Canyon City news. (Canyon City, Tex.) 1903-1908, 1905-01-13
CHApTEI, XVIII.

IL visit his sister. Time, filled
~ with excitement and RESPONSE
bility. had. erased from his mind the
bitterness Of their parting. Now he
found himself so impatient that he
could hardly wait to get there.
He learned on his arrival that she
was not at home. Mrs Renwck proved
not nearly so cordial as the year be-
fore but Thorpe, absorbed in his ca
gerness. did not notice it. Mrs. Rem
wick thought Helen had gone over to
the Hugheses.
Thorpe found the Hughes residence
without difficulty and turned up the
straight walk to the vcranda. On the
steps of the latter Il rug had been
spread. A dozen youths and maidens
louDged on its soft surface. Thorpe,
as he approached the light from tall
lamp just inside the hail, hesitated,
vainly trying to make out the figures
before him.
So it was that Helen Thorpe saw
him first and came nuttering to meet
him
"Oh. Harry! What surprise" she
cried and flung her arms about his
neck to kiss him.
How do you do, Helen?" he replied
sedately.
This was the meeting he had an
ticipated so long The presence of
others brought ont in him irrcsstibly
the repression Of public display which
was so strong an element of his ca
reer.
A little chilled. Helen turned to in
troducc him to her friends. He took
n place on the steps and sat without
saying word all the evening. There
was nothing for him to say. These
young people talked thoughtessly, as
young people do, of the affairs belong
ing to their own little circle. He had
thought pine and forest and the trail
so long that he found these square ell
bowed subjects refusing to be jostled
aside by any triviaities.
He took Helen back to Mrs. Rem
wicks about 10 O'Clock. They walked
slowly beneath the broad lcaved ma
pies. whose shadows danced under the
tall electric lights. and talked.
"IIow have you done, Harry" she
inquired anxiously. Your letters have
been so vague"
Pretty we'll" he replied. "If things
go right hope some day to have g
better pldcc for you than this"
Her heart contracted suddenly II
was all she could do to keep from
bursting into tears. The indeiiniteness
of his answer eXasperatcd her and fill
ed her with sullen despair. She said
nothing for twenty steps, Then:
Harry" she said quietly, "can you
take me away from Mrs. Renwick
IL don't know. Helen. | can't tell
yet Not just now. at any rate"
Harry" she cried, you don't know
what you're doing, | tell you l can't
stand Mrs Renwick any longer |
know you've worked hard and that
you'd give me more if you could. But
so have worked hard, Now we ought
to change this in some way. | can get Il
position as teacher or some other work
SOllcN lltlt. w VII spu itA iiN w thht
Thorpe was thinking that 1t would be
easy enough TO obtain Wallace Carpen-
ter's consent to his taking $1,000 from
the profits of the year. But he knew
also that the struggle in the courts
might need every cent the new com
pany could spare. 1T would look much
better were he to wait until after the
verdict. If favorable, there would be no
difficulty about sparing the money, II
adverse. there would be no money to
spare. And so until the thing was alb
solutely certain he hesitatcd to explain
the situation to Helen for fear of dis
appointing her.
"I think you'd better wait. Helen"
said he. There II be time enough for
all that later when it becomes neces-
sary"
"And in the meantime stay with Mrs,
Renwick?' flashed Helen.
Yes. hope it will not have to be foi
very long"
"How long do you think, Harry
pleaded the girl.
THAT depends on circumstances" re
piled Thorpe.
"Oh" she cried Indignantly.
.'Harry," she vcnturcd after time
"why not write to Uncle Amos? Els
wanting us to come to him seems TO N
very generous
"You will do nothing of the kind
commanded Thorpe sternly "AmoS
Thorpe is an INSCRIPTIONS man whc
became unscrupulously rich. He delib