Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1888-06-08


the fight of time or the condition Of
the tie. and again silence brOoded.
Mr.. LRndt grew restless. presently.
He stirred about the room. picking
up q school book here and there.
Yawning undisguisedly over an old
almanac he discovered and altogether
betrayed the utmost WEAKNESS of soul.
AS for Miss HanfOrd, she still sat
quite mOtiOnless and very pale, with
an expression of pride and subdued re-
sentiment on her clear-cu features
that Eugene could not fail to see and
understand.
'YOur people will be alarmed about
you. won't they, Miss HanfOrd?" he
inquired at length, standing with his
back to the fire and looking very
bored and very handsome; especial
ly If the wagon goes home empty"
81 think the horse will take the
road to his old home at Meadows.
VILE" she said cOmpOsedly. "He
would hardly know the way to Uncle
Reub's; My people will simply con.
clude that 1 was AFRAID to drive In
this storm and that have staid over
In the village"
"Weil, really, I don't see that there
is any hope OF better weather. I think
1 ought to start along and try TO get
to New Church and send some one to
bring you home"
Walk to New church, she asked
IN astOnlshment. you never could
in such a tempest"
81 could try"
"But there's no need. We are com
Portable enough for the present. The
wind must abate before long; and at
any rate, " she went on with firmness,
81 couldn't stay here alone, Mr.
Landt. I could not allow you tc
leave me helpless IN this deserted
place"
"But. my dear Miss Hanford, the
storm may last till morning, and Ger.
tainly we cOuldn tt couldn't"
He stopped, embarrassed. She was
looking at him with such grave, IN.
conscious eyes that hecOuld not bring
himself to hint at the improperly OF
their remaining together, as viewed
by the outside world, even for the
length of time that had already
passed.
eff you will not let me leave you"
he said, catching at a thought, chow
can / possibly procure assistancef
You can't walk and you don't want
to stay here all night"
That's the merest chance. Miss
HanfOrd. We can't depend on that.
1 think had better make a start. If
1 am blown into the canal, ne added
lightly, cor perish otherwise" 49,
But / have told you will not be
left here alone, " she interrupted quick
ly and Indignantly. at is your fault,
sir, In the first place, that this acci-
dent has happened. If you had al
lowed me to keep the reins we would
probably be safe at home by this
time; instead of which"
She threw out her hands with ges-
ture that finished the sentence elo-
Quently enough.
Eugene bit his lip. He blushed an
grily. but spoke with calmness.
May I ask your reason for not
wishing to stay alone?' he asked
ironically, that is, If there can be any
thing like reason connected with such
a whim."
81 have told you that I am utterly
pOWerless, and I am afraid"
"Of ghosts, or perhaps mice! Which
is it?''
Miss Hanford did not answer. She,
too, bit her lip, but it was to check
back her quickly rising tears.
81 am sorry you are so unreasOn-
able, B" he said quietly, $50 childishly
absurd. 1t places us both in a very
ridiculous position"
''And l am sorry you are so ungen-
tlemanly, "she flashed out at him; $50
rude, so unbeardbly mpertinent-but
1 could expect no better! Nothing
good could come from any one who
bears your nameP'
She ended in q passion of tears
q - L.. q
at her with a sort OF startled, shock
ed expression. 1t was as if her deli
cate hand had struck him in the face
and he was pOwerless to return the
blow. He drew % deep breath and
walked away, after a moment. and
sat down as far from her as possible,
ms face averted his head leaning on
his hand.
Marian continued to sob con vul-
sively. All the wrongs and sorrows
of her ia theirs life came surglng back
to her, an overwhelming tide; the
fiood-gates OF her heart seemed burst
ing asunder before the pent-up bit
terness of years. She was struggling
with all her might to regain Calmness
but the very effort seemed to increase
the violence of her emotion. As for
Eugene-strOng. hurt, Wretched as
he was-he only lOnged. with a strong
mans compassion, to sOOth and
comfort his frank little enemy who
had so bitterly spoken her mind.
Eugene awoke with a SILVER; the
lamp had burned out, the fire was
almost dead, and-what was thisi
/ Beyond the window panes clear moon
light and a cloudIess skyl Miss Han
ford was still asleep in her chair, as
she had been for some time before
Eugene himself succumbed. The
wind had gone down, and now Their,
was nothing to prevent him taking
the road to New Church except