The Delta independent., 1897-04-07

Ito be co,..im.ea 3. o~r ners tssme., !,


desperation. He had wrecked Helen's
life and his own, and Elsie's happiness
trcmbled in the balance. He could at
least save Duncan's daughter, and in
the riot Of distracting thoughts this
was the only one that offered grain of
comfort. He would expiate his folly
by dcvoting 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 ms 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 prefgured. nothing came
about during the evening to verify
Protheroe'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
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 to that
which Elsie was so evidently bent upon
ignoring.
And neither that night nor the next
morning before they left for Allacoo-
chee did either Of the young men find
an opportunity for private speech with
the girl; though Thorndyke abused
himself. a. 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 ab-
solution.
As TO the necessity for going, Thorn
dyke was peremptory and obdurate.
lie insisted that Sharpless must not be
given another day; that there had al
ready been sufficient delay to enable
the crafty and interruptions attorney
to entrench himself behind mountains
of chicanery. No, he said, there should
lie a settlement that day, or else he
would have the manager and the attor-
ney in Jail before night.
II wouldna be too prcceese aboot
the exact sum, Master Thorn
DYKE" was Duncan's parting injunc-
ton. "Feefty thousand dollars is
fearful deal o. money to ding cot at ane
clatter."
"I've been thinking that over since
we spoke Of IT," rejoined Philip, "and
I've changed my mind. They'll pay a
hundred thousand, or go to jail"
Protheroe laughed heartily at Dun
cans dumb show of amnzement when
they were out Of hearing. II hope
you'll win," he said. do you want me
to 60 with your"
"No; fancy can manage them bet
ter alone; but I'm much obliged. I'd
be glad to have you with me afterward.
though. imagine Sharpless will be in
an ssAassinating mood IL / do win"