Evening star., 1924-01-26
The Lighter of Flames
By William S. Hart
A Story Filled With Romance and Adventure
z
By William S. Ha,

balance upon these gentlemen's de-
cision-and how they would decide
ne could not know.
Suddenly the hand that rested on
his sleeve gripped down upon his
| arm. His eyes narrowed like a
| hawks. For what was this that
came In from the forest to cross the
| narrow green-what wild scarecrow
of man and horse. that ran together
| In erratic arcs?
They made the green's edge, stag
gered out a little way upon 1t, and
| then, as If there were no more to do,
| as II the great call grew dim In his
| dropping ears. the big horse, covered
with mud and rain and sweat, spread
wide his buckling legs. lurched for
ward and down, and lay in sudden
| peace. The man sprang clear. stoop-
i ing to lay his lips to the broad fore
head, and came on toward the church,
swaying as he ran.
| AT the door they let him by, for he
| was not to be gainsaid.
In the midst of Mr.. Randolph s
mounting fervor there was n sudden,
| aWful silence; stir and shuttle and
a craning OF necks. For there stag
eered up the aisle u tragic figure OF
mud and weariness. OF white fire and
| unoying faith. Its fringed garments
hung sodden along the lean muscles
| Its mouth was open, its deep eyes
were points of living flame.
Mr.. Randolph fell back from the
open moor and Patrick Henry stood
| sWaying in his place
me packed masses that filled the
| church leaned forward in their seats
their breathing stilled. their senses
gripped with the sudden import OF
destiny; while in that pew by the
outer door girl In a hooded cape
rose straight up on her feet and
swayed toward him helplessly. Her
dark eyes stared in awful unbelicf
| hef pale mouth was. open, and, for
what reason she did not know. tears
| or molly JOY were on her checks.
| The newcomer raised a hand to his
forehead, but the old fur cap was
gone. lost unnoticed by the way. He
| bowed TO the chair and to the massed
convention, and. with sublime efron-
| terry: took the floor. with his labor
ing breath spacing his words. he be-
| gan to speak.
Mr.. President" he said, gasping.
NO man thinks-more highly-of the
| atriotism-abilities- the worthy
gentlemen who have just addressed
| the house. But different men see the
| same subject i'll different lights; and
therefore. 1 hope it will not he
thought disrespectful to those gen
/ tlemen II, entertaining, as I do. opin-
| character-opposite to theirs, !
shall speak forth my sentiments
freely and without reserve"
He paused a moment. his breast
1 HcdSiHB WITH lnt 0etp brnatn which
he so sorely needed. When he went
| on, the tones OF his voice had begun
to take on that vibrant quality which
| rang on the hearts of his hearers like
| 4 taut wire thrummed.
! This is no time for ceremony. The
| question before the house is one OF
! awful moment to this country. For
my own part I consider it as nothing
less than a question of freedom or
slavery. Should / keep back my opin-
ions at such a time through fear OF
giving offense Z should consider my
| self as guilty OF treason toward my
! country
Here the German, Won Kneibllng
biting his nails in anger. near where
| sat Gov. Dunmore, red with chagrin
and helpless wrath. sprang to his feet
and flung out n doubled fist.
Traitor" he cried. in a booming
| cultural. Traitor now"
But a sfbilant hiss from all sides
, silenced him and the speaker con
tinued as if there had been no inter
| ruption.
and Of an act of disloyalty to-
| ward the Majesty of Heaven. which
| ! revere above all earthly kings.
''Mr. President. il is natural to mar
70 indulge in the illusions of hope
| We are apt TO shut our eyes against
a painful truth and listen to the song