Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1903-06-27

4 4 drew rein before the Half
~C< way House. There was
sound Of revelry within when Norri
drew back the door and led the wa!
through the long hall, INSTRUCTED b!
kegs and chairs, to the little back par
Tor where occasional lady traveller!
were served with such fare as the place
afforded. The cloth on the table wa!
dingy and creased; a fy-fan creaket
rustily in its slow revolutions, and {
fat pink moth beat against the chimney
Of the oil lamp and finally dropped into
the flame with a sizzle of burning
grease that took away the remnant Of
Elenor's waning appetite. She leaned
back in her chair to listen to the music
of piano and violin, which kept wei
ahead of the shutlling feet scraping to
and fro in the dance hall.
Sounds oddly familiar" she muir
INJURED.
Eastern airs usually circle out here
in the course of two or three years.
Norris remarked, uncorking the fizzine
soda.
"They sound wonderfully sweet 'Usa'
out here, even the dullest Of them" the
girl answered, with illnt of longing.
"Oh. come, Elcnor, you're never get
ting homcsick at this late hour" Nor
rjs laughed. But something in his voice
made her look searchingly at his stu
diously averted face.
You have something to tell me, Nor.
ris," she said, suddenly leaning forward
and touching his hand.
why, as matter Of fact, I have"
he answered placidly. But first drink
your coffee. You look tired out"
Something that will hurt me?" she
persisted.
"Well. not personally, hope. Drink
your coffee, please, then I'll tell you"
She drained the bitter, lukewarm
draught submissively, then pushed
aside her plate, and folding both hands
over the edge Of the table, leaned to-
ward him expectantly.
"Well," he began, there was an ac-
cident here last night. A man got in
q row with a Mexican puncher, who
knitted him pretty badly. Seems that
the wounded man is from the East.
foand that he knew some people we
know, among them Jack Grandis."
Eyes. Go on. Something about Jack,
isn't it?"
"Well, yes. He did speak Of Jacks
hard luck. Elenor, does that man still
stand in my light?"
A curious change came over her face,
look which Norris, who thought he
knew her every emotion, had never
seen there before.
"Does he, Elenor?" he persisted, qui-
city, but doggedly. -
mo, Norris, thank God, mol" she an
swered in voice that hurt him cruelty.
"He is only the shadow of the man that
once stood in your light"
"Yet you once loved him more than
you care for me"
"Yes-I loved him even more than
love you, and he sighted and wounded
my love-" She paused and searched
his eyes, which We're very gentle and
also very grave.
morris, you know lot about life,
but you'll never in the world believe
what that awakening cost mew There
were tears in her voice, but her eyes
were hard and bright as polished stone.
"But that Is all past and done with
now?"
Forever. What have you to tell me
about Jack?"
HE is here in this house, hurt.
Strange to say, he recognized me at
once last night. He asked for you,
and that is why brought you here;
because 1t seemed heartless to deny a
dying man."
For the space of ten long heart-beats
she looked speechlessly into his eyes,
her face paling and reddening in wave
like succession.
"He is not dying surelyw She whis-
pered so low that it was impossible to
hear her voice, but the thought was
clearly written in her eyes.
"They are afraid so. In any other
case l should not have brought you
here. think had better prepare him
for your presence while you wait
here"
But she would not be left alone
They met the surgeon at the door of
the sick-room. "He Is still under the
influence of mOrphia," he informed
them briefly. "I'll leave his door ajar.
When he wakes you can go In"
Norris stepped softly within the bare
little lean-to where the yellow candle
flame diffused pallid glow on the face
Of the man who had once stood in his
light. 1t was very young face and
singularly handsome in spite of its
deathly pallor and its deep shadows Of
pain and WEAKNESS. Norris knew his
rivals history intimately-his reckless
good-fellowship, the intemperance and
weaknesses which had made him un.
worthy Of Elenor's love. Even then,
in the presence of death, 1t hurt him to
know that she had once loved him alb
sOlutely.
The sleeper felt the presence beside
him, but he did not open his eyes until
Norris had returned to Elenor, still
leaving the door ajar. so that he heard
her question and the mans answer.
"Will he live long?" asked Elenor.
mot longer than tonight" Norris
told her camly yet not without honest
regret.
Morris. If he should die not knowing
that still cared enough to come to him