Chapter X: Part 10

"Well, you’ve got it chuck full of points about the game—and that’s no good. It’s got to be interesting. You’ve got to give it a human touch. There’s one of the Scotch bowlers, for instance, old Sanderson from Edinburgh—they say he’s worth eleven millions. Well, I’m told there’s an old fellow that sweeps out a little struggling church on Cedar Street—he’s its caretaker—and I’m told he used to go to school with Sanderson. Now, it’s the simplest thing in the world to have that old geezer come around to the green with his feather duster in his hand—and Sanderson stares at him a minute; then he recognizes him all of a sudden, and the old dodgers fall to and hug each other like two old maids. And have them both weep—especially Sanderson, because he’s rich. And some of those other millionaires should go off to the edge of the lawn and blow their nose—you understand—the human touch, as I said. Make Sanderson go home with the old geezer for supper; might just as well—it wouldn’t hurt him."

"Sanderson wouldn’t relish the caretaker’s bill of fare, I’m afraid," Harvey said significantly.

"I guess you’re right. And that brings me back to the thing I intended particularly to speak about. Those Scotchmen were properly beaten, as your score-card shows. But you don’t give the real reason—and it’s the kind of a reason everybody likes to hear about. For all you say, any one would think it was a mere matter of skill. Now, of course, we all know the reason—it’s the moist time they were having that licked them. Most of them were full. Of course, it wouldn’t do to put it that way—nobody’d enjoy that. But it’s a capital chance for some delicate word-painting—keep it kind of veiled. Say something like this: ’our genial visitors drank deep of the spirit that was much in evidence throughout the game.’ Or, better still: ’our genial visitors became more and more animated by their national spirit as the game wore on—some of them seemed quite full of it.’ Or something like this: ’in liquid prowess our British cousins far outran us—if, indeed, that be the proper verb, since many of our friends were in various degrees of horizontality before the game was finished.’ You see, a description like that appeals to the imagination—it’s subtle—keeps readers guessing. Or this would be a fine way of putting it: ’it was evident yesterday that the little finger plays an important part in the ancient game of bowling on the green’—something like that. What I’m getting at, Simmons, is this—there’s a great chance there for something humorous, and a journalist ought to make the most of it. What makes you look so glum, Simmons?—I don’t believe you’ve got much sense of humour yourself."

Harvey made no response. But his face was resting on his hand, and there must have been something in the plaintive eyes that engaged the attention of Mr. Crothers. He could hardly fail to see that all of a sudden Harvey had become deaf to his tuition; and, more remarkable, the care-worn face seemed but to grow graver as his monitor pursued his praise of mirth.

"You’re looking rather blue, Simmons," he added after a keen scrutiny, Harvey still remaining silent; "but that needn’t prevent you writing lots of funny things. Some of the funniest things ever written, or spoken, have been done by people with broken hearts inside of them. Take an actor for instance—doubling up his audience, and his own little girl dying at home—most likely asking why father doesn’t come, too; queer tangled world this, my boy, and nobody feels its pulse better than us fellows. Anything the matter, Simmons?" he suddenly enquired, for Harvey’s lips were pale; and the chief could see a quiver, as of pain, overrun his face.

Harvey’s voice had a wealth of passion in it. "You’ll have to get some other fellow to see the humorous side of—of—of that thing," he said.

"What do you mean? What thing?" asked the dumfoundered Crothers.

"That drink business—God! it’s no comedy," and Crothers started as he saw the perspiration breaking out on Harvey’s brow, his face a battlefield, his hands clenched as if he saw an enemy.

Crothers indulged in a low whistle, his eyes never moving from Harvey’s face. For the veteran journalist was no child. He knew the marks of strife when he saw them; experience partly, and sympathy still more, had fitted him to tell the difference between a man sporting in the surf and a man fighting for his life against the undertow. And one keen look into the depths of Harvey’s outpouring eyes told him he was in the presence of a tragedy. He rose and put his hand on Harvey’s shoulder; familiar with tender ways it was not—but it was a human hand, and a human heart had laid it there.

"Simmons," he said, and the usually gruff voice had a gentle note; "Simmons, I know what you mean. May as well tell you straight, I’ve heard a little—and I’ve seen a little, too. And I should have known better than talk like that to you. And we all believe you’ll win out yet, old chap. Now I’ll tell you what I think you ought to do. You ought to go away somewhere for a little trip—there’s nothing helps a man in a fight of this kind like having his attention taken up with something else. I’ll keep your place open for you here—and if you could get a couple of congenial fellows to go off with you for a little holiday you’d be like a new man when you came back. Strictly water-waggon fellows, of course," he added with a smile. "I know it’s a hard fight, my boy—but buckle right down to it. And you go right home now—you’re played clean out, I can see that—and take a good sleep till noon. Then you skip out just as soon as you can arrange it and have a ripping good holiday; that’ll set you up better than anything else. Good-night now—or good-morning, rather, I guess. And remember this above all things, Simmons—keep your mind diverted, always be sure and keep your mind diverted," with which advice Mr. Crothers rose to accompany Harvey to the door.

*XXXI*

_*THE TROUGH OF THE WAVE*_

He was glad to be alone. Lesser conflicts crave the help and inspiration of human company; but there comes a time when a man knows the battle must be fought out alone against the principalities and powers that no heart, however strong or loving, can help him to withstand. For no other can discern his enemy but himself.

