The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-05-26
The Amateur Gentleman
BY Jeffrey Farnol

enjoying myself-ShaQ give myself
the pleasure-of continuing-just as
soon as the ground subsidies a lit
tie"
WHEREFORE Barnabas, still
i dabbing at his mouth, stepped
forward, being minded to aid him
to his feet, bit ere he could do Sc,
a voice arrested him.
Stop" said the voice.
Now glancing round, Barnabas
beheld a man, a small man and
slender, whose clothes, old and
worn, seemed only to ac~centuate the
dignity and high nobility OF his
face.
Bareheaded he advanced toward
them and his hair glistened silver
white in the sunshine, though his
brows we're dark, like the glowing
eyes below. Upon his cheek was the
dark stain of blood, and on his lips
was a smile ineffably sweet and
gentle as he came forward. looking
from one to the other.
And pray, sir" inquired the Wis
count, sitting crosslegged upon the
green, pray, who might you be?"
Il am an apostle of peace, young
sir" answered the stranger. "a
teacher of forgiveness, though,
doubtless, an unworthy one"
"DEACE, sir" cried the viscount,
L deuce take me but you are
the most warlike Apostle of Peace
that eyes ever beheld; by your looks
you might have been fighting the
Seven Champions of Christendom,
n down, t'other come on
You mean that 1 am bleeding,
sir; indeed, I frequently do, and
therein is my joy, for this is the
blood of atonement.
The blood of atonment?" said
BarnabaS.
Last night" pursued the strang-
err in his gentle voice, Il sought to
teach the gospel of mercy and iIni-
versal forgiveness at a country fair
not so very far from here, and
they drove me away with sticks and
stones; indeed, I fear our rustics are
sometimes woefully ignorant. and
ignorance is always cruel. So, to-
day, as soon as the stiffness is gone
from me, 1 shall go back to them,
sirs, for even ignorance has ears"
Now whereupon, the viscount got
upon his legs, rather unsteadily,
and bowed.
Sir" said he, Il humbly ask your
pardon; surely SO brave an apostle
should do great works."
Then" said the stranger, draw
ing nearer, IF such is your thought,
let me see you two clasp hands"
But, sir" said the viscount,
somewhat taken aback, indeed we
have-scarcely begun"
80 much the better" returned
the teacher of forgiveness with his
gentle smile, and laying a hand
upon the arm of each.
I~NSTALLMENT TWENTY-THREE
"DUT. sir, 1 went so far as to give
u this gentleman the lie!" re-
sumed the viscount.
Which I went so far as to-re-
turn" said Barnabas.
But surely the matter can be ex-
plained?" inquired the stranger.
Possibly" nodded the viscount,
though I generally leave explana-
tons until afterwards"
Then" said the stranger, glanc-
ing from one proud young face to
the other, In this instance, shake
hands first. Hate and anger are
human attributes, but to forgive is
godlike. Therefore now, forget
yourselves and in this thing be gods.
For, young sirs. as it seems to me,
it was ordained that you two should
be friends. And you are young and
full of great possibilities and friend
ship is a mighty factor in this hard
world, since by friendship comes
self-forgetfulness, and no man can
do great works unless he forgetS
self. So, young sirs, shake hands,
Now, as they looked upon each
other. of a sudden. despite his split
lip, Barnabas smiled and, in that
same moment, the viscount held out
his hand.
ITO Re Continued