The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1897-05-22

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 mere
impulse born of a sick mans fantasies;
the fine gold that he had tossed con-
temptuously into melting-pot heated
blythe remainder of the simile was
drowned in a 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 Elsie's happiness
trembled in the balance. He could at
least save Duncan's daughter, and in
the riot of distracting thoughts this
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 sink still deeper in the mire OF
fickleness, he told himself, bitterly.
By the time Thorndyke had reached
this conclusion, Protheroe 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;
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. ut would be bet
ter on all accounts if should"
AS not infrequently happens when
the probable course of events has been
carefully prefigured, nothing came
about during the evening to verify
Protheroc'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 Protheroe
had to answer, and at length he was
obliged, for very shame's sake, 20 com
; pei himself to be oblivious 10 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 fint
an opportunity for private speech Will
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 ohdurate
He insisted that Sharpless must not b.
given another day; that there had al
: ready been sufficient delay to enable
| the crafty and inscriptions attorne,
to entrench himself behind mountains
D of chicanery. No, he said, there shoulI
, be a settlement that day, or else b
would have the manager and the attor
ney in Jail before night.