The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1896-06-19

AN uSPRE,fEp1rArEp DEPARTURE.

AN UNPRECEDENTED DEPARTURE.
Those who ought to know most about
such matters pointout the mutability OF
things terrestrial by showing that the
change in position of a single grain oil
sand may determine the course of q
mighty river, or that chance raindrop
trickling down the face of cliff may
mark the line of erosion which shall
eventually cut the mountain in twain.
If these illustrations prove the subjec-
ton of the elements to the universal
rule of change, examples are not want
ing to show that the same law governs
with equal authority in the domain OF
human affairs.
Ringbrand went downstairs the next
morning fully determined to carry out
his programme of the previous evening.
and he told Ludlow at the breakfast
table that he would spend the forenoon
at the furnace with him. AS they were
leaving the house together the colonel
overlook them in his buggy and invited
Ringbrand to go with him on a drive
across the valley to look at horse
which was for sale, promising to get
him back to the company's Office before
noon. There was no good reason for re-
fusing, and the colonel was Hospitality
insistent; Ludlow added his word, and
the upshot of the matter was that the
superintendent went to his Office alone,
while his guest departed upon an ex-
cursion which was to demonstrate anew
the futility of human plans and pur
poses.
Making due allowance for the fact
that Ringbrand was upon the eve OF
taking a step which involved the renun-
citation of the woman he loved, he was
less uncompanionable than he might
have been. Their route took them over
the wooded knobs in the main valley land
each rise in the road brought out new
beauties of the landscape. At the tor
of the highest of the hills the colonel
stopped and pointed out the winding
course of the Harmony river, its bends
and reaches etched among the fields in
{, sinuous pathway of silver mist, ruff1eG
by the sun into f1eecy waves of transl'l-
cent pearl. In the middle distance, and
about halfway from Tregathen to the
river, a group of Lombardy poplars
crowned one of the knobs overlooking
the valley to the. southwark, and the
colonel indicated the small hill with a
comprehensive gesture which included
the cultivated fields surrounding it
"That's the Manor farm" he said, land
the old square house stood in thai
among the poplah's. Ny father raised
it in the second yeah after he moved
down from Virginia, and it was q
mighty comfortable old mansion
mighty comfortable sch. If you've
been in any of the old Virginia planta,
ton homes, you'll know about what
sort O. place it was.''
Il have passed through Virginia.
replied Ringbrand, land 1 think know
the type They certainly look comfort
one an idea of stability which is de-
cidedly refreshing in this age of archi,
tectural shams."
"Yes, sch, they do that; strong and
solid, like a man was buildin' for his
child'en and grandchildren. The old
Manor house was built hathaway;
beams and timbers of solid oak, dressed
down with the broadax. 1t was long
time Albumin"
Il don't wonder your father didn't
rebuild it," said Ringbrand, refectively
THE associations would always have
been painful"
The colonel looked surprised: 81
hope. you don't allow that he went uI
OH the mountain for that reason! No.
sch; he had better one Old Doc Rains.
fo'd talked right encouragin' about the
mountain air for my mother-she was
always mighty poly in the valley.
reckon the change did help her some
he added, thoughtfully. but she never
did pick up after that mo'nin' when
they cyar'd father home"
fro BE Continued