Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1896-07-18

81 shouldn't have put it in any such
uncharitable FORM" responded Ludlow,
retectively, "but, since you've men,
toned it, I'll say what's been in my
mind ever since you told me what
brought you to Tregarthen. Hester
Latimer's husband will have to do one
of two things-help fight the family
battles or refuse to have anything to
do with them. The first may cost him
his life, and the last will be very sure
to cost him his happiness. I'm no hand
to NEEDLE, as you know, Hugh, but it's
well enough to consider these things
before it's too late"
That's the pity of it, Tom," replied
Iingbrand, quietly. SIN afraid it's
too late now. | realized two things
r"etN-' clearly last nigl't--one was that
life without Hester wouldn't be worth
living, and the other was that I'd rather
die than have her find me out for what
am"
That's putting it rather harshly;
| you haven't any good reason for think
ing that you are"
"a coward-say it, Tom; / ought to
| be able to bear the truth. and that is
| the truth. I know it; I've known it
all along, only I've been trying to make
myself believe it wasn't so. That's
what was at the bottom of all those
little things you remember in the uni
,ersity days; you don't know how
despise myself when 1 think of it all"
mo, l don't remember anything but
what l said IL moment ago-that you
were always peaceable sort of fellow"
That isn't it; it's one thing to be
peaceable from principle, and quite an
other to be restrained by wholesome
fear of consequences. It's always been
the latter with me. I can look back
over my life and see how I've been con-
tinually lodging. When was little
fellow, the fear of whipping was the
strongest incentive to good behavior
and the same argument has held good
ever since. You know that, Tom, if
you'd only admit it,
"No, don't know anything of
the kind" protested Ludlow.
"Well, it's true. You remember that
affair with Turnbull in the last year
when he went out of his way to insult
me. You took occasion to praise my
self-control, but want to tell you now
that it was the 1nerest sham; / was
afraid to resent it, and that's the
truth"
"Nonsense!" retorted Ludlow; "you
did just right not to demean yourself
by fighting with cub of an under
! graduate"
I'm not arguing about that-it's the
motive; it was cowardice, pure and
simple; there's no other name for it.
What are you laughing at?"
Its amusing to hear you Witty your
self. But seriously, Hugh, this is a
crisis that's got to be met. / take your
word FOR it that you're properly in love
with Hester Latimer; if she does you
the honor to return your affection
Which, take it, is not yet foregone
conclusion-why, you're a lucky fel
low, and you should be thankful enough
to fight her battles, and those of hel
father and brother if need be. 1t may
not require such a phenomenal degree
of physical courage, but it'll ask for
some of the moral variety; and there's
always wide possibility that it'll de.
mand both in heroic proportions. II
/ we're in your place should fight the
battle beforehand; then, if you find
you're not going to be up to it, the hon
orable thing is to pull out while the
girl is. yet fancy free. That's pretty
straight talk; but you know me of old
and you have invited frankness."
They were nearing the furnace yard
and Ringbrand did not reply until they
reached the gate; then he grasped Lud
lows hand and pressed it warmly
''You're good friend, Tom. I'll think
it over and try to do as you advise
Only if I can't bring myself up to the
mark, you mustn't be surprised if
should drop out unexpectedly. Idon't
believe could face you or Mrs. Ludlow
after that"
Thinking it over" asked for solitude
and quiet surroundings; and after
leaving Ludlow, Ringbrand walked Oh
up the valley, skirting the base of The
mountain until he came to rough
cart road leading toward the summit
He took it because it plunged into the
he paid little attention to direction OF
distance until he found himself before
what appeared to be an abandoned
mine. The mouth of the opening wa!
choked up with broken timbers anC
masses of rock, and on board nailed
to tree growing out of a crevice JUS
, above the tunnel arch he read: me
, Naob Tunnel, T. C. & /. Co." The nam,
{ brought back Ludlow's story of thu
feud and the lawsuit, and he examined
5 the place with awakening interest
From the small cleared space in from
of the working he could see the exten
; of the cove with its shelving sides pitch
ing down toward the yellow fields il
= the center; and, as there was but ON
house in sight in the bowllike depres
sion, he concluded at once that it wa
the home of the Bynums. Turning
i, again to the tunnel, he found that b,
: scrambling over the pile of debris il
the entrance he could reach plac
Y where the height of the excavation
e permitted him to stand upright; ant
g when his eyes became accustomed t.
e the dim half-light, he looked about hin
i with the observant curiosity of on
who sees latent possibilities for tn
= collecting of literary material from tn
,roSt commonDlace sllrroundinps