The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1897-02-26

he stands in the way of such men as
,Fench and Sharpless. That letter you
nave is only a beginning; if they find
out it hasn't driven Kilgrow out of the
country, we may look for harsher meas
ures. Can you see the old man and bring
| him to me to-day?"
INA, Ha,'' objected Duncan; "ye'll no
be able to fash yer brain WI business
| this day. Johnnie Keelgrow's case has
| kept weel enough these sax years, an a
day or SO mair or less Wilma make or
| break him." -
Ihorndyke, rising on his elbow and
| pushing back the dizziness that threat
cned to submerge him. GA single day
may make all the difference between
| success and failure. You must remem-
Der that it's the life or the liberty of
enc poor old man against more money
than you ever saw. If you don't prom
Use to bring Kilgrow here to-day I'll
get up and go to him, sick as am"
Duncan yielded at discretion, secretly
proud of the invalid's pluck. MAX
yersel' easy, Mr.. Thorndyke, an dinna
fash yerseP waur than We need. I'll
Tess auld Johnnie down, gin 1 haze to
tie him neck an heels an lug him. Do
ve just be quiet, moo, an Martha'll
| bring We bit an asup."
Thorndyke sat up to eat the break
fast brought him a little later by Mrs.
Duncan, and he was able in the course
CT the forenoon to dress and go down to
| the sitting-room. Elsie had been re-
preaching herself all the morning for
ler part in the imprudent excursion of
ne day before, and when the invalid
| came down she installed herself at once
as his nurse and companion. Philip was
made comfortable upon the lounge, and
when he was tucked in with rugs and
propped to the exact angle of restful
ease with pillows the girl ransacked the
| ancient bookcase for something to read
to him. Philip saw and protested.
you mustn't waste your time cod
ding e,'%he said; ''just bring your
work and sit here where I can see you
I'm not half as sick as I might be, and
you start in humoring me now there's
no telling what you'll have to endure
alter on
She brought her sewing and sat down
beside the lounge. 81 don't believe
you'd be very hard to manage"
That's because you don't know me;
my mother could tell you how exacting
| can be, though say it's chiefly her
fault for not letting me shift for N.Y.
self"
Elsie held her peace for moment
and then asked: Does your mother
know what you told me yesterday?''
About my health? No."
Don't you think it was cruel not to
tell her?"
NO. Why should I add months of
suspense to sorrow that will be long
enough and bitter enough at the best"
"She won't look at it that way; and
II the sorrow comes it will be all the
harder to bear for not having known.
And that's at least one good reason why
you shouldn't give up; you know you
said you hadn't amy yesterday"
Did /? Perhaps 1 should have made
an exception; but I was thinking of
other things just them
Whereupon the "other things" sum-
moned by name, came back to demand
reconsideration. Philip resisted, inter-
posing the inertia of illness between
himself and the nagging of the self-ex-
aiming impulse. It was much pleas
anter to lie back among the pillows
watching Elsie's slzillful fingers pit
the Industrious needle-pleasanter and
more restful. After a time he said.
"You are all very good and kind to me
here"
Elsie looked up quickly. 'Ishouldn't
think you'd say that-after made you
sick dragging you all over the noun
tain"
1T isn't your fault that haven't any
more vitality than transplanted chin
panzee; and, besides, the tramp was my
own proposal"
But / do blame myself. You didn't
know now far it was over to the Pocket,
and did,"