The Prescott daily news., 1907-08-03
ENDING
 IT ALL
sv NELLIE CRAvEY GILMORE
1Convrieht. by Daily Story Pub. Co.)

hv paulding's swift oars as he drove his shell determinedly toward the op-
 os;te shore dingy Panama was rulled quite over his eyes; could one lave caught their look, sterner ex- .-ossion was in the mild gray depths ,hon tbey had ever before worn. His .hirt sleeves were rolled back to the elbows the brown, muscular fore arms flashing like bronze in the sum- light. and with every dexterous stroke the grim lines about his mouth became more set
 Suddenly the boat scraped on the sand and Paulding sprang ashore. fas- ..ning if to one of the willows that ahmed it's branches low into the wa fer He stood moment, surveying the placid expanse of treacherous green Over the distant edge of it, rim of blue, like a turquoise hoop, curved itself in vivid contrast. High m in the west the sun glowed a fiery challenge Paulding waited till the lake grew saffron under its van- ishing splendor, then wheeled abrupt ly and walked up the bank, flinging himself down on the spongy carpet of daisy-studded grass.
 An hour slipped by, and he did not stir. He was cynically reviewing the past and wondering. with last, des- perate thread of hope. if life had really come to an end for him in this tragic way; suicides grave!
 Cynthia was no weakling, he knew that She was, as a matter of fact, uncompromising, and he could not even try to deceive himself further with visions of her relenting. When, on the occasion of his last call, she had ooldly send down word that she would not meet him, then or ever, he had felt in his bones that her words were final. Every effort to com municate with her, thereafter, either personally or by letter, had been met by the same uncompromising frigid- fly. Every note had been returned with the seal unbroken; she would not even allow him a syllable or ap- peal And for what? He cudgled his ingenuity in vain. Obviously, he had committed some unpardonable sin in Cynthia's eyes, and quite as obvious ly, he was never even to know what it was,
 Another 50 minutes were gone, and with a groan. Paulding dragged him. self stiffly to his feet and moved down to the waters edge. Twilight had choked away the pretty pink haze and long. drab shadows were begin ming to culver grewsomely over the lake With benumbed fingers, he untied the rope that fastened his shell and threw 1t in the bottom of the boat. He settled himself with painstaking care in his seat and resting on his oars, sat for moment, gazing about him at the familiar landmarks every where, made doubly dear by associa- ton. For it was here, almost on this very spot. that Cynthia had given him her hand and he had kissed her on the lips to seal their betrothal.
 Twenty feet out. the water was deep. It would be but a moments work. and-setting his lips, he shot ahead like an arrow, then gradually slowed down. His face was quite pale, almost ashen, and his heart was pounding heavily His eyes, from mild gray, had grown perfectly black suddenly he dropped his oars and sprang into the water It closed over nm, sending millions of circles rip ping away in every direction It was icy cold and chilled Paulding to the marrow. His head emerged after seconds time, ten feet nearer shore. A lew powerful strokes brought hin, 10 firm ground He clambered pn tAe bank, shaking himself like a drenchsd terrier.
 The devili" he muttered.
 Then some sudden revulsion of fe&s Ing caused him to laugh aloud There was an instantaneous echo, and with not, guilty feeling, Paulding turned and glared in the direction from which 1t came.
 Less than a rod away. a girl. slim ana graceful, in white yachting suit, smiled at him over the yapan.
 "Cynthia.'
 me next minute, he was at her side' But she deftly evaded his touch ana stood regarding him with cold. in. scrutible eyes. He noticed with a pahg that her cheeks had lost some ot their roundness and much of their oldtime color.
 Why did you come here to-day?" ne asked, steadying his voice by an effort.
 me girl remained silent, with quiz. ical ovas IT. n,