The Holly chieftain., 1898-01-14

OF the deed, to go back to the events
which had Immediately preceded that
piece of good fortune. He had Helen's
letter in his pocket, and he read 1t again
in the thickening twilight. 1t was a
good letter, after all, he admitted; sem
sible and practical, and showing forth
in every line the nobility and true
heartcdness of the writer. None the
less. she should have known-she would
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-abnegutioE
that could be crowded into 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 he
glad enough to be frce-oh, that, OF
course; but he might have been US
frank and informal with her as she
had right to expect him to be-as
their long friendship and engagement
demanded. And just here 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 IN engagement which.
Ind 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 rclcnse 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
the world who could lead him out of
himself into sphere of usefulness and
accomplishment? 1t was by no means
rs clear and well-defned as 1t had APP
peared to be on that day when he had
sat up among the pillows and fancied
himself inspired. Nevertheless, MS 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
Jnosphere OF introspection into tempo
| rary oblivion of action. 1t was but q
step across to the railway, and he was
tired enough to postpone taking it un-
til it became 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 mp
preaching train foated up the valley
on the evening breeze. Had he known
that Glenco was . 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 ngain in answer TO the
engineers call for signals. After that
It was too late; there was a rush and q
roar, n discordant changing of the en-
gine bell mingled with the Kissing OF
steam, and before he could cross the
street the train had thundered 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 PhiliE
| had debated with himself the neces
sity for hurrying back to Allncoochee
| that night The small hotel was clean;
the supper had been of the kind which
prophesies wholesome breakfast;
and he was weary enough to call it Il
days work and 60 to bed. None the
less, when he realized thut his last
chance for reaching Allacoochee hnf
| faded into distant roar and two rec
eyes staring back at him down the
long stretch of straigb" track
north OF Glenco, he was inn
inediately possessed with an inn
Fortunate devil of impatience. As q
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 .Johannisbcrg;
but 1t was = part Of his plan that he
should reach Allacoochee mt once. and
60 he must. II he had to walk. Sc
much he said to the hotelkeeper. who
was ut a loss to understand the impa-
aience Of hi: guest A man might
walk, he said; It was only ten miles
And then. again. man might ride. II SC
be he were willing TO pay for a horse
Philip caught at the alternative nnd Of
fered to pay literally. The horse was
found, md after mapy minute direc.
tions about the road. which were quail.
fed, repeated and amended until they
were hopslesssly obscure, Thorndykt
rode AWAY in the darkness.
fro BE coNTrNuEDJ