Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1899-12-07
XIX.
CONFESSION AND ABSoLUTIoN.
XIX.

CONFESSION AND ABSoLUTIoN.
Protheroe tried to make himself be-
Neve that he should not have allowed
Philip to persuade him to go back to
Duncan's after the recording of the
mortgage. He argued that it would be
better on all accounts if he should drop
quietly out of the small melodrama
in which he had at the first figured
only as supernumerary. The resolu-
ton hung in the balance while he wait
ed At the courthouse for Thorndyke,
and it was the thought that he still
owed Elsie some indefinite debt of apol-
ogy and explanation that finally turned
the scale in the direction of Philips urg
ings. On the way up the valley he tried
to reconstruct his dismembered ideal,
to the end that he might be able to wit
ness Philips triumph with some out
ward show of equanimity; and when
they reached the farmhouse he found
this easier than he had anticipated.
While Thorndyke was deservedly
the hero of the day, the re-
joicing in the Duncan household was
sincere enough to be Infectious; and
before he knew it, Protheroe was ex-
tolling Philips courage and persever-
ance quite as honestly as any of the
Others.
When the excitement had a little sub
sided, Philip asked how Kilgrow could
best be reached. Duncan wanted to
climb the mountain himself, but his
wife objected.
It'll just be flynn in the face O. Prov
idence, wi your rheumatics, Jamie,
and that'll no do, whatever" she said:
and when Protheroe offered to go, Il
fresh difficulty arose.
eye wouldna find auld Johnnie in
month O. Sundays, Robbie, lad. Dinna
ye ken he's hid ava frae Sharpless an
his gang?"
Duncan demurred again. 'I'm no that
free to lat we go, bairnie; the Lord
on'y knows how many O Sharpless' cut
throats we might be fallin' in wiz"
All Of which pointed to an obvious
conclusion. Before Protheroe could
finally determine whether to be glad or
sorry, he found himself helping Elsie
up the path on Johns mountain. With
the unlimited opportunity for free
speech his confession stuck fast in his
throat. At first Elsie was too joyous;
no man in his sober senses could plead
his cause before q judge whose ebul
lent happiness overlooked all the ap.
proaches to seriousness. And after
ward, when his taciturnity had damp
ened Elsie's enthusiasm, the difficulties
were increased rather than diminished.
After a time they stood together upon
the brink of the Pocket, and Protheroe
realized that it was then or never; in
q few minutes they would be with the
old mountaineer.
"Wait minute, please" he said, as
Elsie was about to lead the way to the
path down the cliff.
She stopped obediently, and the fear
that delay would bring more irresolu-
ton made him go on quickly: II want
to ten you how sorry I am for what 1
did the other day; know it was mex
cusable, but have done what 1 could
to atone for it,
She was standing at the verge of the
cliff, clinging to a small tree growing
out OF crevice in the rock, and looking
down into the pillows of foliage be-
low.
''What have you done?" she asked.
cit isn't much, I know; but I kept
my promise-I brought him back to
you"
'Mr. Thorndyke, you mean?"
eyes,"
"I'm sure I'm much obliged; it was
awfully good of you"
She. turned still farther from him,
and he made an involuntary step to-