Harvey turned with swift steps towards home. He thought of his waiting room, with everything that could contribute to self-respect and comfort; and of Miss Farringall, whose increasing devotion seldom failed to find a voice, no matter how late the hour of his return. But as he hurried along he marvelled at the strange craving that gnawed persistently within. The action of his heart seemed weak; his lips were parched; his hands were shaky, his nerves a-tingle, while a nameless terror, as if of impending ill, cast its shadow over him. And through it all burned the dreadful thirst, tyrannical, insistent, tormenting.

Resolved to resist to the last, he was still pressing steadily on. Suddenly he stopped almost still, his eyes fixed upon a light in an upper window. His heart leaped as he saw a tall form pass between him and the lamp. For he recognized it, or thought he did. The room was Oliver’s—that same Oliver as had goaded him to that fatal toast—and it was quite a common experience for that worthy to be playing host through the small hours of the morning. A sense of peril smote Harvey as he looked; yet, reflecting a moment, he assured himself that he would find around that brilliant light two or three whose blithe companionship would help to beat back the evil spirit that assailed him. A chat on matters journalistic, a good laugh, an hour or two of human fellowship would give him relief from this infernal craving. Besides, what hope for him if he could not resist a little temptation, should such present itself?

So his resolve was quickly formed; putting his fingers to his mouth, a shrill whistle brought a familiar face to the window.

"Jumping Jehoshaphat! is that you, Simmons?" was the exclamation that greeted Harvey as soon as he was recognized. "Come on up—we were just speaking of you. I’ll be down to the door in less than half a minute."

The allotted time had scarce elapsed when Palmer, for such was the name of the cordial blade—clerk in a mercantile house and friend to Oliver—was at the door. Taking Harvey’s arm he guided him cheerfully through the somewhat dingy hall, ushering him into a rather dishevelled room, in separate corners of which sat the hospitable Oliver and another boon companion, Scottie Forrester by name. Like Oliver, Scottie was in newspaper life; his apprenticeship had been served in Glasgow.

"Brethren," Palmer said solemnly as they entered, "I know you’re always glad when we can bring in any poor wanderer from the highways or byways. I want you to be kind to the stranger for my sake—he hasn’t had anything to eat since his last meal."

"Sit down, Simmons," directed Oliver. "Don’t mind Palmer—he’s farm-bred, you know, and he thinks it’s a deuce of an achievement to sit up at night. He used to have to go to bed with the calves."

"Now I sit up with the goats," rejoined the once rustic Palmer, producing a pipe and calmly proceeding to equip it. "But I ought to be in bed. I’m played out. I was so tired at dinner to-night I went to sleep over the salad course."

"Oh, Lord," broke in Forrester; "hear him prattling about night dinners—and he never had anything but bread and molasses for supper on the farm. And hear him giving us that guff about the salad course, as if he was the son of a duke. If you’d lived in Glasgow, my boy, they’d have brought you to time pretty quick. A man’s got to be a gentleman over there, I tell you, before he has evening dinners and all that sort of thing—did you drink out of the finger-bowls, Palmer?"

"You needn’t talk, Scottie," growled Oliver. "You write your letters at the Arlington—and you get your dinner for fifteen cents at Webb’s, at the counter, with your hat on."

"You’re a liar," retorted Scottie, meaning no offense whatever. "I’ve got as good blood inside of me as any man in this city; my mother was born in Auchterarder Castle and——"

"I wouldn’t be found dead in a root-house with a name like that," interrupted the agricultural Palmer. "Anyhow, I guess she was the cook—and what’s more, nobody here cares what you’ve got inside of you. But there’s poor Simmons—he’s our guest—and he looks as if he hadn’t put anything inside of him for a dog’s age. Where’s the restorative, Scottie? It’s always you that had it last."

Scottie arose and walked solemnly to a little cupboard in the wall. "I’ll inform you, Mr. Simmons," he began gravely, his back still turned to the company, "that we’re here for a double purpose. First, we were having a little intellectual conference on—on the rise and fall of the Russian empire, as a great authority put it. You see, we’re a kind of a Samuel Johnson coterie—and this is a kind of a Cheshire Cheese. I was there once when I was in London."

"He went to London with cattle," informed Oliver, striking a match—"he was a swine herd in Scotland."

"And I’m Samuel Johnson," pursued Forrester, unruffled; "and Palmer, he’s Boswell. And we have a great time discussing things."

"Who’s Oliver?" Harvey enquired with faint interest.

"Oh, yes, I forgot him; Oliver’s the cuspidor—you ought to be right in the middle of the room, Oliver," he continued amiably, turning round with a large black bottle in his hand. "And the other purpose we’re here for, Mr. Simmons, is to celebrate Palmer’s birthday. We don’t know exactly how old he is—he’s lied about his age so long that he’s not sure himself. But this is his birthday, anyhow; and they sent him up a little present from the farm. It’s a superior brand of raspberry vinegar, made by an aged aunt that’s worth twenty thousand and won’t die."

"Stop your jack-assery, Forrester," broke in Palmer; "you can’t fool Simmons—he’s got his eye on the label."

Which was true enough. Harvey’s eye was gleaming, staring, like some pallid woodsman’s when it catches the glare of an Indian’s fire.

"That’s all right, Simmons," explained Forrester calmly; "the bottle happens to bear an honoured Glasgow name—and the liquid is worthy of it. There isn’t a headache in a hogshead—try it and see."

Harvey’s lips were white and dry. "No, thank you, Forrester," he said in a harsh voice that sounded far away. "I won’t take any."

"Take a little for Palmer’s stomach’s sake—he’s had enough."

Harvey refused again. Destitute was his answer of all merriment or banter. He stood bolt upright, fixed as a statue, his eyes still on the big black thing Forrester was holding out in front of him. "Not any, Forrester," he said; "I don’t want any, I tell you."

