The Delta independent., 1897-02-10

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jesting raillery at the conditions of his
exile. but containing NO hint of what
he believed 10 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 II you could know
them. Duncan Is q typical Scot. upon whom
% years Of sxf1e have left no American
ixins mark. HIS speech is still of the
breadest. and hts cautious habit has written
itself in capital letter. all over hts hornely
face. Grs. Duncan Is persca in whcse
cheerful smile the blue devils quail ard
Reg for another herd Of swine. Could ap-
rreciative eulogy go further! eeriousiS.
though. they have made ne very COM
Portable ard snug In a painfully neat little
boz OF . room under the caves; their table
Is kor,elike and wholesome: and Mrs. Dun
cans hospitality is wcrm-hearisd and cor
dial withc Ut being obtrrsive For tie rest.
Gk2vc half a county Of Wild mountain rt nge
at my back upon which to spend the leisure
that over.ows the greater number Of my
waking hours. and you may tell DR.. Perevin
that ! mean to take his outdoor prescrip-
lion In heroic doses
Show this letter to Helen. II you please.
and tell her I'll write her before lorS. Oh.
yes: and watch the expression on god
father Mcrrisscn's face when ycu tell him
that he can have . few choice suburban lots
in AIacoochee ut $40 q front foot-et least
II suppose I ought To write more. but
shan't: the spirit moves me to go and clinih
. mountain. Tsks good care Of yourself.
Mr.. Robert Prothsros. Alacooches.
PHILIP"
In writing this letter Philip had not
intended to omit the mention OF Eisie's
name and standing in the Duncan house
hold. but since the thing was done he
did not correct IL.
''It's just - WELL" he told himself.
IF say anything At all. I'll have to tell
how sweet and lovablo she seems to be.
end that might make the mother un-
cnsy. I'll wait till I've discovered her
fnults."
That was the beginning OF weak
peas. When he wrote again. II occurred
to him that his former silence might be
misconstrucd IL he mentioned her now;
nay. more. before he had been a week
at the farmhouse he began to see that
II he spoke Of Elsie in his letters il must
be in terms Of praise. In his most self
reliant moods he had always been more
or less dependent upon n 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 q week OF
rainy weather. and by the time the
akies cleared he found it singuIarly easy
10 stay In the house. During the indoor
week he had stumbled upon an occupa-
ton which was both pleasant and dan
gerous. This was the fact, though he
recognised only the pleasure and shut
his eyes 70 the danger. Elsie's lessons
had stopped st the end Of her fathers
acqulrenents, and she was ambltioW
and eager to 70 on. Thorndykc found
this out. snd tnsnsd pedagogus with TIE
bdsa thaa - would repay kindness With
kindness. Tbs lsssona. begun during
the week Of rainy weather, were con-
tinued without interruption. until one
day, when Philip was more languid than
usual. Elsis's eseseiencs awoks with .
start.
~Nr. Thorndyke, you're doing
wrongi" she said. looking up in self
rsproachful dismay. "You haven't
been ON the mountain for two weeks!"
'Its much pisasantar here" Philip
replied.
"But that isn't H. Didn't your doctor
say you must stay out Of doors?-and
here I've been keeping you In the house
when every hour OF sunshins u pre-
cious."
.Don't blame yourself; stay in be-
cause I like IL better. It's wearinesi
70 the Aesh 20 20 tranPlng 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 afRectation Of infiexibil-
ity; land you ought TO be aahamed tn
call my mountain tiresome. used "a
almost envy your long walls."
"why do You call II your mountain? =
"Becauss its been my playmate ever
since I can remember. When ! was 9
little girl I used 70 sic on that big rock
behind the garden and read dear old
Sir Walter Till imagined could heas
the galloPin9 Of the dragons In the
lower valley, and the skirling Of the
pipes up by he Pocket. And I've never
quiss Lost tie hope that some day ! shall
meet . bonnie chieftain with his tail
Of clansmen picking his way down
over the stones In the gulcb."
"And yos the daughter Of . Low.
lander. I'm shocksdi Why. the very
frst thing vich Ian vohr would do
would Be 70 harry your fathers farnl
But II you know the mountain 20 well
what's 70 prevent your showing me how
70 become interested in it7 Why cant
you take . SssDp with me this after.
noonT
I'll doot think ought 70 take the
time; motheSn b wanting me 70 helT