The Tupelo journal., 1903-12-18

there is some influence which will call
out the exercise of that virtue. / was
not aware that you were capable of 1t
in any circumstances"
q have always said that your lack of
perspicuity prevented your having the
slightest understanding of the many ex-
cellences of my character"
The silver cord slowly unwound a
rich harvest of gifts and then a glitter
ing length unbroken by prophesy or
keepsake.
I'VE have all been served except Hal"
said Tom. How has he offended Fate
that he should be unblessed?"
"The end is not yet. 1t may be that
the last served will be the best remem-
bered."
"On the same principle that he who
laughs last laughs best?'"
But Hal declines to laugh. Though
his %grandsire carved in granite or
something equally uncompromising."
Hal has been engaged in more Sc
rious business than laughing or maxi
ing laughter. You cannot expect him
to be amused by the trivialities which
divert your inferior mind"
"If defending the flag against assaults
in summer islands makes a man so glum
there are more important moral than
political disadvantages in buying up job
lots Of vagrant soil"
Il am only waiting with intense ex-
element for my fate" demonstrated
Hal. You were not S frisky, either.
until you found out that Fortune had
not great evil treasuring up to throw at
you"
"Ah, here it is" said Mrs. Lacey, with
a Shrek of delight. Il know it is worth
waiting for. Nothing bad could be shut
up in so pretty a box"
Hal opened his treasure and took A
peep at what it contained-a tiny gold
ring with a pearl like a drop of dew ly-
ing in a lily-shaped setting. He thought
the happiest moment of his life had
been when he put that ring on Kittie's
slender white finger. She had given ii
back to him when the quarrel came, but
he had begged her to keep it and mn
time when she might feel the old love
return to send it to him as a token OF
forgiveness.
But l shall never send it back" she
had said.
Still he had tried to hope that ONE
time she would have need of him and
that she might send him the mute invi-
tation to come back to her. Now it haG
come to him on the cord of fate.
He put the little box into his pocket
with an air of carelessness and fixed his
eyes attentively upon Mrs. Lacey, who
was proceeding with her story with re-
newed interest and enthusiasm. But
Hal was not thinking Of the story. He
did not care about the youth in the
thorny wilderness, remembering how
far he had wandered in the wilderness
in the/three years that had passed since
he had last sat at Mrs. Lacey's hospita.
BILE table and listened to Halloween
yarns. He could not recollect that he
had ever known how that fatal quarrei
had arisen. He only knew that all the
stars went out and he was alone among
the thorns.
The company was again absorbed IL
the fate of the unfortunate lovers in the
moonlight and Hal chose a convenient
moment to slip out unobserved. He
pushed aside the heavy curtain where
the chief deity Of the Halloween cere.
monial had entered and passed out into
a wide corridor, down which he walked
till he came to a closed door. He was
about to knock, thinking that possibly
his fate lay within, when a cry, low but
thrilled with terror, came from behinG
the door. He opened it hastily and en-.
tered a dim room. Opposite the door
was a fireplace before which was tbs
black-robed figure trying to beat bach
the flames that had caught the folds OF
her dress and were mounting to hel
face. He sprang forward, catching E
heavy cover from a table in the center
of the floor, and in a moment hac
! thrown it around her and crushed oul
the flames in it's folds.
The head which had fallen helplessly
on his shoulder was lifted and the face
of Kittie Winston, white with rece1'
terror, yet with a certain luminant Joy
looking forth, turned toward him.
ooh, Hall" her voice quavered ou'
with a sob breaking through it's pa.
thetic music, you have saved my life
That's nothing, Kittie."
Indeed" she retorted with assumed
Indignation. That may be true, but il
isn't polite for you to tell me So"
"Oh Kittie, you know what 1 mean
l would be thankful to save your life
from every possible peril every day OF
the world If you would only put into
words the message which Fate has
brought me in this little ring"
Not in speech was the message con-
frmed, but the brown eyes that looked
up into his face seemed to convey salts.
factory meaning.
After ALL" she said, a little later,
looking down at some charred frag-
ments of her robe lying by the hearth,
you see l really did need you, HAL"