The Hope pioneer., 1897-09-30

the affair be ended when he had seen
lhorndyke safe in the house of his
trends? or would he be expected TO
help his rival in the fight with the COM
Pany? How would Elsie receive him
a1ter his late transgression? How could
nc endure to meet her in the presence
OF the man she loved?
They were troublesome questions.
put the engineers perplexities were as
serenity itself compared with the
tumult of conflicting emotions which
had slain the peace of mind of his COM
panion. Before he had read three lines
OF Helen's letter, Thorndyke was sink
ing into the neither depths of self-abase-
ment; and when he had finished it he
felt that it would be comfort if he
could get down into the road and strew
DUST upon his head. This was the love
he had put aside for the sake of a mere
impulse born of sick mans fantasies:
the fine gold that he had tossed con-
temptuously into a melting-pot heated
by-the remainder of the simile was
drowned in submerging wave of self
contempt. And now, at this present
moment, when he was cursing his reck-
less Inconsistency, and wishing from the
bottom of his heart that he had had the
decency to die quietly in the odor of
good faith, she had his letter and she
had learned at his own hands upon what
broken reed her love had been leaning,
After the storm came the calm of
desperation. He had wrecked Helen's
life and his own, and Else's happiness
trembled in the, balance. He could at
least save Duncan's daughter, and in
the riot of distracting thoughts this
was the only one that offered a grain of
comfort. He would expiate his folly
by devoting himself, body and soul, to
the task of making Elsie as happy as
she deserved to be. And he would
speak to her as soon as he could find
the opportunity-before he had the
time to sinl: still deeper in the mire of
tickleness, he told himself bitterly
By the time Thorndykc had reached
this conclusion, Prothcroe was leading
the horse down the trail on the Little
Chiwassee side OF the mountain, and an
hour after dark the small procession
stopped at Duncan's gate.
you're heavier than you used to be;
l don't think you're going to die Of
consumption" said Protheroe, remem-
bering another time when he had
helped Philip dismount at the farmers
gate.
NO; more's the pity" rejoined
Philip, ungraciously. "It would be bet
ter on all accounts if should"
AS not infrequently happens when
the probable course of events has been
carefully prefgured, nothing came
about during the evening to verify
Protheroe's fears or to add to Thorn
dykes misery. They were all unfeign-
edly glad to welcome both of the wan
derers; and while Mrs. Duncan was
principally concerned in doctoring
Philips ankle, Elsie tried to induce the
young engineer to lay aside the shroud
Of reserve which he conceived to be the
proper penitential garment for the oc-
casion. How had he found Mr.. Thorn
dyke? Had he ridden far? How had
they ever managed to get down the
mountain with the horse? Weren't
they both dreadfully hungry? These
and many more questions Protheroc
had to answer, and at length he was
obliged, for very shame's sake, 10 COM
pei himself to be oblivious to that
which Elsie was so evidently bent upon
ignoring.
And neither that night nor the next
morning before they left for Allacoo-
chez did either of the young men find
an opportunity for private speech with
the girl; though Thorndyke abused
himself, as was his wont, for not having
made one, and Protheroe went away
leaden-hearted because he had been de-
MED the privilege of confession and alb
solution.
AS to the necessity for going, Thorn
dyke was peremptory and obdurate.
lie insisted that Sharpless must not be
given another day; that there had al
ready been sufficient delay to enable
the crafty and unscrupulous attorney
10 entrench himself behind mountains
of chicanery. No, he said, there should
be a settlement that day, or else he
would have the manager and the attor-
ney in Jail before night.
II wouldna be too preccese aboot
the exact sum, Master Thorn
dyke" was Duncan's parting in.iunc-
ton. "Feefty thousand dollars is Il
fearful deal O. money to ding cot at ane
clatter."
GIVE been thinking that over since
we spoke of it, rejoined Philip, "and
I've changed my mind. They'll pay q
hundred thousand, or go to Jail"
Protheroe laughed heartily at Dun
cans dumb show of amazement when
they were out of hearing. II hope
you'll win," he said. "Do you want me
to go with you?"
mo; fancy can manage them bet
ter alone; but I'm much obliged. I'd
be glad to have you with me afterward,
though. Imagine Sharpless will be in
an assassinating mood if do VIM"