Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1888-10-06
CHAPTER XXI.
NO BARRIER,

Sensitiveness is a very unfortunate quality
In life since no object is nodded in accord.
ance with the strict rules of art, since there
no history but with its dark page. The happy
mac is neither too enthusiastic over the vir
tues of his acquaintance, which may be acci-
dental or merely pretty optical delusion,
or too stern and unrelenting toward sins,
which he fancies might have been virtues
under different conditions But Philip Breton
had fallen out with life. The great world
seemed to Jar him as it rolled. Each hour
had revealed unGuessed means of suffering,
and even the beams of genial sunlight had
daggers for him.
Yet it is hard for man to understand that
his fate may be pure, unalloyed pain. He Is
ever smiling through his tears and trying to
awake from his despair, as if it were but
dream of disordered fancy. So as the next
morning came and Philip Breton threw open
his door to go out into the sweet scented Sep
tember air, he felt happier than for many
weeks; the peace that came over him seemed
to leave no place for cruel distrust and unre-
lenting pride. He even reproached himself
for his ungenerousness of yesterday. The
world of nature left no unsightly wounds and
breaks in its whole dominion. Gaping graves
9 are soon covered with green grass and wild
flowers; life springs quickly out of death, and
apparent ruin is soon forgotten in renewed
magniflcence. Why should he, then, let two
lives be wrecked for one wrong act in the
past-forever past?
He swung down his walk in new buoy
ancy He believed he had passed through
the cloud and come out into the clear light of
reason.
But at his gate a carriage rolled slowly by
him. 1t contained bridal couple, and he
stopped to smile at them. The girls face had
no culture in it, but was sweet, and had the
innocence of childhood. That ungainly fel-
low, who now wore his first broadcloth suit.
at whom she looked so fondly, was the only
lover she had ever known. She had no So
crets from him, no past his jealous eyes might
not scan without pang. Her soul was open
to him. No whisper to her shame could ever
reach his insulted ears Her life was com
monplace, but no blot was on it, no guilty
thought had ever left its trail across her
heart. The rough lad who was bold enough
TO put his arm about her waist in broad
daylight could pour his Foolish love making
into her eager ears without stint. There was
no theme he must avoid with her, no page in
her life he must not cut
He loved the soiled lily, loved it more than
oil the fresh roses. All other women might
as well never have been born for him; this
woman he would have died for. Could he
not protect her from evil tongues! If she
were trampled, could he not lift her into
his bosom? If she were insulted, could he not
put his mans heart and strength between her
and shamea He would hurry to his darling,
throw himself at her feet, her past should be
buried, her life should begin with his happi-
ness tonight
"You want to marry Berthal supposed
you were acquainted with her past"
It was in Mr.. Ellingsworth's room, where
he sat In dressing gown and slippers, well
back in his easy chair. He was looking at
Philip Breton very curiously. He had really
fancied he understood human nature before.
~ suppose am,n answered Philip simply.
"Well, know more of it than wish did
She ran away with a beggar, and she has
come back. dislike unpleasant memories,
90 avoid unpleasant information. You
know her-her-her relations with Curranl
sYes, WELL" and the gentleman shrugged his
slight shoulders, mo doubt you know what
you are doing, you run your own risks"
"Understand me, asked but two ques-
want to come homei / had heard she had
never heen married. Jane has heard it.
feared 1t. Do you wonder did not ask, not
caring for disagreeable certainty. Well, do
your own Questioning. suppose the fact Of
her keeping her maiden name shows some
thing"
What If he should find she was indeed
3 maFrisd after all, when he had at last de-
eided hs could NOT live without her; when he
had at last made up his mind that he must
hav" hsr IL he took burden Of life long