Wichita eagle., 1888-09-09

paif about Kate was bitter enough, and
ever present But he was on the way
back to the straight track 1t was happi-
ness to look before and think of being
clear to go ahead once more. And the
satisfaction was none the less keen that
I the way was hard and long; he felt he
4 was doing manly, honest work. Tray
eler saw It was doing him good, and let
him alone. He did not go near Kate; he
could not. He did not dare tell her the
truth. He said that he had no right to
go and let her think he was worthy Of an
honest girls regard, when he knew he
was not. Or, at least, not yet; when he
was out of this, he trusted he would be
then. he feared what might happen
meanwhile, feared that more than any
thing now. He prayed God she might not
change.
The summer heats caHec on. Bren grew
thin and white. but he kept his health
yet. But Traveller grew afraid He came
in one August day, hot and tired, and out
of sorts. Something had fretted him.
Bred was plodding away at his books,
having an interval of few minutes be-
tween sales. His pale face fred Traveller.
Course it, Bren" he broke out. How
long are you going to keep up this in
fernal grind? say it's got to stop. I
won't have it in my place. I swear l
won't"
Bren looked up with winter face.
Let me be, Charley" he answered,
doggedly. "Tm all right, tell you II
you let me alone, I'll be done with this
two weeks from Saturday night"
And Traveller turned away and found
fault with everything, stormed at the
men, slammed things right and left; and
finally came back and pulled Bren
the place, and not to show his face
again that day. Bren knew better than
excite his friends stormy temper; he
went of and caught boat bound up the
river; landed and lay down under an oak
on the,river bank. and slept on the grass
all the hot afternoon, like tired child.
4 Traveller sat down at the desk when Bren
/ was gone, and worked away till he had
/ tho books square to date, never speaking
word the whole afternoon, and no one
daring to speak to him. Then he got up
and closed the ledger and went home to
tea, whistling Listen to the Mocking
Bird"
Those last weeks of that summer were
hot and dry. Bren got little sleep nights;
tho baked brick walls never cooled, night
or day. Ones ordinary round became
burden; Bren's double stint grew day by
day !. load heavier and harder to carry
Toward the last he staggered under it a
good deal. But he bore up stoutly Often
be would have to lie back and shut his
eyes, for blindness and dizziness that
came swarming into his eyes and brain.
But he would shake his head clear, like q
half drowned diver, and go at it again,
game as terrier. It was not over wise
of Bren; but he never could bear to wait.
There was q kind of grim joy in the very
ardor of the fight. He felt that the end
was worth it all, worth anything, if he
could hold out And he felt that the
satisfaction of victory would be keen in
proportion to the pluck and patience
spent. But those hot weeks told upon
him, day by day, and steadily pulled him
down. If it had not been for Sundays
do not believe he would have pulled
through. l am afraid our young friend
was not over regular that summer in his
attendance upon public worship.
Well. the longest season comes soon
enough TO an end. The end of August
was now within two days and flights. 1t
was Saturday evening, the 2ath. Bren
was writing weakly at his des!t, his face
and hands thin and tired looking enough.
Traveller came in and sat down by him;
there was no one else in the place. He
waited little while; then he got up, took
the pen out of Bren's hand, laid the blot
ter between the leaves and closed the
book.
"Bren." he said quietly, cts two
weeks from Saturday night"
81 know it, Charley"
Traveller counted out Bren's double pay
and laid it on the desk.
"It's the last time, Bren."
Bren stood up at that, his thin face all
flushed. Shake hands on that, )" he says.
The last time. Charley; the last time
while live, SO help me GodI'
He took roll of money from an inside
pocket. He spread it out and added part
of what lay on the desk. He ran quickly
over the bills: $lSS. 0S-principal and
interest of the unchanged bill, for four
months, at per cent. per annum. He
took up what was left and held it up to
Traveller.
Charley" he said, 1--WE been through
the fire and come out scorched. There's
all the money l own in the world-nine
dollars and thirty cents"
He told him the whole story; he showed
him the bill and the balance account, and
the lying entry on the cash. His cheek
flushed hot as he pointed out the lying
figures, and a bitter dimness came into his
eyes, Traveller looked over Bren's
shoulder. silent and stern. Bren drew his
hand furtively across his eyes and looked
round at his friend with deprecating
face.
Don't be hard on me, Charley. 1t was
a - hard place. And it was me it hurt"
''Bren," he answered. his face and voice
all grave, Il wouldn't have believed j. of
you. I'm sorry it has happened. But
never mind now. 1t must have been a
tight place. And you got your pay; you
found it rough road to travel. 1t amt
for me to Judge you. might have done
worse in your place"
Bren paid the money over to Traveller.
They arranged it between them.
Monday morning he went down to Haffel
fingers. found old Gray and bought a
small bill of goods for the store. Gray"
he said then five months ago you sold
this bill of goods. want you to look it
up"
They were up stairs and there was no
one by. The old man took the bill and I
looked at it and at Bren, putting up one
hand to his head. He sat down and turned !
over his book of sales. He found the I
date; there was no sale entered to Trav- |
eler that day nor the next. he fumbled /
the leaves nervously; then he looked up
with a frightened face. And this was
what you meant?"
That was what I meant"
you said l shouldn't be hurt he /
pleaded
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