The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1937-01-23


/ woven out Of moonlight ana
laughter, the lovely dreams they
had shared. the moments wncn
they had helped each other stand
above the stars and look OF tniu
infinite space a. a flame thatI
+ elowcd far away in the sKy--l
saw that all of these things were
only make-bclicvc. things that the
morning sun could airy up Is II
dries up che daw on On" graS',
And saw that the path these
t~o people followed, that wa 60
ing 20 lcIi them 20 . miraculous
land all their own where nothing
could hurt them. was really going
to taxi them to dull and barren
He stood up suddenly and walk.
cd across the room. lie stretched
his arms high, and great cry
burst from him.
"Ard&th. .Ardath, have been
= blind fool and 1 have lost my
soul, / thought | could throw away
responsibility and 4 crown, and
they haunt me and curse me. You
can I get away fIolA things. III
tins World-and | thought you
could
She looked after him, with in
finite pity and tenderness in her
eyes. he GAINED, Suddenly. and
came back and stood before her
"Pm going away DC said
quietly.
"Whcrc?"
"Im goirg-baek to Northrm-
bra"
TO Northumbra?" Her mouth
opened in dismay; she touched
her check with the ingcrtipS of
her ri@ht hand and looked up IN
hcwilG"mcnt.
"NcS. Back TO what ] ran awIy
from. Maybe can ggs my feet
on tGc ground Il J can Just sec
the coantry and the people again.
Maybe"
"But you can't" she cried.
paul, you cant 20 back. It's mad.
Your brother Joseph
IL know. I'm not going back to
the throne. | couldn't If wanted
to. Anyway, you can't tax" Up a
burden once you nave laid 1t
down. no matter now much your
soul may need it. But it's my
country, and | left something be-
hind in it-somcthin% that ! need.
something I've got to have, Ar
oath, if am 20 20 on living. Per-
haps | can find it in the eyes cf
the people who used to love me
and look up to me. Perhaps"
He left it unfinished. He took
off his coat, went to the closet
and took out Il suitcase. Then he
opened bureau drawers and began
sol ting out little piles Of cloth
ing. Ardath looked at him resign
edly.
"Are you coming back" she
asked, at last. He turned and came
over TO her, taking her face in
his hands.
"My dear, | do not know. I'm
going i'm quest of something, dear
something that have to find.
If ] find it.
He paused. "Will you wait here
a little whilc?"
Forever, if you want ME to"
"Not forever, Ardath. We've
talked too mach of forever this
last year. Nothing is eternal. Elk
cept, maybe, that obligation which
lies on q man to live up TO what
ever it is in him that can recog-
nize a duty and fulfill it."
The Sloop Irene lay at the quay,
The last of her provisions had
been slowed. She was fully equip
ped and stocked for long voy-
age for very long voyage,
indeed, reflected Paul. for was
he not setting his course for a
quest of the spirit, which might
lead to u landfall not marked on
any chart?
He paid his bill and got aboard.
A Swarthy dock-loafer unfaSten-
ed his mooring lines and aul coil
ed and slowed them, while the lit
tie sloop drifted slowly away from
the quay. Then he started the
auxiliary motor and the boat NOV
ed out into the bay.
Half a mile out he caught the
off-shore breeze. He stopped his
motor and hoisted mainsail and
jib. The boat heeled over slightly
and gathered speed. Paul crouch
ed in the weather side of the
cockpit. the tiiler under his arm,
and set his course for the tip of
Cape Roman, far off to the north.
The wind held, and the sloop
stood cat to sea. The shore line
receded, nnl the brightly cOlored
villas, so gay with their red and
white roofs and walls, their neat
green lawns and the fringe of
golden sand at their feet, merged
W. q