"Let him alone, Scottie," interrupted Palmer. "Simmons is on the water-waggon, to-night anyhow—and besides, that stuff’s a dollar and a half a quart."

Forrester was about to comply when Oliver suddenly arose from his lounging position and shuffled out to where the two were standing. He had already familiarized himself with the bottle sufficiently to be in a rather hectoring mood.

"Go and sit down, Forrester," he growled out; "I guess I’m the host here. And I don’t blame Simmons for turning up his nose," he went on as he turned and opened a little cabinet—"poking a black bottle in front of a man as if he were a coal-heaver; we’re not on the Glasgow cattle market," he added contemptuously, producing a couple of glasses and handing one to Harvey. "Here, Simmons, drink like a gentleman—and I’ll drink with you." And the sweat came out on Harvey’s forehead as the stuff poured out, gurgling enticingly as it broke from the bottle’s mouth. "Here, this is yours; and we’ll drink to the _Morning Argus_—it’ll belong to you some day. I heard to-day it’s going to change hands soon anyhow."

The mention of the name lent a wealth of resolution to Harvey’s wavering will. He recalled, his heart maddening at the memory, how Oliver had pressed this self-same toast before.

"I won’t, Oliver," he said, controlling himself. "I don’t want any."

"Come now, Simmons, don’t be foolish; you’ve had a hard night’s work, and you look all in—just a night cap to help you sleep."

"Look here, Oliver," Harvey’s voice rising a little, "I guess I know my own mind. I tell you I won’t drink. I’m under promise. I’m bound over not to take anything; and I’ve got more at stake on it than I can afford to lose—so you may as well shut up."

Oliver came a step nearer. "You can’t bluff me, old man," he said through his teeth, his heavy eyes snapping. "And anyhow, I’ll pay it," he blustered, holding out the fuming glass, a leer of dogged cunning on his face. "I’ll pay your stake, Simmons."

"You go to hell," hissed Harvey, striking out wildly, one hand smashing the bottle in fragments to the floor, the other clutching Oliver by the throat; "you infernal blood-sucker," as he pressed him backward to the wall.

Palmer and Forrester sprang towards the men; but before they were able to interfere, Harvey had hurled Oliver against the table, which crashed to the floor in a heap, Oliver mingling with the wreckage. While his guests were helping him to his feet, Harvey strode towards the door; the accursed fumes rose about him like evil spirits, importunate and deadly, clutching at the very heart-strings of his will.

Pale and trembling, he turned when he reached the door. "Anything more to pay?" he muttered, nodding towards Oliver; "does he want to continue the argument?"

Oliver made a stifled protest, but his friends united to declare that the debate was at an end. "Come back, Simmons," appealed Palmer; "don’t let our little evening break up like this—Oliver’s got no kick coming. Sit down."

But Harvey uttered an inaudible malediction and slammed the door behind him. They could hear him finding his way along the unlighted hall.

"You got what was coming to you, old chap," Palmer informed his host; "nobody’s got any right to badger a fellow the way you did Simmons. It’s worse than setting fire to a barn—you’re a damned incendiary," he concluded, resuming the smoke that had been so effectually interrupted.

While the debate, thus happily begun, went on its vigorous way, Harvey was walking aimlessly about the street, caring little whither his steps might lead him. After the first gust of excitement had subsided a new and delicious sense of victory possessed him. Not from having worsted Oliver—that was quite forgotten—but from having met and conquered his temptation. His breath came fast as he recalled, how stern and sore had the conflict been; but a kind of elation he had never known before mingled with the memory of it all. For he had won—and under the most trying circumstances—and he smiled to himself as he thought how he had passed through the ordeal. Its most hopeful feature was for the future; it was a pledge of how he might hope to prevail if the fight should ever be renewed. Reassured, he even fell to thinking of other things; of his promise to his mother—had she seen his struggle and gloried in his victory, he wondered; and of Jessie, faithful ally; and of his profession and his progress in it. He recalled, as though it had occurred long ago, Oliver’s prediction that he would some day own the _Argus_—and his fierce anger towards Oliver abated a little. Yet all this was insignificant, he reflected, compared to the progress he was making along higher lines.

But the elation did not last. Fatigue crept upon him. And he was chilled; he was hungry, too. Besides, the nervous strain had been a severe one, and the reaction was correspondingly acute. Gradually the tide ceased to flow, then stood stationary a moment—then began ebbing fast. And the sense of victory paled and died; the thrill of exultation passed away; the ardour of battle and of conquest chilled within him. And again his lips became parched, his hand again unsteady, his nerves again unstrung. And the dreadful thirst returned. To the swept and garnished house the evil spirit crept back with muffled tread, hopeful of a better tenure.

The stoutest castle is easily taken if its lord has ceased to watch. Or if he be absent, the capture is easier still—especially if he be gone to feast on former battle fields where his right arm brought him victory.

Wherefore Harvey’s second struggle was brief and pitiful; the enemy had caught him unawares. And more shrill and impatient than before was the whistle that sounded soon again beneath Oliver’s still lighted window. And his welcome was not less cordial, Oliver himself taking the leading part.

"What in thunder’s the matter, Simmons?" enquired Palmer; "you look as if you’d been through a threshing machine."

Harvey paid no attention. His blood-shot eyes looked about the room, searching for something. His hand was shaking, and every now and then he ran his tongue over the withered lips; the blood seemed to have left his cheek.

"I’ve changed my mind," he began huskily; "I’m not well—and I’ll take some of that, if you don’t mind. Just a little—but I’ve got to get braced up or I’ll collapse."

