Time had been when life had seemed only a long, long trail, with
Lily at the end of it somewhere, like water to the thirsty traveler,
or home to the wanderer; like a camp fire at night. But now, life
seemed to him a broad highway, infinitely crowded, down which he
must move, surrounded yet alone.
But at least he could walk in the middle of the road, in the
sunlight. It was the weaklings who were crowded to the side. He
threw up his head.
It had never occurred to him that he was in any, danger, either
from Louis Akers or from the unseen enemy he was fighting. He had
a curious lack of physical fear. But once or twice that day, as he
went about, he happened to notice a small man, foreign in appearance
and shabbily dressed. He saw him first when he came out of the
marriage license office, and again when he entered the bank.
He had decided to tell Pink of his approaching marriage and to ask
him to be present. He meant to tell him the facts. The intimacy
between them was now very close, and he felt that Pink would
understand. He neither wanted nor expected approval, but he did
want honesty between them. He had based his life on honesty.
Pages:
443
444
445
446
447
448
449
450
451
452
453
454
455
456
457
458
459
460
461
462
463
464
465
466
467