Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1904-04-14

their time each in his own fashion. The
elder stared straight before him and
spat with certain periodicity into the
center Of the aisle. The younger
stretched back lazily in an attitdue Of
ease. Sometimes he smoked pipe.
Thrice he read over letter. 1t was
from his sister and announced her ar
rival ut the little rural village in which
he had made arrangements for her to
stay. ut is interesting now" she
wrote. though the resources do not
look as though they would wear we'll.
am learning under Mrs. Renwick to
sweep and dust and bake and stew and
do multitude Of other things which
always vaguely supposed came ready
made. I like it, but after have learn
ed It all do not believe the practice
will appeal to me much. However. l
can stand it we'll enough for a year or
two or three, for am young, and then
you will have made your everlasting
fortune. Of course"
''Sbe's trump" said Thorpe to him
self, land she shall have her everlast-
ing fortune If there's such q thing in
the country"
He jingled the $3.50 in his pocket and
smiled. That was the extent Of his ev-
erlasting fortune at present.
The letter had been answered from
Detroit.
n am glad you are settled" be wrote.
AT least know you have enough to
eat and roof over you. I hope sim
cerely that you will do your best to 1T
yourself to your new conditions.
know it is hard, but with my lack Of
experience and my ignorance as to
where to take hold 1t may be a good
many years before we can do any
better"
When Helen Thorpe read this she
cried. Things had gone wrong that
morning, and an encouraging word
would have helped her. The somber
tone of her brothers communication
threw her into fit of the blues from
which for the first time she saw her
surroundings in a depressing and dis
tasteful light. And yet he had writ
ten as he did with the kindest possible
motives.
Thorpe had the misfortune to be one
Of those individuals who. though care
less of what people in general may
think of them, are in corresponding
degree sensitive to the opinion Of the
few they love. This feeling was fur
ther exaggerated by a constitutional
shrinking from any outward NANTES
tation of the emotions. Perhaps for
this reason he was never entirely sin
cere with those he loved.
After the disgrace Of his father Har-
~ Thorpe had done great deal Of
thinking and planning which he kept
carefully to himself. He considered
in turn the different occupations to
which he could turn his hand and neg
atived them one by one. Few business
firms would care to employ the son Of
as shrewd an embeZzler as Henry
Thorpe. Finally he came to decision.
He communicated this decision to his
sister. 1t would have commended it.
self more logically to her had she been
able to follow step by step the consid-
Grafton that had led her brother to it.
As the event turned, she was forced to
brother intended going west. but as to
his hopes and plans she was in igno-
rance. A little sympathy. little mu-
tual understanding, would have meant
a great deal to her. for girl whose
mother she but dimly remembers turns
naturally to her next of kin. Helen
Thorpe had always admired her BROTH
er, but had never before needed him.
She had looked upon him as strong,
self contained, a little moody.
At the beginning Of the row in the
smoking car Thorpe laid aside his let
ter and watched with keen apprecia-
ton the direct practically of the train
mems method. When the bearded man
fell before the conductors blow, he
turned to the individual at his side.
HE knows how to hit, doesn't he:"
be observed. THAT fellow was knock
cd well of his feet
HE does" agreed the other dryly.
They fell into desultory converse
ton of fits and starts. Woodsmen of
the genuine sort are never laxative,
and Thorpe, as has been explained,
was constitudonally reticent. In the
course of their disjointed remarks
Thorpe explained that he was looking
for work in the woods and intended
01st of all to try the Morrison & DAILY
camps at Beeson lake.
'.Know anything about logging?" in
Quired the stranger.
Nothing" Thorpe confessed.
"Ain't much show for anything but
lumber jacks. What did you think of
doingY
II don't know" said Thorpe doubt
fully. II have driven horses a good
deal thought I might drive team"
The woodsman turned slowly and
lsoked Thorpe over with quizzical
eVe. Then he faced to the front again
md spat.
'Quite Hike" he replied, still more
11y.
~ bovss remark had amnsed him.