The Lamar register., 1903-08-12

beyond the plny peaks.
Now her mind was filed with the
one subject so much discussed she
turned 1t over and over, viewing II on
all sides; now reasoning with herself
as to this or that possibility. this or
that decision. but eventually return
ing to the first conclusion which was
to her SO convincing that 1t sent her
over the mountain to the town to dis
cover II possible the truth. and at the
court was the place to learn what she
wished to know-if there were any
place to learn II ere the whole world
should know.
AS she passed over the mountain
and down on the other side the town
lay out before her; n thriving town:
smoke arose black from the towering
chimneys. the whir of machinery. the
rattle of wagons and din on everyday
life were borne up to her as sounds
of strange land. The knowledge be-
gan to grow in her mind that the life
in the slow little settlement beyond
the mountain was too narrow, too
shut into itself. too lacking in energy
and growth. But this was new
world to her and she shrank from 1t.
not from any foolish feeling of inferi-
ority; such a thought could hold no
room in her mind, but as a wild AMI
NAL instinctively shrinks back to Its
natural world. Then the feeling left
her; the old thought drove every fear,
every other feeling away: she had
come for a purpose and as yet 1t was
not accomplished.
She passed steadily down the road
looking neither to right nor left. The
court house was at the farther end OF
the town: she had heard them say so.
A long low, white building with wide
steps and a bell in the tower.
At length she came to 1t; she knew
she was right; long, low. white
building with wide steps and a bell in
the tower.
She walked up the steps and turned
the handle of the door, but could not
open 1t. This ending of her journey
had not entered her head. For a mo-
ment she stood in doubt what to do.
People passing on the street looked
curiously at her. A boy who was
sitting astride of the fence called to
her that the door was locked; but II
she wanted the lookup 1t was down
around the corner
She did rot know he was laughing
st her; she walked down the steps
and spoke to him. She asked him
where she could find the Judge. She
was looking at him with her straight.
level glance. and he was disconnected
The Judge, he said, lived in the house
on the hiIi: II she came down the
main street she must have passed 1t.
Not bit of her resolution was
gone as she retraced her steps. but
she walked swiftly. for it was grow
ing late. She found it without trou-
BILE; she mounted the steps and knock
ed at the big door. She did not know
she should ring the bell. No one
came She knocked again and louder.
then again she waited. No one came
II the Judge were gone where should
she find him?
A step sounded on the gravel at the
side of the house. size turned and
faced the newcomer.
"Dolores!" exclaimed young Green,
in astonishment.
A red flush crept in her face
II want to see the judge" she
said, gravely. and there was a Jist-
fulness in the large. dark eyes raised
to his for an instant that caused his
heart to throb strangely while flush
also arose in his own face.
My father? He is rot at home.
When the court adjourned at three he
took the train to N. If you wish
to see him | am sorry. VIII not do
instead? Come in Miss Johnson: my
mother would be pleased to meet
you"
She was unused to being called
Miss Johnson" and scarcely heard
the unfamiliar rame.
He opened the door. waiting for her
to pass in.
Il won't stay" she said THE Judge
is not at home. | came to see the
judge.
She turned down the steps, and he
closed the door. following her.
III you will not go inside. may
walk with you. Miss Johnson
She bowed her head, and they pass
ed up the street together in silence.
That the people they passed, and
whom her companion greeted. turned
and looked curiously after them she
did rot know: had she known 1t would
have affected her little. She came on
an errand. and could not accomplish
it: that thought was uppermost in
her mind. blended as it always was in
thinking of it. with the face and
eyes of the young man beside her.
Dolores" he said at last, when
they We're climbing the rough road
beyond the town. unconsciously using
the name. Dolores. why did you
wish to see my father to-day? 1t must
be something special or you would
not have come. Could not | do as
weil?"
Some way his kindly heart was
aching for her with the remembrance
of that swift. wistful glance of the
brown eyes into his own, and he
would comfort her If he could.
She did not lcok at him: her gaze
was fiyed on the pines away on the
mountain behind which the sun was
setting. But he knew she heard and
would answer presently.
Il came to see about the mare" she