The Holly chieftain., 1898-01-28

Ac s7Ar IN the hou0e OF his
friends? or would he be! expected to
heip his rival in the fight With the com
pany? How would Elsie receive him
after his late transgressidh? How could
he endure to meet her III the presence
OF the man she loved?
They were troublesoAe questions,
but the engineers perpkxities were as
serenity itself compased with the
tumult OF conflicting emotions which
had slain the peace Of mind Of his COM
panion. Before he had read three lines
OF Helen's letter, Thorndyke wa. sink
ing into the neither depths of self-sbase-
ment; and when he had finished IL he
ieit that It would be-a comfort il he
could get down into the road and strcw
dust upon his head. This was the love
he had put aside for the sake of a nero
impdise born of sick mans fantasies:
the hne gold that he had tossed con-
temptuously into melting-pot heated
blythe remainder of the simile was
drowned in submerging wave of self
contempt. And now, at this present
moment, when he was cursing his reck-
less Inconsistency, and wishing from the
bottom Of his heart that he had had the
decency TO die quietly in the odor of
good faith, she had his letter and she
had learned at hisown hands upon what
broken reed her love had been leaning.
After the storm came the calm Of
desperation. He had wrecked Helen's
life and his own. and Elsie's happiness
trembled in the balance. He could at
least save Duncan's daughter, and In
the riot OF distracting thoughts this
was the only one that offered a grain Of
comfort. He would expiate his folly
by devoting himself, body and soul, to
the task of making Elsie as happy as
she deserved to be. And he would
speak to her as soon rs he could find
the opportunity-before he had the
time to sink still deeper in the mire of
fickleness. he told himself, bitterly.
BY the time Thorndyke had reached
this conclusion, Protheroe was leading
the horse down the trail on the Little
Chiwassee side Of the mountain, and an
hour after dark the small procession
stopped at Duncan's gate.
you're heavier than you used to be; /;
l don't think you're going to die Of
consumption" said Protheroe, reinem-
bering another time when he had
helped Philip dismount at the farmers
gate.
NO; more's the pity" rejoined
Philip, ungraciously. at would be bet
ter on oil accounts il should"
As not infrequently happens when
the probable course Of events has been
carefully prcfgured, nothing came
ubout during the evening to verify
Protheroc's fears or to add to Thorn
dykes misery. They weresall unfeign-
edly glad to welcome both of the wan
derers; and while Mrs. Duncan was
principally concerned in doctoring
Philips ankle, Elsie tried to induce the
young engineer to lay aside the shroud
of reserve which he copceived to be the
proper pcnitential garment for the oc-
casion. How had he found Mr.. Thorn
dyke? Had he ridden far? How had
they ever managed to get down the
mountain with the horse? Weren't
they both dreadfully hungry? These
und many more questions Protheroe
had to answer, and at length he was
obliged. for very shame's sake, 20 com
pei himself to be obliyioua to that
which Elsie was 30 evidently bent upon
ignoring.
And neither that night nor the next
morning before they left for Allacoo-
chez did either of the young men find
un opportunity for private speech with
the girl; though Thorndyke abused
himself, as was his won't, for not having
made one, and Protheroe went away
leaden-hearted because he had been de-
MED the privilege of confession and abb
solution.
AS to the necessity for going, Thorn.
dyke was peremptory and obdurate
He insisted that Sharpless must not be
given another day; that there had al.
ready been sufficient delay to enable
the crafty and unscrupulous attorney
to entrench himself behind mountains
Of chicanery. No, he said, there should
he settlement that day. ,or else he
would hive the manager; and the attor.
ney in Jail before night.
II wouldna be too preccese aboot
the exact sum, Master Thorn
dyke was Duncnn's parting injunc-
tion. "Feefty thousand dollars is a
fearful deal o. money to ding cot at ane
clatter."
"I've been thinking that over since
we spoke of it," rejoined Philip, "and
I've changed my mind. They'll pay q
hundred Thousand, or go to jail"
rrotheroe laughed heartily at Dun
cans dumb show Of amazement when
they were out OF hearing. II hope
you'll win he said. "Do you wnnt me
to 60 with your
mo; fancy can manage them bet
ter alone; but I'm much obliged. I'd
BE- glad to have you with me afterward,
though. imagine sharplcss will be III
nn assassinating mood II 1 do win"
xviii
A BATTLE ROYAL