The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1898-03-04

any InlHR' DuC IL uOeSn seem DeceS-
sary; life isn't so much question of
motives as of deeds: it isn't so much
what one thinks as what one does. And
father says one does what his ancestors
did"
"In that case I ought to be brave
man." said Ringbrand, smiling; my
forefathers were Scottish clansmen,
and they haven't left a record of many
other virtues"
'Is your name Scotch?"
"Yes; tradition has it that our an
cestors were the heralds of the clan,
and that the name comes from their
custom of whirling lighted brand in
Il circle as a signal for the gathering of
the hosts"
How swcetly romantic! 1t sounds
like bit out of dear old Sir Walter.
should always believe that, whether it
is true or not"
Ringbrand laughed shortly "You
have a true woman's admiration for
valorous deeds, haven't you? peace
able man finds himself rather out of the
running"
She looked up in surprise at the cyn
ical outburst. 81 think that's little
unkind," she said, quietly; but if you
will insist upon throwing down the
challenge" she paused and trimmed off
the last remaining petals of the rose.
II don't begin to understand how any
true woman could respect man who
isn't brave; I'm sure it wouldn't be pos
sible for me, if for no other reason than
that am my fathers daughter There
has never been a coward among the
Latimers since the day when the good
old bishop went to the stake"
He had known well enough what she
would say, but the verbal confirmation
OF his conviction came to him like the
sentence death to criminal who has
seen proved guilty. He rose and walked
the length of the veranda, coming back
to lean against the railing opposite her.
siIou &c sab! L! ,ars thing. Miss Ees;c:. ii
he began, land hope you'll forgive me
for having provoked it. Iwished to say
something entirely different-to tell
you something of myself"
They both looked around at the sound
of horses hoofs on the gravel of the
avenue, and saw the colonel and his son
riding toward the house. Hester rose
and waited for him to finish. Its of
no consequence" he went on, ''or, at
least, you wouldn't think so now. Will
you tell me good-by, Miss Latimer?"
She suffered him to take her hand,
wondering little at his abruptness.
''Surely you are not going so early?"
she said.
"Yes, think I'd BETTER
But we shall see you again soon,
shan't we?" she asked.
He was saved from replying by the
entrance of the colonel, who protested
warmly against his early departure,
adding: "Cyan't you stop awhile long
er, and then take one of the hawsses to
ride DOWN."
"No, thank you, colonel; think I'd
better be going; and I'll enjoy the
walk. Good night"
The flush of the summer sunset was
still in the western sky when he reached
the end of the avenue. 81 can't go
down there and meet Tom and his
wife," he mused; "Helen would drive
me crazy with questions that l can't
answer tonight. I'll go the other way
and walk till they've gone to bed"
He turned out of the avenue and took
the road leading to the head of Nc
Nabb's cove, sauntering slowly along
and going over the events of the past
few weeks for the hundredth time.
Its no use arguing the thing" he
muttered, mot the least in the world.
l can't change my nature, and she
would despise me if she knew what
miserable craven l am; don't believe
could bear that; and yet it's harder
than death to leave her now. l know
| could make her love mel saw it in
her eyes tonight and l should have
made wicked fool of myself in another
minute if the colonel hadn't come.
Hello! who's that?"
He turned at the sound of gallop-
ing horse behind him and waited until
Henry Latimer refined up beside the
footpath. The colonel's son glanced
quickly around into the gathering dusk,
and then leaned over and handed re-
volver to Ringbrand. Father saw you
turn up this-a-way," he explained, ''and
he says you'd better tote that. You
mightn't need it in a hundred years,
but if you did you'd need it right
much"
Ringbrand took the weapon awk-
wardly as a man handles unfamiliar
tools. "I'll carry it because you were
kind enough to bring it, but l doubt
if I'd have the dexterity to make use
of it; however, imagine there's not
likely to be any occasion. Please thank
your father for me-"
He dropped the pistol into his pocket
and stood looking after Henry as ths
latter cantered back toward '"The Lau-
rels;" then he resumed his walk and his
gloomy meditations.
Thinking about it afterward, he
never knew just how far he had gone.
He had an indistinct recollection OF
coming out upon the cliff once, oppo-
site the furnace, and of stopping to look
down into the fiery throat of the cupola
lighted by the intermittent flare of
the burning gas. After that he remem-
bered that the road made detours into
the forest and came out upon the cliff
alternately for what seemed distance
of several miles. His last clear i'm
preston was the picture of deep rent
in the mountain lying before him in
the obscurity of fathomless darkness;
he felt rather than saw that he was