The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1897-04-17
THE MARYVILLE TIMES.


Duncan signified his Willingness TO
go, but 1t was with great difficulty that
they persuaded the old mountaineer to
trust himself within sight of the rail-
way. When he finally yielded, they
took up the line of march to the south
ward, with -Kilgrow leading the way.
After threading the forest of the
plateau for three hours or more, they
began to descend into a deep ravine.
and Philip heard the murmur of run
ming water long before they came in
sight of the swift stream gurgling
through leafy tunnel at the bottom of
thegorge. They stopped at the margin of
the brook while Thorndyke got a drink.
"Your mountain miles are good
measure, Mr.. Kilgrow," he said, talk
ing out his watch again. How much
farther is it?"
The old man lifted his hat and
scratched his head refectively with one
finger. 81 reckon hit mought be bout
two sights an horn-blow f'om yere."
Philip laughed and turned to Dun
can; I'm afraid you'll have to trans
late that for me-"
"Yell be none the wiser when do.
iva sights-that's as far as We can see,
an then as far as We can see beyon'
that; an a. horn blow-that's as far as
we can hear the scrawln' O. coos horn
frae the far end O the second sight.
ID We ken the noo?"
Perfectly" said Philip. 81 hope
well get there before dark"
They did, but it was afternoon when
they came to the end of the third di-
vision of distance and saw the scattered
houses of the little village on the rail-
way. Judge Garry's house was pointed
out by passing teamster, and Philip,
going in for information, found that
the judge was in Allacoochee, but was
expected home at five o'clock They
waited, Duncan with Scotch resigna-
tion, the mountaineer with an indiffer-
ence born of long practice in the art of
doing nothing, and Philip with true
Anglo-Saxon impotence. When the
Judge made his appearance, the bust
ness was quickly dispatched, and Dun
can and Kilgrow started on their re-
turn over the mountain, leaving Thorn
dyke to 90 to Allacoochee by the even
ing train.
The train was due at eight, and while
he was wearing out the second period
of inaction on the porch of the tavern
where he had eaten supper, Philip was
able, for the first time since the finding
of the deed, to go back to the events
which had Immediately preceded that
piece of good fortune. He had Helen's
letter in his pocket, and he read it again
in the thickening twilight. 1t was a
good letter, after all. he admitted; SEN
sible and practical, ard showing forth
in every line the nobility and true
heartedness of the writer. None the
less, she should have known-she would
have known, had she really loved him
that her proposal could be accepted
only on the condition he had imposed
that single sentence of warm affection
from her at such time would have out
weighed all the acts of self-abnegation
that could be crowded into lifetime.
And yet he could not help wishing that
he had not been SO prompt to return
cold formality for kind-hearted COM
mon sense. She would doubtless be
glad enough to be free-oh, that, of
course; but he might have been as
frank and informal with her as she
had a right to expect him to be-as
their long friendship and engagement
demanded. And just here brush from
the nettle of shame stung him. How
could he ever hope that she would at.
tribute any but the basest motive to his
letter when she learned the truth about
Elsie? Would she not alwavs scc.c1