The Holly chieftain., 1898-10-28
H.-CoSriNUEp.
1894. by Mary Halloek Foo,e.l

d}I would ask you to come in, but
II i've my little part, you know-and
Aould hate TO have you hear me say
Faith apologized. She spoke with
feater freedom. in full, low voice
harged with womanly feeling. The
Ptde through the dark woods had
proved to be one of those perilous
nhort cuts to sudden intimacy, for bet
ter or worse, by which the way of ac-
quaintanceship is abridged for the
young and fearless. The life of the
frontier is remarkably productive of
such opportunities, and it seems to be
n question of family and past history
With the high contracting parties,
whether these facile roads lead to the
divorce courts and the newspapers, or
70 those faithful and inconspicuous
comradeships which we all know of.
and seldom read of, in the published
stories of the west; western marriages
being like western mortgages-'t is the
ones that don't pay interest of which
we chiefly hear.
what shall You say ifanybody asks
you questions?" Faith inquired.
"1s ii necessary to say anything?"
8 II have to say things; the moment the
door opens have to be ready with my
lie."
I'VE had, better say the same thing,
hadn't we?" Darcie suggested. what
10 you generally call it when he is
"What?"
"You have some name for it, haven't
tou? Headache, indigestion, cramps?"
S 5Ss "Oh. mercy!" the girl implored
Say again what you said at the cabin.
thought it perfectly imbecile at the
&ime, but suppose it will do as well as
anything"
''He'd been pounding down the noun
tain on a.
mot on "A brute of horse! Every
body knows what Colonel is.''
SCOT himself wet to the skin," Oar
Gle recited. "Ate monstrous supper
too soon after"
ls; "He ate no supper at ali! Don't say
ehings you needn't say, just for the
pleasure of inventing."
$ "Leave out the supper, then. But the
1&npper's the best reason of ALL"
"And this you call little thing!"
fied Faith, tragically.
''Did 1 say little? l meant it was
mmon thing"
Well, men surely are not proud!
Us, then, is the common weakness!"
Almost any weakness is common
th our half of humanity" Darcie al
we'd; but God knows, man may be
by on a fault that's not his own"
''The young men have no faults,
ppose," Faith exclaimed, bitterly.
Charity and forgiveness are for the
Dor, slipshod fathers, too old to be
nred of their weakness!" 1t was her
wounds imperious anguish" that
poke in this unnatural tone.
Darcie answered humbly, constrained
y the pricking of his conscience, and
ot unwilling, perhaps, to draw her at
ention upon himself:
"I know one young man who is in
eed of forgiveness-of yours, if you
puld spare him a little of it. l wish
confess, before i leave you, to a
lult in my position toward yourself
most damaging, fatal inconsistency"
"a fault-toward me? You must be
Feaming! When have you ever seen
e before tonight"
s4Never; and yet did you an uncon-
ious injury before knew of your ex-
tence. am in cruelty equivocal
bsition."
II am not in very nice position my
llf," Faith grieved.
'But it is not your own doing. am
Seaking of acts-my own, on my own
|sponsibility."
"Cannot you get out of this posi-
Dn?"
II shall be out of it by to-morrow's
nstern mail. But want your forgive
ess tonight. The thing sticks in my
cord; don't know what moment it
fght turn up and injure me with you"
II don't think 1t can be very serious"
I'D Faith, "if you can get out of it SO
sily. wish could send all my wor-
es away by to-morrow's eastern mail,
l were sure they would not travel to
ybody l care for
'But my forgiveness?" the penitent
rsisted, in love with confessing to
ch confessor.
'Why, forgive you anything, every
ing. What is there am not bound to
rgive, after tonight"
But do not want it that way. You
Ill not be bound. Let us be more
plicit; suppose I should tell you
hinly that / am not what you think l
n?"
i think you are a gentleman and a
pc friend. Are you not that?" asked
18th.
II hope so, and much more-as much
ore than your friend, as you will
low"
THAT is enough" said Faith, hur-
IDLY. "Yes; enough to thank Heaven
=. after such night as thisl Think of
place where might have been lefti
pw. good night, and more thanks than
pan say!"
But Darcie would not take his dis
ssal. "Must go?" he frankly de-
aired. And have not the dimmest
e how shall ever see you again."
But am always here, if you really
sh to see me-" Faith smiled sedately
the darkness. "It would be strange
we forgot all about you, after what
bn have done for u.s."
THAT is the last thing should wish
ou TO remember me for!" Darcie
burned her gratitude.
swell. ! can't help but thank you,
neither You like it or not. If my fa-
Ter should ask you to dinner, would