Wichita eagle., 1888-09-09

loose about him. He was poor and alone
He was happier that last summer morn
ing than any king on throne His hear
was light as air. He tramped with
strong new life; he wanted TO throw u,
his cap and hurrah. It was done. 81.
was free; he was freei That was tn,
thought Of thoughts. All this while b.
had felt himself bound and walled in Il.
had not belonged to himself. He hac
been in Jail, though nobody knew. Fl,
barriers went with him and shut hin
from honest folk. Something like thi:
had been his feeling. And now it was a:
if the prison walls had suddenly riftec
away, and the roof rolled off like burn
ing scroll. And all the free green earth
was round about him once more, and the
free blue cloud land wide as heaven over
head That one thought rang round snd
round in his brain-tree. free, freel
Now he could go to Kate. He longed
and was afraid. He feared all imaginable
things. What changes might not have
happened in all this weary while? What
could she have thought of his strange
behavior? Well, he would hope for the
best; he would be honest and straight
forward. When she knew all, she would
understand. She would not be hard upon
/ him, he tried to feel sure. When he went
round TO Quincy street that night, the
blinds of No. 70 were closed. The place
was ITO Let"
Mr.. Arrow had gone into silver mine
speculation somewhere in the west.
Kate had taken to teaching. somewhere
/ in Vermont. they believed. That was all
Bren could learn. Traveller sent him
home for three weeks to recruit. He
came back in ten days and begged Char
! ley to let him go to work. He was very
/ quiet, and apt to brood q good deal if he
was not kept busy. He had been little
wild at first. The blow, as Bren was,
! staggered him. He thought he had de-
served better; it was grinding fellow a
little too hard. Virtue was its own re.
ward. was it? And that was what man
/ gotl ] can't tell You ell that he said.
But, back Of ell, when the first intolera-
bic sharpness had worn Off somewhat, he
saw and felt the truth-that there is only
one way, that truth and honor are best
and Incompatible every where and when.
Better thousand times, he honestly be-
| Geved. lose love, and life, and all, than
have ones will ard not be worthyl He
knew it and said it to himself while he
cursed his fate for very bitterness, and
thought he should better DO dead. And
he did not get over the pain, though the
rough edge wore away. 1t went too deep.
He settled into q quiet. reserved little
fellow. whom everybody liked, and whom
no one knew very well. Traveller gave
him better pay by and by. lie laid by
little for rainy day and plodded
on, cheerful, in way. after while.
with a gentle way that surprised his
friends, and an instructive shrinking
from the veriest hadow OF fraud with a
kind Of fear.
Bren is three years older when we meet
him next. You would say he is five or
six Sitting one day at the same old
desk, his pen between his teeth, his eyes
looking out to the street, but seeing
things that happened years ago. the post
man comes in and lays letter on the
desk. The address is in lady's hand
which Bren does not know. He tears off
the end and reads:
BRAMMERLIN, Vt, Oct. II.
FRIEND WILL-About two years ago
there came to live near this en- old man
named Gray He had been for many years
in hardware house in your city. His
husband brought the old gentleman here
near neighbors Of mine the old gentle
man and took liking for each other.
He has been quite i'll for some time,
though am glad to say he is nnending
now. I was by him one night when he
was wandering; in his delirium 1 heard
him speak your name. He talked of you
a great deal. When he got sensible again
asked him about it. You must know
what he told me. think / understand
now what puzzled me greatly once. You
can't blame me for not seeing it then; /
had no knowledge of the case, and you
must know you acted very strangely. But
I've thought it all over and can't say
but that | may have seemed to you I'M
Just. And | came to the conclusion that
it could do no harm, at least, and would
be satisfaction to myself, to write and
say to you that | never meant you any
unkindness. There are some things |
cannot understand, but you and | were
too good friends once for me not to wish
to be still considered
Your friend, K. A.
Bren took a railroad guido from hook
beside his desk and turned it over. Then
he turned round and spoke to one of the
men:
"Tell Mr.. Traveller, when he comes in,
that I'm going out of town and won't be
back before Friday"
He got down at Brammerlin station as
the dusk was coming on. 1t was pleas
ant little town. He easily found a person
who could direct him.
ARROW? Yes; teacher in Hillside in
stitute. Up tho hill, first road to the
right-little gray house-h2me, Mrs.
Minim."
Bren saw a woman's figure coming down
the hill alone in the dusk. He stood
across her path. She looked up sharply
as she came near.
Kate"
CIVIL"
They clasped hands. and each knew in
moment that all was clear between
them. They walked together in the twi
light, till the moon came up and climbed
the eastern sky. They went over it all.
BY and by they stopped before the lttle
gray house.
Il never cared for Brewer, Will" Kate
was saying. But you were SO rude to
him, and $3.50 jealous, VIII, that you
made me take his side. was sorry then.
but couldn't help it. VIII"
Never mind now. Kate. know it was
my fault / was grouty fool. But it
would have all como right If | had kept
clear of that cursed bill. was afraid Of
you after that, Kate"
But You did what you could to make
It right; and you and / have paid for it
dearly enough, haven't we? And you're
not going to be afraid of me any more
are you, WHY
..No Ea+a feor- MT e-zip rtIaasa Grdt' {