Forrester whistled. "The spring’s gone dry, old man," he said. "I’m cruel sorry—but it was that little gesture of yours that did it."

Harvey’s eyes looked around imploringly. The pungent fumes were still rising from the floor, goading his appetite to madness.

"I’m afraid that’s right, Simmons," added Oliver; "there’s a teaspoonful there in the heel of the bottle—but it’s not enough to make a swallow."

"Where is it?" muttered Harvey, starting to where the broken fragments lay.

He found it; and even those who had tried so hard to overbear him a little while before cast pitying glances as he stooped down, trembling, lifting the bottom of the bottle in both his shaky hands, lifting it carefully and holding it to his lips till the last drop was drained.

It was but a few minutes till he resumed the quest. "Must be some more lying round somewhere," he said, with a smile that was pitiful to see.

"Afraid not," said Oliver; "that was the last."

"What’s in that cabinet?" Harvey urged, rising to his feet.

"No go, Simmons, I’m afraid," muttered Forrester; "if there was any round, Oliver’d know it—when he gives up, there ain’t any."

Harvey got up and went over to Palmer, throwing his arm about his shoulder. "I say, old man," he began, controlling his voice as best he could, "you don’t know how bad I’m feeling. And you’ve got a flask with you, haven’t you, Palmer?—I wouldn’t ask you, only I’m feeling so tough. Had a hard time of it in the office to-night."

Palmer looked hard at him. "If I had a tankful I wouldn’t give you a drop, Simmons," he said.

Harvey winced. And he stood looking into Palmer’s face like a guilty man, his eyes gradually turning away in confusion before the other’s searching gaze. A hot flush of shame, not yet unfamiliar flowed over cheek and brow. But it was only for a moment—these better symptoms retreated before the flame that consumed him. "I’m going out," he said presently, his eyes turning heavily from one face to the other, his parched lips trembling.

"If you’ve got to have it, I think I know a place we can get in—I’m sure I do," drawled Oliver, yawning. "But bed’s the place for all of us."

Harvey was all alive. "Come on, old chap," he exclaimed eagerly; "that’s a good fellow—here’s your hat. It won’t take long," he added assuringly, moving towards the door.

There was little reluctance on Oliver’s part. And a few minutes later the two went out together arm in arm, the victor and the vanquished—but vanquished both. It was Harvey who clung close, almost fondly, to the other; no memory of Oliver’s share in his undoing, no hatred of the assassin-hand tempered the flow of fellowship between them now.

The morning had not yet come. But passion’s gust was over and sated appetite refused.

"I’m going home," said Harvey, his voice unnatural, his feet unsteady.

"Not yet," said Oliver—"let’s make a night of it."

"A night of it!" exclaimed the other bitterly. "Good God, Oliver!"

"Come on," said his companion doggedly. "Come with me—we’ll both see the thing through."

"Come where?" said Harvey.

"You’ll see. Come down this alley here—wait a minute."

Three or four minutes had elapsed; they were still walking.

"There," said Oliver, standing still; "can you see that light?—there, in that upper window."

He saw it. It gleamed sinister, significant, through the mirk; blacker than the deepest darkness was its baneful light.

"What about it?" said Harvey.

Oliver said something in a low voice; then he laughed.

Simmons turned full on his companion. The moon was setting, but its latest beams still shed a fitful light. And they showed Harvey’s face flushed and worn, the eyes unnatural in their heaviness and gloom. But there was a strange redeeming light in them as they fixed themselves on Oliver, the light of indignant scorn; any who had known his mother would have recognized something of the old-time light that had glowed from her face before the darkness veiled it.

Harvey’s heavy eyes flashed as he spoke. "Oliver," he said, and the tone was haughty, old-time pride struggling against fearful odds as the sun writhes its way through the mist; "Oliver, if you’re going to the devil, you can go alone. I’m not quite gone yet, thank God. I’m a good many kinds of a fool, I know—but I’m not that kind—I’m not a sot. And Oliver," coming closer up to him, "I’ll admit I’m as much to blame for to-night as you are—but we’re done, Oliver, now. We’re done with each other—forever. D’ye hear, Oliver?" as he turned and started back up the shadowy lane.

Oliver blinked after him a moment; then he went on towards the light, into the darkness.

*XXXII*

_*HARVEY’S UNSEEN DELIVERER*_

The succeeding day was melting softly into dusk.

While it may be true that none can utterly affirm, it is equally true that none can finally deny, the ministry of the dead. Probably none altogether rejects the thought except those who disbelieve in the immortality of the soul. For if death be but the disenthrallment of the spirit, and its engraftment on the infinite, how thus should its noblest passion cease or its holiest industry suffer interruption? We may not know; though mayhap we may still receive. If beneficiaries we are of the unforgetting dead, we are unconscious of it—and this too shall swell the sum of that great surprise that awaits us in eternity.

Some unconscious influence had brooded about Harvey through the day. Except for a few brief minutes with Miss Farringall and Jessie, during which neither had spoken much, the long hours had been spent alone. And the solitude had seemed to teem at times; with what, he scarcely knew. Shame and discomfiture and fear had thronged his heart, and the day was one of such humiliation as cloistered monk might rejoice to know. Not that he was conscious of the process, nor did he even inwardly call it by any such name as that. But he knew that he had been beaten—beaten, too, in the very hour that had thrilled with the confidence of victory. More than once, recounting his defects one by one, and recalling his frequent vows, was he on the verge of self-contempt; against this he fought as if for life.

