The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1897-03-26
1'..on tha; Philip could g.se nm


come to him; you'll have to give me
the power of attorney to sign deed for
YOU. Where is the nearest notary out
side of Allacoochee, Mr.. Duncan?
Duncan caressed his stubbly chin and
considered. .Ehere's auld Judge Carry
down at Glenco," he suggested.
"How far is that from here?''
"It's mair than a good saxteen miles
round by the valley pike, but I'm think
in it's no that far across the mountain.
How is that, Johnnie, man?'
81 reckon hit amt more'n ten mile
th'oo the eulch."
Thorndyl<e looked at his watch. "Are
you good for the tramp, Mr.. Duncan?
I'll need witness"
Duncan signified his willingness to
90, but it 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 a leafy tunnel at the bottom OF
thegorge. They stopped at the margi n of
the brook while Thorndyke got drink.
"Your mountain miles are good
measure, Mr.. Kilgrow," he said, TAX
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: "Tm afraid you'll have to trans
late that for me.'
"Ye'll be none the wiser when I do.
Twa 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 scrawin' O. a coos horn
frae the far end O. the second sight.
D. We ken the noo?"
Perfectly" said Philip. II hope
| We'll 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-
ton, 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 Thcrn-
dyke to go to Allacoochee by the even
ing train.
The train was due at eight, and VII k
he was wearing out the second n.rio'i
: of inaction- on the porch Of the avon
where he had eaten supper, PA - D.
! able, for the first time since tie T .,
of the deed, to go back to the ovc;,s.
| which had Immediately preceded thu.
| piece of good fortune. He had I'e,en's
letter IN his pocket, and he read aCa.n
| IN the th'clleniDg twilight. ! gas 4
good letter, after all, he admitted; sen
gibe ard practical, and showing forth
IN every Line the nobility and true
, heartedness Of the writer None the
Incc -1, I'll, L. u i
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 a 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 right to expect him to be-as
their long friendship and engagement
| demanded. And just here a 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 always accuse
him in her heart of having been glad of
the pretext afforded by his loss for
breaking openly an engagement which
| had been long ignored in secret? He
was sure she would, and he checked
himself impatiently when he found
that he was setting the contempt Of
the woman he had asked to release him
above the love of the woman who had
saved his life.
That thought brought back to him
Elsie and the present. Had she really
saved his life? Was it quite beyond
doubt that she was the one woman in
tae world who could lead him out of
imself into sphere Of usefulness and
, accomplishment? 1t was by no means
as clear and well-defined as it had APP
peared to be on that day when he had
sat Up among the pillows and fancied
himself inspired. Nevertheless, as he
had accented the help, he must abide by
The choice of that day-and he would,
come what might.
% matter which way it turned, the
train of reflection led quickly to dis
. n:forting conclusions, and Thorn
re was glad when the sound of dis
ant whistle assured him that he could
resently pass from the depressing at
nosphere of introspection into tempo
~ oblivion of action. 1t was but a
g across to the railway, and he was
Cd enough to postpone taking It un-