The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1897-02-19
VII
THE LOGIC OF PROPINQUITy

VII.
THE LOGIC OF PROPINQUITY.
When Philip was established in the
Duncan household he wrote to his
mother. 1t was long letter, filled with
testing raillery at the conditions of his
exile, but containing no hint of what
he believed to be the beginning of the
end in the matter of his malady. In
closing he spoke of the Duncans:
'They are both characters, in a way, and
they would interest you if you could know
them. Duncan is typical Scot, upon whom
20 years of exile have left no American
ling mark. His speech is still of the
broadcast, and his cautious habit has written
itself in capital letters all over his homely
face Mrs. Duncan is a person in whose
cheerful smile the blue devils quail ard
beg for another herd of swine. Could APP
preciative eulogy go further? Seriously,
though, they have made me very COM
Portable and snug in painfully neat little
box of a room under the caves; their table
is honelikc and wholesome; and Mrs. Dun
cans hospitality is warm-hearted and cor
dial without being obtrusive. For the rest,
have half a county Of Wild mountain range
at my back upon which to spend the leisure
that overfows the greater number Of my
waking hours, and you may tell DR.. Perevn
that I mean to take his outdoor prescrip-
ton in heroic doses.
SHOW this letter to Helen, if you please,
and tell her I'll write her before long. Oh,
yes; and watch the expression on god
father MorriSSon'S face when you tell him
that he can have few choice suburban lots
in Allacoochee at $200 front foot-at least
that was the price yesterday, though it is
probably more now.
Il suppose 1 ought to write more, but
shan't; the spirit moves me to so and climb
mountain. Take good care of yourself,
and write often, addressing me care of
MIR. Robert Protheroe, Allacoochee.
PHILIP"
In writing this letter Philip had not
intended to omit the mention of Elsie's
name and standing in the Duncan house
hold, but since the thing was done he
did not correct it.
TITS just as WE'LL" he told himself.
IF say anything at all, I'll have to tell
how sweet and lovable she seems to be,
and that might make the mother I'M
easy. I'll wait till I've discovered her
faults"
That was the beginning of weak
ness. When he wrote again, it occurred
to him that his former silence might be
misconstrued if he mentioned her now;
nay, more, before he had been a week
at the farmhouse he began to see that
If he spoke of Elsie in his letters it must
be In terms of praise. In his most self
reliant moods he had always been more
or less dependent upon a. sympathetic
atmosphere; and under the circum-
stances which made him an inmate of
the Duncan home, this dependence be-
came morbid craving. And of pity and
sympathy Mrs. Duncan and Elsie gave
him unstintingly, out of the overfowing
kindness of good hearts.
For few days after his removal from
town, Philip spent much time on the
mountain. Then there came a week of
rainy weather, and by the time the
skies cleared he found it singu9arly easy
TO stay In the house. During the indoor
week he had stumbled upon an occupa-
ton which was both pleasant and dam
gerous. This was the fact, though he
recognized only the pleasure and shut
his eyes to the danger. Elsie's lessons
had stopped at the end of her fathers
requirements, and she was ambitious
and eager to go on. Thorndyke found
this out, and turned pedagogue with the
idea that he would repay kindness with
kindness. The lessons, begun during
the week OF rainy weather, were con-
tnued without interruption, until one
day, when Philip was more languid than
usual, Elsie's conscience awoke with
start.
"Mr. Thorndyke, you're doing
wrongl" she said, looking up in self
reproachful dismay. ssYou haven't
been on the mountain for two weeks!"
Its much pleasanter here" Philip
replied.
But that isn'tit. Didn't your doctor
say you must stay out of doors sand
here I've been keeping you in the house
when every hour of sunshine is pre-
cious"
Don't blame yourself; I stay in be.
cause I like it better. It's WEAKNESS
to the flesh to go tramping about
alone"
Elsie put her book away and took up
her sewing. I'm not going to encour-
age you to stay in, anyway" she said,
with pretty affectation of inflexibil-
ity; land you ought to be ashamed to
call my mountain tiresome. I used to
almost envy your long walks.''
why do you call it your mountain 2"
Because it's been my playmate ever
since l can remember. When I was a
little girl used to sit on that big rock
behind the garden and read dear old
Sir Walter till Imagined could hear
the galloring of the dragons in the
lower valley, and the skirling of the
pipes up By the Pocket. And I've never
quite lost the hope that some day shall
From everywhere come words #
praise for Chamberlain's Cough Rem
edy. "Allow me to congratulate you
on the merits Of your Remedy. II
cured me of chronic bronchitis when
the doctor could do nothing for me. y
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