As the day wore slowly by, the struggle deepened. A strange heart-chilling fear of the night began to possess him. Looking from the window of his room, he could see the westering sun and the lengthening shadows; both seemed to point the hour of returning conflict.

He tried in vain to dismiss this strange misgiving. The sun crept slowly closer to the glowing west, and its silent course seemed to have something ominous about it, solemnly departing as if it knew the peril of the crafty dark. He tried to read, but his eyes slipped on the words. Turning to one of his dead mother’s letters, he sought the comfort of the loving words; but he found no shelter there, and the relentless thirst kept deepening in his heart. Then he tried to recall some of the gayer scenes of departed college days; their mirth was turned to ashes now.

Finally, and with a bounding heart, like a fugitive whose eyes descry some long-sought place of refuge, he bethought himself of the Bible his mother had hidden in his trunk when first he had left her care. Reverently, passionately, hopefully he made his way to many a tree of life within it—but its shade seemed riven above him and the fierce heat still searched his soul.

With a stifled cry he sprang from the bed, despairing of reinforcement elsewhere than in his own beleaguered heart. He would fight it out, though the fight should kill him. The strange sinking fell again upon his spirit and the unearthly fires burned anew within him. His lips again were parched and his shaking hand all but refused to do the bidding of his will. He had not tasted food throughout the day; yet the thought of food was intolerable. What tormented him most was the thought, presenting itself again and again, that if he had but the smallest allowance of stimulant the pain would be at an end and the threatened collapse averted. But he knew how false and seductive was the plea, and resisted. Yet what could he do?—this unequal conflict could not endure. The perspiration stood in beads upon his brow, though he was shaken with chills as by an ague. Defiant, his resolution rallied as he noted the symptoms of his weakness. A kind of grim anger gathered as he felt the deadly persistence of his enemy; and his step was almost firm as he walked to the door of his room. He locked it swiftly, putting the key in his pocket, stamping his foot as he turned away.

This seemed to help him some. It made him feel at least that he had come to close quarters with his destroyer, shut up alone with his dread antagonist. Herein was the hopefulness of the situation, that he had come to recognize the strength of his enemy and the portent of the struggle. Had he been locked in the same room with a madman the situation could not have been more real.

Suddenly a strange thing befell him. Some would explain it in terms of an overwrought nervous system, some in terms of a disordered fancy. It matters not. But Harvey heard, amid the wild tumult of that twilight hour—he heard his mother’s voice. Only once it came—and the sweet notes slowly died, like the tones of some rich bell across a waste of waters—but he heard it and his whole soul stood still to listen. He caught its message in an instant; the whole meaning of it was wonderfully clear, and his heart answered and obeyed with instant gladness. For it seemed to point the way to rest, and victory, and healing.

He glanced at his watch. There was just time to catch the train; and without pause or hesitation he unlocked the door and passed out into the street. A word to a servant, to allay wonder at his absence, was his only farewell.

What greyhound of the seas is swift enough to outrun the greedy gulls that follow? And what heart, however swiftly borne, can escape its besetting sin? It may ascend up into heaven, or make its bed in hell, or take the wings of the morning, or plunge into the lair of darkness—but temptation never quits the chase. Thus was poor Harvey pursued as the bounding train plunged through the darkness towards his far-off boyhood home. Still the battle waged, and still the fangs of appetite kept groping for his heart and clutching at his will. But he endured as seeing the invisible; and the City of Refuge came ever nearer.

As they came closer to Glenallen—when they were almost there—peering through the dark, he caught now and then a fleeting glimpse of the scenes of other days; fences that he had climbed; elms beneath whose shelter he had played; braes he had roamed and burns he had waded and brooks he had fished, he smiled, as the inward pain still smote him and the dreadful craving burned—it seemed all but impossible that life could have changed so much, the evening shadows threatening before its noon had come. And he felt, in a dim unreasoning way—what other men have felt—as if he had been somehow tricked out of the sweetness of youth, its glory faded and its fruitage withered before he had known they were there.

The streets of his native town were hushed as he hurried towards his home. Nearing the familiar scene, he paused, standing still. He felt a kind of awesome fear and his head was bowed as he crept close to the humble door. Suddenly he lifted his eyes, survey ing the well-remembered outlines through the gloom. And suddenly they seemed transfigured before him, speaking out their welcome in tender silence as though they recognized the heart-sore wanderer. It was with little difficulty that he effected an entrance, a half-hidden window in the rear yielding readily.

The stillness within almost overcame him. Yet there must have been holy power in it; for the evil spirit that had haunted him seemed to retreat before it; and his groping eyes fell now on this familiar thing and now on that, each an ally to his struggling soul. He could see but dimly, but they were all beautiful, each telling some story of the sacred days that would come no more. He felt his way through the little hall into the room where he had last looked upon his mother’s face. He stood where he had stood before—and he looked down. Long musing, he turned and made his way up-stairs. As he passed the half-open door on his way, he could see the shadowy outline of the little store, as Miss Adair had left it for the night, the petty wares consorting ill with the significance of the hour. Yet the nobility of all for which it stood broke afresh upon him.

Ascending the creaking stairs, he stopped and listened. It seemed as if some voice must speak—for silence like to this he had never known before. But all was still, wondrously still—this was the silence of death. He glanced into Jessie’s room; relics of her sore toil were still scattered about; all was as she had left it when she had started on her visit to the city.

