Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1897-08-04
VIII

III
THE HERMIT OF THE POCKET.
Wait a minute and I'll help YOU"
said Philip. bursting his way through a
tangle OF brierS toward Elsie. " no stood
at the foot Of a miniature elf. the last
in the series guarding the summit
For answer she sprang lightly 10 a
projecting ledge, balanced herself and
darted up the face OF the rock without
appearing TO touch il. There was a
great rhododcndron at the top. and her
laughing face was framed against the
background Of glowing color as she
called down To him:
I'm waiting; shan't | give YOU
hand?"
Philip said no. climbing laboriously
after her. Half way up he slipped and
Slid back TO the bottom: when he tried
again she threw herself down upon the
fiat top OF the rock. grasped his wrists
just as he was losing his hold for the
SECOND time and pulled him to a firm
footing beside her. 1t was nothing but
a bit of spontaneous hclpfulncss. but
none the less the incident served to re-
open the question which Philip had lust
dismissed He sat down at her feet TO
recover his breath while she gathered
handful of the rhododcndrons.
Did IL tire you?" She asked.
NO. not very much. wasn't think
lingo that. was trying TO bring myself
TO the point Of telling you something
that you ought to know"
rs it about yourseIf?"
Yes"
She sat down beside him 10 arrange
the flowers. 81 am listening" she said.
cEcouraginglv
The opportunity had come, but
Thorudykc trifed with IT, DO YOU
know why came TO Alabama - ne be
gan.
why. yes: it was on account of your
health, wasn't it?"
1T was; but did YOU know that my
case is quite hopeless?"
Il knew you thought il so"
II still think so-the doctor as good
as told me it. was; and vet. do Won
know. that just now ] feel that under
some circumstances I might win my
way back 10 health and strength
again."
hats the way YOU ought 10 feel all
the time; its more than half the battle"
Thorndykc remembered Prothcroc's
words and wondered if ne had repeated
them 10 Elsie 81 suppose / should. but
! can't. II was just as Won lifted me
over the edge Of the rock. IN seemed ..
II you gave me a new hold upon life ont
Of your abundance. Queer. wasn't it,
This was not at all what hc had begun
to say, but the words chose themselves.
It's astonishing what n retrospective
field the mind viii cover at pinch.
isn't IL? Now. in that half second while
YOU were helping me ] got % tcIc-cupf,
glimpse Of my whole life. and it's u'-
ways hceu the same way some one hn.
pulled me up over the hard places before
| could even try 90 do for myself And
it's taken the color ont Of everything.
there has never been anything lcf
worth living and fighting FOR. II Their,
had been might bc able 90 make some
show Of caistouco now"
''I'm afraid don't quite understand
YOU she said. ~ Thought ever, body
had something 10 live for"
II presume most people have. and iu
my own cas-" the uucharItibIr might -a,
something about sour grapes That
,,pt1 limos. Z ,..,,ll,... t.-.,,
much ,I,,.,, /, al ,I.,..,.
som q, s.,,,,,,.. I,,. IN .
death r.,,,..,l t,so,...,,r,I ~. t...,
fl, r. .,,g. iii I,...,.. .......I ..i
moro ur,I..i,.,f,I.. ,l,.,, &C.,,
She r,s. aud r,.,,,..y ,i., t....,
rh1dodeudrous u her belt "D9 you
son Observation-Disclosures W,uIIn.t,....