People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1899-08-31

ike OlI OUT OF dear old Sir Walter.
should always believe that, whether il
is true or not"
Ringbrand laughed shortly: "You
have a true woman's admiration for
valorous deeds, haven't you? A peace
able man finds himself rather out of the
running"
She looked up in surprise at the Gym.
zeal outburst. 81 think that's little
ankind," she said, quietly; "but if you
will insist upon tarowing down the
challenge" she paused and trimmed of
the last remaining petals of the rose,
81 don't begin to understand how any
true woman could respect a man who
isn't brave; I'm sure it wouldn't be pos
sible for me, if for 70 other reason than
that am my fathers daughter. There
cas 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
o: his conviction came to him like TIE
sentence death to a criminal who has
been proved guilty. He rose and wa1ket
the length of the veranda, coming bacl
to lean against the railing opposite her
you've said hard thing, Miss HESTER
he began, "and l hope you'll forgive m,
for having provoked it. wished to sa,
something entirely different-to tel
you something of myself"
They both looked around at the sount
OF horses hoofs on the gravel of thu
avenue, and saw the colonel and his sol
riding toward the house. Hester ros,
and waited for him to finish. Its OF
no consequence" he went on, "or. al
least, you wouldn't think so now. vii
you tell me good-by, Miss Latimer?"
She suffered him to take her hand
wondering a little at his abruptness
Surely you are not going so early?'
she said.
\ Yes, l think I'd better"
But we shall see you again soon
Shan 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 tc
ride DOWN."
mo, thank you, colonel; | think TG
better be goiGg; and III enjoy the
walk. Good night"
The flush of the summer sunset wa,
still in the western sky when he reached
the end Of the avenue. 81 can't pc
down there and meet Tom and his
wife" he unused; Helen would drive
me crazy with questions that | 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 tool
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 a
miserable craven l am; l don't believe
l could bear that; and yet it's harder
than death to leave her now. | know
L could make her love me- saw if in
her eyes tonight, and l should have
made wicked fool of myself in another
if the colonel hadn't come.
Hello! who's that?"
He turned at the sound of a gallon.
ing horse behind him and waited until
Henry Latimer refined up beside the
footpath. The colonels son glanced
quickly around into the gatheringdusk.
and then leaned over and handed a 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 wears
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 doubt
if I'd have the dexterity to make use
of 1t; 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 TIL,
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 a deep rent
in the mountain lying before him in
the obScurity of fathomless darkness:
he felt rather than saw that he was
looking into its depths from the verge
Of precipice; and he noticed that the
shadow of q great tree came between
MIN and the stars. twas here that tho
mysterious warning of the underlined
sense which tells OF approaching dam
ger began to make itself felt; and
when he recognized its admonition he