Then he entered his mother’s room. With head bowed low and with noiseless step, as devout pilgrims invade some holy shrine, he passed within the door. Then he lifted his eyes—the night seemed to stay its hand—and he could see here and there traces of his mother’s life, many of them undisturbed. An apron that she used to wear, folded now and spotless white, laid aside by Jessie’s loving hands; a knitted shawl that had so often enclosed the fragile form; the unfinished knitting from which the needles should never be withdrawn. Then he gave a great start, muffling a cry—for he thought he saw a face. But it was his own, moving in shadowy whiteness as he passed the little mirror—he marvelled at his timidity amid such scenes of love.

He sank on the bed and buried his face in his hands. He was trembling, yet not with fear. But something seemed to tell him that he was not alone; no tempter, no turgid appetite, no relentless passion assailed him now. He was safe, he felt, like some ancient fugitive falling breathless before a sacred altar—but he felt that he was not alone. Some unseen power seemed to be about him, an influence so gentle, a caress so tender, a keeping so holy as time could not provide. He did not seek to reason with the strange sensation, or to solve, or to define; but his soul lay open to the mystic influence in helplessness and hope, the ministry of the awful silence having its way with his broken and baffled life.

Almost without knowing it, he rose and made his way to the little table by the window; something dark lay upon it. The touch told him in a moment what it was—his mother’s Bible, that Jessie had begged him to leave for her. His hand trembled as he took it up; it opened of itself and he peered downward on the well-worn page. But it was dark, and he could only see enough to know that one particular verse was gently underscored. Fumbling for a match, he lit it and its glow fell upon the words:

"Unto Him that is able to keep you from falling and to present you faultless."

The message flashed upon his soul with the import of eternal hope. He closed the book violently, as if something might escape, and sank again upon the bed. He felt as if God Himself had spoken through the shadows and the silence. His face was again buried in his hands, but his heart was running riot with its exuberance of feeling, of purpose, of hope from far-off fountains fed. There gleamed before him a vision of the reality of it all, the real truth that a worsted heart may find strength somewhere higher up, away beyond this scene of human struggle—and that the most stained and wasted life might yet become a holy thing, again presented to the great God whose grace had saved it, a faultless life at last.

Thus he sat, nor knew how long, while the regenerating moments flew. He was recalled by feeling something fall at his feet. Stooping, he picked it up; it was a letter, fallen from the leaves of the book he held. A brief search revealed a candle on a chair beside the bed. This he lit, holding the fitful flame above the missive now spread out before him. The letter was from his mother and addressed to him. A swift look at the date explained why it had never been sent—she had been busy with it when he had unexpectedly returned the night of Madeline’s party. His eyes burned their way over the opening sentences, all uneven as they were, the unsteady hand having found its course as best it could. And the gentle epistle had come to a sudden close—the letter had never been completed. But his eyes were fixed in almost fierce intensity upon the last words—probably the last the dear hand had ever written. "And I’m praying, my son," thus ran the great assurance, "as I shall never cease to pray, that He will make His grace sufficient for you and that..."

He arose, recalling where his mother was wont to pray. Had she not told him, and had Jessie not spoken of it often? Beside his own bed, he knew—there, where he once had slept the sleep of childhood in the innocent and happy days of yore; there had been her altar, where, kneeling before God, she had pleaded that the keeping and guidance of the Highest might be vouchsafed her absent son. Thither he turned his steps, his heart aflame within him; one hand still held his mother’s Bible, the other the precious letter. And he laid them both before the Throne, sacred things, familiar to the all-seeing Eye, pledges of a faith that must not be denied.

The silence still reigned about the bended form. But it was vocal with unspoken vows, the vows of a soul that unseen hands, wasted once and worn but radiant now and beautiful, had beckoned to the Mercy Seat. He could not see the bending face; he could not know the exultation of the triumphant one—but he knew that the dear spirit shared with him the rapture of that hour when his mother’s prayers were answered, when his soul came back to God.

*XXXIII*

_*PLAIN LIVING AND HIGH THINKING*_

The day slipped past in quiet solitude, marked by the peace of penitence and inward chastening; convalescence is the sweetest experience of the soul and the outlook to the eternal is its rest. Harvey felt in no hurry to leave the pavilion-home, thronged as it was with blessed memories. But when the evening fell, a curious eagerness quickened his steps towards David Borland’s altered home. He had not visited it before. Drawing near, the first figure he descried was that of David himself, engaged in the very diminutive garden that lay beside the house. He had not noticed Harvey’s approach. A shade of pain darkened the eye of the younger man as, unobserved, he took a keen survey of the older face. For not alone was David more thin and worn; his cheeks had lost their colour, pinched and pale, and it required no special acuteness to detect how changed he was from the robust David of former years. Suddenly lifting his head, Mr. Borland saw Harvey close at hand; he dropped the light tool he was holding, hurrying to greet the visitor.

"You’re as welcome as a registered letter," he cried in his old hearty way; "come on an’ sit down—there’s nothin’ tastes so good in a new house as an old friend. I’ve been hungerin’ for a mouthful of you. I was jest doin’ a little work," he explained—"when a fellow’s got to work hard, nothin’ makes it so easy as doin’ a little more. I’m goin’ to raise some flowers," he went on, pointing to a tiny bed; "nothin’ pays like flowers—it pays better than manufacturin’, I think sometimes. Here, sit beside me on the bench," for David seemed willing to rest. "How’s Jessie?" he asked presently, his general observations concluded.

"Lovely," answered Harvey. "She’s visiting Miss Farringall."

"So I believe. They say Miss Farringall’s lovely too, ain’t she?"

Harvey pronounced a eulogy.

"She’s an old maid, ain’t she?"

"I suppose some would call her that," was Harvey’s rather deliberate reply.

