The Penn's Grove record., 1893-12-29

pa ssing, to the ignorant humanity
around HIM the life Of an embittered
recluSe.
+
The SHOWS fingered, and the thaws
were long in coming that year, A
stray messenger flom the nearest
postoflice made his way, but with
difficulty, to the settlement Thus Il
letter, addressed to Kendall Trance.
reached its destination a week later
than 1t should have done.
Written by a cousin, a woman land
a young woman it began with a sort
Of cry Of despair at the recent tondi-
tions Of his life, and then eagerly
broke TO him the glad news. "The
good news that has made us all live
again, dear Kendall, and that will
bring you back TO us in honor, back
to the place which IS waiting for you,
and In which we all feel that you
will do great things yeti" A full
confession had finally been made by
the man who, after embezzling funds
belonging to high a civic charge to
which he was committed, had at first
cunnlngly contrived to throw the az
%pearances of guilt on the younger
man associated with him, on his
partner In business, Kendall Trance.
kendall frances reputation was now
washed whittier than ever, and his fell
low citizens in the rigid far Eastern
town, had conferred together to re-
quest his return from voluntary exile,
onl 81 rnnntrA btC, trhnn In ah1YIl
come, with such oyatiuns as the place
had never known. And Lawrence
and | are going to fetch you our
selves, Kendall" Thus the letter
concluded. "We shall find you cat
in your mountain hermitage, and
force you to leave it and to come
back to your rightfui life, with us"
The letter reached Kendall and was
opened by him In the little school
house by the wayside. The scholars
had left, the morning lesson complet-
ed; but, as he slowly raised his head,
crushing the letter in his hand, he
saw that he was not alone. Circas ia
fingered, behind the others, near the
door. The door was open and he
could see the road outside. heavy with
the Spring rains and thaws. And
then the two new figures came with
in his range of vision-a man in a
light topcoat, a pretty woman in
travelling dress, and with such gloves
and boots as he had not seen for two
years.
"Kendal!"
1t was the writer of the letter,
With her brother. She was still young;
she was emotional; she had always,
half-unconsciouslY to herself, held a
place in her heart for this particular
cousin, which he could at any time
have taken possession of, and thus
doing, have taken possession OF the
whole. The tears rushed to her eyes
now and she chung to his shoulder a
little, prettily, as he held her hand.
Her brother meantime wrung Ken
dal's d~lsengaged fingers in a manly
grasp and said simply:
well, its all right, old man l
needn't tell you how glad we are?"
A moment later the three were
walking slowly toward the settle
ment. But Circassia stood by the
schoo;door still and watched the re-
treating figures
4 - y
The last night!
Tho books (Kendal'S sole real COM
panions for two years. were packed,
the boxes stood ready. The lamp.
light fell on the little dismantled
room of the one boarded cottage of
the settlement which he bad made
his home He was leaving it to-mor-
row. He was going back to his right
full place in life" With a sense of
perfect satisfaction in that justice
had heen done him at last? No. He
threw open the window and leaned
out. The spring night was ordor-
Gus and filled with mysterious STIR
rings. And the restlessness OF ma
ture was in the mans blood, like
wise; a deep bitterness for the past
injustice which no reparation could
W pc away. mingled with some other
feel ng Of which he did not are to
analyze the con stituents.
Behind him the lamplight Jared
Up in a sudden gust of wind. The
door had opened, and as he turned he
faced Circassia.
'lf it's true-true you're goln'"-
her eyes swept about the room, with
its litters signs OF preparation, ~
got ter know it-now."
lie came slowly toward her with
out replying,
They were a sayin' It all over the
settlement, that you was-was
agoin'." Her hand went up to the
homespun gown, Us II the light strict
IRE oppressed her, and her eyes were
black in the larNplight "And when
/ see her-her, that lady-yisterday
i lowed she'd take YOU with her"
He saw her breath come fast and
then the passion within her broke
loose,
Il hates her-I hates her. l hates
The likes o her, and the | kes o. the
maj that's with her, her brotherthey
say. hates EN-, and the big town
your agoln' to, I hates 'em all-all;
becau e-because l loves your
Magnl6cenIiy she made her con-
f~esSion, as the savage she was, una.
Dashed and unafraid, with a wild sort
of dignity in the imperious poise of
her beautiful blonde head. She threw
her love in his teeth, not as a sup
plant, but as q who confers a TO al
favor.
"I'loyes youl" she repeated.
"And I-Circassia-my wild noun
tain bird my beautiful savage. Cir
cassia, my girl, i, too, love you!" he
said, then. at last with a long
breath.
mot going with u.s." repeated
Kendall frances pretty Cousin, sit.
ting in her pretty travelling dress tho
following morning In the 'hotel" OF
the village in the valIay dva m lca