The Thirteenth Man

by Mrs. Coulson Kernahan

To have voluntarily exiled oneself, and to find when one wishes to return that every door is closed against one, is not a pleasant experience!

Philip Barrimore realized that in leaving Hawk’s Nest he had not only done it of his own free will, but against the wishes of all concerned. Now, though he could certainly go back and take possession of his old room if he would, yet the door of the old home was closed against him; or, to put the thing more plainly, the old home no longer existed. Mrs. Henderson and her boys were installed there. His mother would be going away. Hawk’s Nest remained, but the home was practically gone.

In the story Philip had read aloud at the White House, he had ventilated views which had closed another door to him—the door of love. Dan—wise Dan!—had entered at that door—so Philip thought! The bungalow became a horror of loneliness.

Philip tried to work, but no ideas came. He would go out on Soda, coming home wearied, but not refreshed.

At night he invariably walked across the field and looked upon the White House.

Often he saw the light of Alvin’s lantern going to the little wood. Always he saw the light through the blind of the window he had accidentally learned was Miss Le Breton’s.

Another fact he had definitely learned—it had been on the drive home to Gissing, after the animated picture show at the Public Hall—was that he loved Eweretta’s half-sister more passionately even than he had ever loved Eweretta. And she was also lost to him! He was stranded, a lonely man who was now starving for love and sympathy.

In his mother’s happiness, which was indirectly of his making, he had no part. Colonel Lane had never really liked him. A good many people did not like him; but Alvin seemed to do so. For this reason Philip began to have an affection for the rough Colonial. Uncle Robert’s affection he had done his best to kill. True, Uncle Robert was always kind to him, but when had Uncle Robert ever been anything but kind to any human being?

There was no comfort in going to Hawk’s Nest now. Those two boys, Eric and Will, played tricks on him. Why were they not sent to Brighton College yet? They were not going till after Christmas. They turned Hawk’s Nest into a pandemonium, and Uncle Robert seemed to like it! Two or three nights a week he took those boys to the Hippodrome.

The mother was home again. She was preparing for her wedding, and Colonel Lane was constantly there. Of course, Colonel Lane had got well as by a miracle!