"Oh, that’s all right," David assured him; "I don’t mean no disrespect. Most old maids is reg’lar angels—with variations. I often tell the missus if I was ever left alone I’d probably marry again, out of respect for her—there’s nothin’ like an encore to show you’ve enjoyed the first performance—an’ I always say I’d take an old maid. Of course, I might change my mind," David went on gravely; "most old fools does, takes up with some little gosling that ought to be in school. An’ I’ve noticed how the fellows that yelps the loudest at the funeral begins takin’ notice the soonest—they don’t most gen’rally stay in long for repairs," he concluded solemnly, scraping the clay from his boot-heel as he spoke.

"If Miss Farringall’s an old maid," Harvey resumed, "she’s one of the nicest I ever knew—and one of the happiest too, I think."

"Old maids is pretty much all happy," pronounced David, "that is, when they stop strugglin’—but most of ’em dies hard. They’d all be happy if they’d only do what I heard a preacher advisin’ once. I was mad as a hatter, too."

"What about?" asked Harvey wonderingly.

"Well, I’ll tell you. It was at a funeral in a church—last year, I think—an’ after the service was over he came out to the front o’ the pulpit. ’The congregation ’ll remain seated,’ says he, ’till the casket has went down the aisle; then the mourners will follow, an’ the clergy ’ll follow them. After that,’ says he, ’after that, the congregation will quietly retire.’ Quietly, mind you!" said David sternly; "did he think we was goin’ to give three cheers for the corpse, I wonder?" and he looked earnestly at Harvey for approval of his indignation. "But I’ve often thought, jest the same, how much happier everybody’d be, ’specially old maids, if they’d only retire quietly."

"I’ll have to tell that to the editor of the funny column," Harvey said when his composure had returned; "and I’ll send it on to you when it appears in the _Argus_."

"I’m a subscriber to that paper now," David said complacently; "how ’re you gettin’ along?—like the editin’ business pretty good?"

"Fine," Harvey assured him cordially. Then he told, as modestly as he could, of what success he had achieved and of his prospects of promotion.

"Where you got the start was goin’ into it as soon as you left school," David averred; "there’s nothin’ like gettin’ at your work early. That’s why I advise gettin’ up a little afore day—for other folks. You see, you’ll get the hang of it—of editin’, I mean—afore you’re set in your ways. If you want to succeed these days, you’ve got to take time by the fetlock, as one of them old philosophers said. That’s what makes all the difference between two fellows; one’ll waste his time gallivantin’ round, while the other’s learnin’ all about his business an’ gettin’ ready for somethin’ big. Now, there’s poor Cecil, for instance—you’ve heard what’s come o’ Cecil?"

"No," answered Harvey, sitting up very straight. "No, I haven’t heard anything—has anything happened?"

"Oh, nothin’ terrible important. Only he’s off for Africa—went last week. He was foolin’ an’ fiddlin’ round, spongin’ on his father—an’ he got into one or two little scrapes. An’ his father kind o’ got tired of it—an’ Cecil got a chance of some kind of a job with some company that’s buildin’ a railroad or somethin’ in South Africa. An’ the old man let him go—so he’s gone," David concluded earnestly, "an’ I reckon punchin’ mules is about the highest position o’ trust he’ll be occupyin’. Let’s go into the house."

"Is Cecil going to stay long in Africa?" Harvey asked as they walked along.

"He won’t likely be back to tea very often," ventured David. "Jemima! I’m so short in the wind now," his breath coming fast. "I don’t much calculate he’ll be back till the walkin’s good—unless the old man fetches him," a droll smile showing on David’s face, as they entered the little house.

"Sorry Madeline’s not in," Mr. Borland began as he sank into a chair; "she works pretty steady now, poor child—they say she’s a reg’lar dabster at that wood-work. She paints chiny too," he went on, pride in the voice—"I think she’s out at Hyman’s, burnin’ it, this evenin’. Sit down, Harvey," motioning towards a chair, for his guest was standing in a spasm of attentiveness. "It’s a bit different from the old place, ain’t it?" as he looked round the humble room.

"It’s just as good," said Harvey bluntly, rather at a loss.

"That’s where you’re shoutin’," David responded, something of his old-time vigour in the tone. "It’s jest every bit as good. When I’m settin’ here in the evenin’—I don’t work so very hard; they gave me a nice easy job at the office—an’ Madeline’s puttin’ on my slippers or runnin’ her fingers round my old gray head, when I shut my eyes I can’t tell the difference. Never did set in only one chair," he mused as if to himself, "never did wear but one pair o’ slippers, never did have but one Madeline to cure my headaches an’ my heartaches an’ everythin’ like that. An’ I like the lamp better’n the old sulky gas—an’ we’ve got the best pump in the county," he went on enthusiastically—"right out there; it’s far better’n the old tap water. So we’re jest as happy, Harvey."

Harvey smiled, and lovingly, at the beaming face.

"An’ I can prove it," the old man suddenly resumed. "I can prove it," he repeated eagerly. "See that fireplace there?" pointing to the hearth on which the wood was already laid. "Put a match to it, Harvey—you’re younger than me. Set it agoin’, Harvey, an’ I’ll show you—it’s gettin’ coolish, anyhow."

Harvey did as directed. The shavings led the flame upward to the little twigs, and the twigs hurried it on to the willing cedar, and the cedar lit the way to the gnarled pine knots; these opened their bosoms to the flame and soon the leaping tongues began their glad crusade against the shadows, a revelry of sight and sound flooding the room with light and music.

