Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1902-12-05

door. lie stretched his arms towards
the girl, and cried out to his father for
pity. The old man finished his talk
10 the girl, and Went out, paying no
more heed to the boys cries than to the
wind that ratified the window frames.
Then, for the two young people. be
gan the most curious Imprisonment
that Il proslac twentieth-eentury chron-
lele has ever recorded. In an age that
fostered Intrigue and inquisitlon, old
Dumble would have been master plot
ter. Now he was shrewd, rich old
autocrat with purpose In view which
he was determined to accomplish as
quickly as possible.
Thus reasoned the old man: "Once
in a thousand cases perhaps man and
a woman viii love one another better
than life. In this practical age.
though. the proportion may be cut
down To one in ten thousand. What
youth mistakes for the divine passion,
lasting through and beyond the span
of life, Is the lmpatience of young
years, the desire of child for the
moon, the changing whlm OF an eager
age. Fan this quick flame to white heat
and 1t will soon die to cold ashes.
Now, If Edward is of the nine thousand
nine hundred and ninety he will
soon wear out this love In daily sight
me wise boy, and no law VIII be
broken-the girl will go unharmed IL
he is the one In ten thousand, and the
girl Is the one In five thousand (for that
sex Is certainly more impulsive). why.
then-but, pshaw! he Isn't"
The brewer knew humanity passing
we'll and watched his experiment with
confidence. Old Schouler was wild at
the disappearance of his daughter; the
little world in which the Schoulers and
Mrs. Sears moved was In turmoil;
but-old Richard Dumble's world had Il
wider orbit! No suspicion attached to
the old man. and the world or that
part of II that fretted over the young
peoples affairs, had to fall back upon
the theory of an elopement.
Deserted by the world mlnstered to
by grim. close-mouthed servants, sup
piled with the comforts and amuse
ments of normal young people-Edwin
with books and gymnasium apparatus.
Henrietta with music, the latest novel,
embroidery-the two prisoners passed
their days In maddenlng proximity
The corridor was far too long to per-
NIT the tender whisperings that lovers
commonly use; indeed, there was al
any exchange of vows. But there was
the language of signs, and eternal trust
that could be expressed In a clutching
at vacancy.
Books Knocked the young man.
what did they say but love that was
always rewarded in the end? Music.
such as she knew, spoke to Henrietta
of love that blossomed In free young
breast. here the blasts that
whlrled up that precipce face turned
her Plaintiye notes to a thin wailing.
The grim faces of the servants, pass
ing In and out. silently. except for the
jangling of the big keys, oppressed
the spirits of both A sort of desper-
ate recklessness possessed the lovers,-
they paced their rooms In and out of
those corridor doors. up to the line be-
yond which 1t We're death to pass: and
II great despair came upon them.
Winter gave way at last to spring.
and even on that bare mountaln-top.
where the world stretched away from
new balm came to renew the lovers
passion. Not once had Edwin taken
pen to write his defeat; not once had
Henrietta failed to gain courage from
a fresh sight of the man who loved her
Sometimes. In lull of the everlasting
mountain storm. they had called TO
one another to be brave and faithful.
The earth was released from the grip
of the snow, and young leaves came
out to clothe the trees on the beautiful
New Hampshire hills. At last the little
lakes that dotted IA broad. green val
ley shone up to the prisoners like
bright jewels on a warm, full bosom.
Life. throbbing. new, eternal, woke the
fame of love to white heat. The de-
crees of man seemed lmpotent. unreal
Heaven-sent love. the cry of man to
maid. aud of the spring to young
hearts, swept the lovers reason and
fear to the winds. A great cry. like a
challenge to God. rang cut from the
boys lips.
My love, do you fear death?' And
he answer, keyed to an exultant pitch
rang back
Not with you. my sweetheart
"Ah then come" With the words
Edwin sprang forward to meet the on
coming rush of the mad girl. One step
over the white dead line, and the floor
was creaking like thin ice. Two steps,
and 1t was swayng like a showman's
act. With the touch of hand to hand
the frail foundation splintered and fell
with n crash in which were minClad