The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1898-01-14

""H euie she Woulo, 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.
mat 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
the world who could lead him out of
himself into sphere of usefulness and
accomplishment? 1t was by no means
as clear and well-defined as it had an
peared to be on that day when he had
sat up among the pillows and fancied
himself inspired. Nevertheless. as he
had accepted the help. he must abide by
the choice of that day-and he would,
come what might.
No matter which way it turned, the
train of reflection led quickly to dis
comforting conclusions, and Thorn
| dyke was glad when the sound of dis
'ant whistle assured him that he could
| presently pass from the depressing at
| mosphere OF introspection into tempo
rary oblivion of action. 1t was but a
step across to the railway. and he was
tired enough to postpone taking it I'M
I'll 1T became a necessity. The whistle
sounded again. and he sat lazily watch
ing the eye of yellow light staring
southwark from the signal lamp over
the station, while the rumble of the ap-
preaching train floated up the valley
! on the evening breeze. Had he known
that Glenco was a flag station for the
night train. and that he was the only
passenger, he would have bestirred him
self when the lamp flashed red and then
back to yellow again in answer TO the
engineers call for signals. After that
it was too late: there was a rush and
roar, a discordant changing of the en-
CINE bell mingled with the kissing of
steam. and before he could cross the
street the train had Numbered past
without stopping.
Circumstances, and the power to
pick and choose among the possibili-
ties, have much to do with ones peace
of mind. Half an hour earlier Philip
had debated with himself the neces-
sity for hurrying back to Allacoochee
that night. The small hotel was clean:
tie supper had been of the kind which
prophesies wholesome breakfast;
and ne was weary enough to call it a
days work and go to bed. None the
less, when he realized that his last
chance for reaching Allacoochee had
faded into a distant roar and two red
eyes staring back at him down the
long stretch of straight track
north of Glenco, he was i'm
mediately possessed with an i'm
Fortunate devil of Impotence. AS a
matter of fact, since there was an early
train in the morning, it could make lit
tie difference whether he slept at Glen
co or at his room at the Johannesburg;
but it was a j. It of his plan that he
should reach AlfSoochee at once. and
go he must, if he had to walk. So
much he said to the hotelkeeper, who
was at a loss to understand the impa-
thence of his guest. A man might
walk, he said; it was only ten miles.
And then, again, a man might ride, if SO
be he were willing to pay for horse.
Philip caught at the alternative and Of
fered to pay literally. The horse was
found, and after many minute direc-
tions about the road, which were quail
fed, repeated and amended until they
were hopelesssly obscure, Thorndyke
rode away in the darkness.
| [ro BE Continued