The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1897-02-20
VII.
THE LOGIC OF PRoPINoUITY.

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 way, and
they would interest you If you could know
them. Duncan is a typical Scot, upon whom
20 years of exile have left no American
izing 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 and
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 room under the caves; their table
Is homelke and wholesome; and Mrs. Dun
cans hospitality Is warm-hearted and cor
dial without being obtruslve. For the rest
have half county of wild mountain range
at my back upon which to spend the leisure
that overflows the greater number of my
waking hours, and you may tell DR.. Perevin
that mean to take his outdoor prescrip-
ton in heroic doses.
'Show this letter to Helen, IL 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 a few choice suburban lots
In Allacoochee at $20O front foot-at least
that was the price yesterday, though 1t is
probably more now.
II suppose ous..t to write more, but 1
shan't; the spirit moves me to go and climb
a mountain. Take good care Of yourself,
and write often, addressing me care of
Mr.. 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.
Its 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 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 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 overlooking
kindness of good hearts.
Fora few days after his removal from
town, Philip spent much time on the
mountain. Then there came week OF
rainy weather, and by the time the
skies cleared he found it singularly easy
to 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
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
tinued without interruption, until one
day, when Philip was more languid thar
usual, Elsie's conscience awolie with {
start,
"Mr. Thorndyke, you're doing
wrong!" she said, looking up in self
reproachful dismay. You haven
been on the mountain for two weeks!
Its much pleasanter here" Philil
replied.