"There!" cried David jubilantly. "Tell me the difference if you can—ain’t that the very same as it used to be in the great big house? Didn’t I tell you I could prove it?—there ain’t no difference, Harvey; it’s jest the very same," he repeated once again, rejoicing in the great truth he found so difficult to express. "An’ that’s what I always trained myself to believe," he went on after a long pause. "I always believed in simple livin’—even when I had lots o’ chance the other way. Didn’t I, Harvey?" he pursued, gazing into the other’s eyes through the glow.

"That you did, Mr. Borland," Harvey affirmed. "And that’s why it comes so easy to you now."

"That was how I knew poor Mr. Craig was on the wrong tack," David pursued thoughtfully. "I spotted the signs as soon as they began; when he started callin’ his sideboard a ’buffy’—an’ when he began sayin’ ’blue mange’ instead o’ cornstarch; I heard him at his own table—an’ callin’ ’Johnny-cake’ corn-cake—an’ referrin’ to the cuspidor when he meant a spittoon—when he began them tony names, I knew it was all up with poor Mr. Craig. When a man gets so dainty that his horses stop sweatin’ an’ begin perspirin’, he ain’t much good for common folks after that. That’s why Mr. Craig wanted so bad to be mayor—jest that buffy idea, same thing," David explained pityingly. "An’ then it wasn’t long till he made the foolishest break of all," he went on; "d’ye know what it was?" as he looked enquiringly at Harvey; "you’d never guess."

"No idea," admitted Harvey.

"Well, he began takin’ his dinner at supper time. Leastways, he began callin’ it dinner—an’ it’s a terrible bad sign when a fellow begins takin’ dinner when the dew’s fallin’. His old father used to say: ’Well, I reckon it’s time to feed again,’ but Craig always said he guessed he’d have to go home to dinner—an’ he wasn’t never the same man after he begun that kind o’ foolishness," David affirmed seriously. "The only other man I ever heard callin’ supper dinner was a terrible rich fellow from New York. He had a summer cottage on Lake Joseph; he used to bring his own doctor with him, an’ his own minister—an’ his own undertaker. An’ he took his dinner about bedtime," David concluded mournfully.

"Makin’ out pretty good at the newspaper business, Harvey?" David asked presently, some minor themes disposed of.

Harvey pondered. He was thinking of many things. "Do you mean financially, Mr. Borland?" he asked at length.

"Yes, I reckon so; you’re climbin’ up the ladder a bit, ain’t you?"

"I’m getting along pretty well, that way," Harvey replied. "And I think I’m getting an insight into the business. They say the _Argus_ is going to change hands—but that won’t affect my position at all."

"Pity you couldn’t get a-hold of it," said David reflectively. "But don’t worry about that, my boy. Don’t never be disappointed if success don’t come as fast as you think it should. It nearly always slips through a fellow’s fingers at the last—so don’t get set up on it. I’m gettin’ to be an old man now; an’ if there’s one thing I’ve learned better’n another, it’s how a man don’t have them things in his own hands. I believe every man’s jest runnin’ on the time-table that’s laid out for him; an’ he’ll spoil everythin’ if he tries too much to interfere. Often we think we’re terrible smart. An’ mebbe we are—but we find out sooner or later we’ve got to walk the plank, an’ it’s queer how we get jockeyed jest when we think we’re at the winnin’ post. We’re pretty handy with the rod an’ the reel—but God handles the landin’-net Himself. That’s why the biggest ones most gen’rally always get away," and David nodded his head seriously as he peered into Harvey’s eyes.

"I’d sooner win along other lines than that," mused Harvey.

"Than what?"

"Than the money way. That isn’t everything."

"That there was a beautiful thing you done in the cemetery," David digressed suddenly. "That there was high finance."

"What?" asked the bewildered Harvey.

"You know," said the other—"your mother’s gravestone. I didn’t know nothin’ about it till Madeline took some flowers out one evenin’. That was lovely, Harvey."

Harvey’s voice was thick. "That was the first money I ever saved, Mr. Borland," he said after a long silence; "the only money I ever saved."

"Savin’s like them is holy," David said simply. "An’ I’m goin’ to tell you somethin’, Harvey," as he braced himself for the purpose. "An’ I’m goin’ to trust you not to tell any one—not any one in the world."

Harvey turned to gaze into the earnest face.

"I don’t know jest why it should be so hard to tell," David began calmly. "But it’s this, Harvey—my day’s jest about done—I ain’t goin’ to be here much longer, Harvey. No, don’t now, please," he pleaded as he stretched out his hand towards the livid youth, already leaping to his feet. "Don’t, Harvey, don’t—but it’s true. An’ I’ve known it a good while now; the doctor told me long ago," he continued calmly. "My old heart thinks it’s jest about quittin’ time, it seems. An’ I don’t blame it a terrible lot—it’s had a long day’s work, an’ I reckon it’s a good deal like me, kind o’ ready for its rest," the tired voice went on. "That’s where the trouble is, anyhow," he affirmed placidly, "but I never told nobody—a fellow ought to burn his own smoke, I think, an’ not let it trouble other people. But I’ve told you now, Harvey—so you won’t be so terrible surprised when ... And besides," his voice breaking for the first time, "besides—I wanted to tell you somethin’ else, my boy—I wanted to tell you—how—how much I loved you, Harvey—for fear—for fear I mightn’t have another chance," as the tired face went downward to his hands, the hot tears trickling between the fingers that were so thin and worn.

The room was hushed in silence as Harvey’s tear-stained face was bowed beside his friend. He spoke no word, and no touch of tenderness was felt except the slow tightening of his arm about the furrowed neck, holding the quivering form close in strong and silent fondness. David spoke at length. "I want you to come along with me, Harvey."

"Where?" Harvey asked in a startled voice.