The Delta independent., 1896-07-15

lightly a few minutes before, and
walked down the road, cursing his
fate. Although he admitted he was n
coward in talking to her as he did
about his wrecked life, yet he knew
now that every word he had spoken
was true. What did the future hold
out to himP Not even the incentive to
live. He found himself walking to-
wards the tent, but, not wishing to
meet Remark in his present frame of
mind, he turned and came out ON the
Ridge road. He was tired and broken,
and resolved to stay in camp until they
arrested him. Then perhaps she might
have some pity on him. Who was the
other man she loved? or had she merely
said that to give finality to her refusal3
In his present mood he pictured the
worst, and imagined her the wife OF
some neighboring farmer - perhaps
even of Stolikcr. These country girls,
he said to himself, never believed
man was worth looking at unless he
owned a farm. lie would save his
money and buy up the whole neigh
borhood; then she would realize what
she had missed. He climbed up on the
fence beside the road. and sat on the
top rail, with his heels resting on
. lower one, so that he might
enjoy his misery without the
fatigue of walking. His vivid
imagination pictured himself as in a
few years time the owner of a large
section of that part of the country, with
mortgages on a good deal of the re-
mainder, including the farm owned by
Margaret's husband. He saw her now
a farmers faded wife coming to him
and begging for further time in which
to pay the seven per cent. due. He
knew he would act magnanimously on
such an occasion and grandly give her
husband all the time he required. Per-
haps then she would realize the mis-
take she had made. Or perhaps fame
rather than riches would be his line.
His name would ring throughout the
land. He might become a great poll
tician and bankrupt Canada with q
rigid tariff law. The unfairness of
making the whole innocent people suf-
fer for the inconsiderate act of one Of
them did not occur to him ut the mo-
ment, for he was humiliated and hurt.
There is no bitterness like that which
assails the man who has been rejected
by the girl he adores-while it lasts.
His eye wandered towards the black
mass of the Howard house. 1t was as
dark as his thoughts. He turned his
head slowly around, and like q bright
star of hope there glimmered up the
road a Pickering light from the Bart
let's parlor window. Although time
had stopped as far as he was concerned,
he was convinced it could not be very
late, or the Bartletts would have gone
to bed. 1t is always difficult to realize
that the greatest of catastrophes are
generally over in few minutes. 1t
seemed an age since he walked so
hopefully away from the tent. AS he
looked at the light the thought struck
him that perhaps Kitty was alone in
the parlor. She at least would not
have treated him so badly as the other
girl; and-and she was pretty, too,
come to think of it. He always did
like a blonde better than n brunette.
A fence rail is not comfortable seat.
It is used in some parts of the country
in such a manner as to impress the sit
ter with the fact of its extreme discom-
fort, and as a gentle hint that his pres-
cnce is not wanted in that immediate
neighborhood. Yates recollccted this
with a smile as he slid off and stumbled
into the ditch by the side of the road.
His mind had been so preoccupied that
he had forgotten about the ditch. AS
he walked along the road towards the
star that guided him, he remembered
he had reclxlessly offered Miss Kitty to
the callous professor. After all. no
one knew about the episode Of a short
time before except himself and Mar
garct, and he felt convinced she was
not a girl to boast of her conquests.
Anyhow. IL didn't matter. man is
surely master of himself.
As he ncared the window he looked
in. People are not particular about
lowering the blinds in the country. He
was rather disappointed TO see Mrs.
Bartlett sitting there knitting, like the
industrious woman she was. Still, IL
was consoling to note that none of the
men folks were present, and that Kit
ty, with her fluffy hair half conccaline
her face, sat reading n book he had
lent to her. He raped at the door,
and il was opened by Mrs Bartlett
with some surprise.
'.For the lands sake, is that you, Mr..
Yates?-
1T is.-
''Come right in. Why, what's the
matter with you? You look as IL you
had lost your best friend. All. see
how it is--Yates started-''you have
run out of provisions, and are very
likely as hungry as a bear"
you've hit IL first time, Mrs Bart
lett dropped around TO see if could
borrow a loaf of bread We don't bake
till tomorrow"
Mrs. Bartlett laughed.
''Nice baking you would do II You
tried IT, I'll get you a loaf in . minute.
Arc you sure one is enough?'
Quite enough, thank You"
The good woman hustled out 10 the
other room for the loaf, and Yates
made good use Of her temporary sb-
sence.
Kitty" he whispered, II want 70