Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1896-12-03

so sorry, now that understand.
There's nothing to pardon. unless
it is the brusqueness with which I've
blurted out my reasons fo- getting you
away from the house"
You are not brusque," she said. and
walked on in silence. I could guess
how she was striving to dismiss the
scenes of the evening from her mind. AT
lastshespoke of her aunt, expressing re-
greet that she had left the invalid to seek
her couch unassisted.
Don't worry" said 1. Mrs. CLARK
will be only too happy to take youi
place tonight. Besides, it is probably
just as we'll that Mrs. Loring should moi
have an immediate opportunity to over
whelm you with questions. That
would be bad for both of you. L can't
have you sacrificed, even On her altar"
'Sacrifced?'" she cried. DIR. Nor
ris, you don't realize what my aunt is to
me. She is the best. the kindest wom-
an have ever known. She has treated
me as a daughter-has loved me more
than many daughter is loved. A sac.
rificel There is nothing 1 would no,
gladly do for her.
81 believe you. And my belief is one
of the strongest reasons for advising
y Il
member the promise you gave me-"
She halted for an instant, as if in pro.
test that the pledge had been eXacted
when she did not fully understand its
| meaning, but she did not offer to turn
back. AS we strolled on. I gradually
drew her into talk, and after little she
seemed to have freed herself from the
spell which had been upon her. At the
outskirts of the village we turned to the
right, avoiding the main streets,
walked slowly toward the bank of the
inlet, up which small coasters occasion
ally sailed from the bay. From one OF
the old wooden piers we could make out
the shape of n yawl gliding seward on
the ebbing tide. The voices of two men
on board the boat came to our ears
over the black water, in which glistened
the pin-point reflections of the stars.
81 envy those men drifting along so
easily" said the girl. 1.-THE water al
ways has d fascination for me. Per
haps I would risk even the darkness if
we could change places with them.'
mo doubt we could get another
boat" suggested.
81 fear it is too late" she answered,
with faint laugh, the first I had heard
from her since L watched her start Cd
the ride to BASKERVILLE.
"Confound the clocl1I" I cried. cit is
responsible for half our disappo1nt.
mentS.''
Nevertheless, we get on very poorly
without it,
''All prejudice, and inherited preju.
dice at that
did you ever try to do without one?"
More than try-I've had to- said I,
with vivid recollection of occasions on
which my tinepieces, for sufficient rea-
sons, had been committed to anothcrss
keeping.
'And were you any happier?'
Eat the time? No. But circum-
stances prevented my giving the posi-
| bilities of clockless bliss fair trial
Hunger, you may have heard, bars the
way to minor enjoyments."
''But at least such troubles are all be-
hind you she said. Il have often
thought that man should be better
and stronger for being able to look back
upon privations endured and obstacles
surmounted."
''That is good doctrine said I; "but
practically well, I shouldn't care to
double my advantages of experience"
Let US trust there will be no need for
you to do so,'' she said. "Rut it is really
getting late. Shall we not turn back p
Miss Gray" said I, breaking one of
the pauses 1T our walk as we walked
from the village, IF you are so fond Of
the water, and if your aunt doesn't OBJ
ject, why shouldn't we have boat?
1t could be kept in one Of the creeks
near the house."
Capital" she cried. Glow odd that
we shouldn't have thought of it be.
fore! I should be deIighted.''
And your aunt?"
''She will enjoy it as much as T."
''Then you shall have boat at once"
I promised. I'll arrange for one to-
morrow. a man named Johnson has
just the little craft to please you, be-
lieve, and I'll have it brought around
for inspection"
you are very good,' said she; 'but
I'll not attempt to thank you in adj
vance"
Don't try. If you are satisfied with
the boat, shall be more than repaid
for any trouble in getting it,
ITO BE Continued
Not likely tn Re