The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1891-07-02

? 30 the journey commenced amid mdE-
rimeut and kindhneas, and ovorwrought
as he was, even Royal lost sight for . |
or two of the grim fact that |
through HIM darkness and death had /
Joined hands.
When he had his charges safe In the |
car and felt the train In motion he drew |
. long breath; he vas another step /
nearer the end, at III sveuts estsain /
on him was beginning 10 tell. sp
Phyllis was in the sayest spirits, and |
laughed and chatted merxily. Her face
was closely covered, tho heavy veil |
doubled across her eyes, for which
RoyA knew there must be reasox., bat
forebore to inquire into it just yet, He |
had gathered that the young lady's case
wasfar from hopeless, and the knowledge
that it was 50 brought more relief and
thankfuiness than his position toward
her would seem to warrant. He could
realize the intense importance which I'M
mediate possession of the money must
have had for John Royal-importsnce SO
great that he had been willing TO risk
his life to secure 1t. Il might mean
sight to the eyes as well % food aud raj
ment for the body Of the woman he
loved. It made the conditions of the
will more difdcultof comprehension than
ever, but he forebore to trouble his mind
with that question. Other matters were
more pressing than could be the solution
of an apparently impracticable woman's
vagaries.
e. They would make better time on the
down trip, the conductor informed him;
the grade would help instead of hinder
ing them. ..rl,
Royal, cognizant of the inevitable pain
10 which each revolution of the wheels
brought them more near, set himself to
prepare the minds of the women, in q
measure, as best he could. The girls
cheerfulness smote on hum with sense
Of discord, as though one should en-
counter mirth at deathbed. And yet
to sadden her seemed to him just then
the hardest task he had ever been COM
PEELED to put his hand to. His pity
pulled him both ways-he could not let
the calamity fall on her like . thunder
bolt from clear sky, and still, even to
turn her mind in the direction of the
coming disaster, to his overwrought
nerves appeared like drawing a child
into the already wavering shadow Of a
rock which would presently fall and
crush it. It took all the courage Of
which he was master to follow the lines
laid down for himself.
He was as adroit as it is in the nature
of straightforward man to be. and
there had been nothing to arouse the
suspicion of his companions or make
them doubt his sincerity. To them he
was the master of the situation, the
grand male creature who had just proved
possession Of manhood and puissance to
an unprecedented degree. They heaEk-
ened to him graciously, and treated him
with the subtle suggestion of trust and
| dependence which is spontaneous with
| all womanly women. After little the
talk, insensibly guided by Royal, drifted
10 serious things, and he told them, n
of q strange and pitiful happening, Of
| his meeting on the train the day before
with poor young fellow, i'll unto death
and in sore trouble. He told how he
RoyaD had noticed him fainting in his
seat, and. being q physician, had gone tc
him to do what he could. and then had
discovered that the sick stranger had .
claim on his care. being . brother Mason
He spoke of the interest which this dis
coveEy had aroused, and Of how it ha<
deepened in view of the Others o0urags
and patience, and Of how he had beer
obliged to leave him at last in tn
strange hotel, without friend or kinsmar
near, fighting his battle with the grin
destroyer alone. BE made q little stor.
Of it, and gave it to them as simply Is b
could, hoping to arouse their (iuteres
and sympathy. And they asked quea
tions in hushed voices, and were SOFT.
in q sweet impersond way, As womel
Will be over tales OF sorrow.
"Did you find out his name3" Mrs
Hart inquired.
| Roya. replied in the affirmative. Tha
was the reason he had troubled then
with the story, he explained, thinlini
they might help him, perhaps, since the
must spend the night in the very hote
| where the sick man lay. the name wa
the same as theirs-Royal. He might b
| kineman. Who should say?
"MightT repeated Mrs. Hart, her II
terest all sdame. "Why. Of course he
kinsman; he must be. All tho Royal
are related, and Virginia is fuh OF then
, How very strange, your meeting hil
that way! / wonder 10 which bgaDch
i the family he can possibly belong"
II Phyllis also manifested interest an
concern about this stranger cousin"
; she dubbed him. But her mind appeare