the island
was in a blaze of light. Silently the
canoe slit the satin water. Silently
he landed. Determined vengeance may
pick its way as softly as eager love;
and In the cane. sharper of whisper
now that the weather was cool, he
made not a sound. Out into the open
he peered. No one within sight. On
the bark of the live oak were the dead
shade was the box that had served as
table, once so prettily strewn with
viOlets.
In spite of his vow of vengeance and
his hatred of Stepho, these things
caught at Drace's heart, shook his
fixed purpose Of action. For many
minutes he waited-no sign of Stepho,
of anyone. And then his blood leaped
for soft hands suddenly blinded him
from behind, soft laughter bubbled
over at his astonishment. And dark
thoughts and dark purposes ned on
the wind as he caught Nadine and
hugged her close.
"Now for your punishmentw And
he kissed her.
oh, you must not again
Virgil. cannot like you when you are
rude. You must notr
Il don't want you just to like me-"
"You do notf Then will try not to-
Come and sit down. Virgil.
You worked so hard for your kisses
you must he tired. How did
you guess7"
Guess what?" he asked as she led
him to the sofa and he sat gazing en-
tranced as she captured and impris-
oned her guerrilla bands Of hair.
THAT Father and Tony had gone
hunting today. But they may be back
at anv time. VIRGIL. You must not