The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1897-04-16
XIX.
CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION.

XIX.
CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION.
Protheroe tried to make himself be
Philip to persuade him to go back t
Duncan's after the recording Of tn
mortgage. He argued that it would b
better on all accounts IL he should dro
quietly out Of the small melOdram
in which he had at the first. figure
only as n upernumcrary. The resolu
ton hung in the balance while he wal
ed at the courthouse for Tborndyle
and it was the thought that he stii
owed Elsie some indefinite debt of apol
ogy and explanation that finally turne
The scale in the direction of Philips urg
ings. On the way up the valley he trie'
to reconstruct his dismembered idea
to the end that he might be able to wit
ness Philips triumph with some out
ward show Of equanimity; and whel
they reached the farmhouse he foun;
this easier than he had anticipate; i
While Thorndykc was deselvedI-
the hero Of the day, the r.
joic;ng in the Duncan household w.
sincere enough to be infectious; a.
before he knew it, Protheroe was e.
tolling Philips courage and perscvc:
ancc quite as honestly as any Of til
others.
When the excitement had little SUI
sided. Philip asked how Kilgrow ccu;.
h1oft I, al
climb the mountain himself, but h..
wife objected.
eth just be flynn in the face O. Prov
idencc, wi your rheumat;cs, Jam c
and thatll no do, whatever" she sa i
and when PrOthcroe offered to 60, {;
fresh difficulty arose.
"Ye wouldna find auld Johnnie in /;
aaanth o Sundays, Robbie, lad. Din:
yc ken he's hid ava frae Sharplcss a
His gang?"
Tleo Elsie came to the rescue,
hnaesn demurred again. "I'm no t.
hf<s TO Int We 60, bairnie; the L
cry knows how nanyo Shal plecs' c.
threats ye might be fallin' in wiz"
All Of which pointed to an obviou
s~sslusion. Before Protheroe couI
fnally determine whether to be glasI o
'srry, he found himself helprg Els 2
up the path on Johns mountain. W
the unlimited opportunity for fir
speech his confession stuck fast in h
throat. At first Elsie was too ioy !,
so man in his sober senses coulI ,c,:
ais cause before judge whose chs:
tent happiness overflowed al the g
,roachcs TO seriousness. Ard eff
ward. when his taciturnity had a. n
encd ElSic's enthusiasm, TIC 4 .fiouI.
vera increased rather than Gilnil. 's..c:
After s. tine they stood together II --
the brink Of the Pocket, and Prot,er.
realized that it was then or never;
few minutes they would be with Il.
old mountaineer.
wait minute, please" he sa d,
Elsie was about to lead the way to Tao
path down the cliff.
She stopped obediently, and the fea,
that delay would bring more irresol,
ton made him go on quickly: 81 wa.
to tell you low sorry 1 am for what
did the other day; know it was incy
cusable. but have done what l cou!,.
to atone for it,
She was standing at the verge Of tbs
cliff. Gin ng to small tree grown,
out OF cgcyice in the rock, and loolsins
down into the pillows of foliage be-
low.
What have you done?" she asked.
1T isn't much, know; but kept
my promise-I brought him back to
YOU"
'AEr. Thorndyke, you mean?"
"Yes."
I'm sure I'm much obliged; it wa.
awfully good of you"
She turned still farther from him.
and he made an involuntary step to-