"Just a lift," he said, awkwardly, when the boy hesitated. "I've been

there myself, lately."

But when at last he had prevailed and turned away he was conscious that

the doughboy was staring after him, puzzled and unconvinced.

He had a bad night after that. The encounter had brought back his

hard-working, care-free days in the army. It had brought back, too,

the things he had put behind him, his profession and his joy in it, the

struggles and the aspirations that constitute a man's life. With them

there came, too, a more real Elizabeth, and a wave of tenderness for

her, and of regret. He turned on his sagging bed, and deliberately put

her away from him. Even if this other ghost were laid, he had no right

to her.

Then, one day, he met Mrs. Sayre, and saw that she knew him.




readonlinefreebook.com Copyright 2016 - 2024