The new era. (Walden, Colo.) 1906-19??, 1907-10-03
ENDING
1T ALL
By NELLIE CRAvEY GILMORE

The water was clear ana cOlu auC
still, save for the fieeting ripples made
by Paulding's swift cars as he drove
his shell determnedly toward the op-
posite shore. A dingy Panama was
pulled quite over his eyes; could one
have caught their look, a sterner eX-
preston was in the mild gray depths
than they had ever before worn. His
shirt sleeves We're rolled back to the
elbows, the brown. muscular fore
arms flashing like bronze in the sun
light, and with every dexterous
stroke, the grim lines about his mouth
became more set
Suddenly the Doa- scrared on the
sand and Paulding sprang ashore, fas
tening it to one of the willows that
dipped its branches low into the wa
ter. He stood a moment surveying
the placid eXpanse of treacherous
green. Over the distant edge of it,
rim of blue. like turquoise hoop,
curved itself in vivid contrast. III gh
up in the west, the sun glowed a
fiery challenge. Paulding waited TIL
the lake grew saffron under its van
ishng splendor. then wheeled abrupt
ly and walked up the bank, flinging
himself down On the spongy carpet of
daisy-studded grass.
An hour slirred by, and he did not
stir He was cylieally reviewing the
past and wonde ing, with last des-
lerate 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 matter of fact,
uncomI romising, 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 colby 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-
ity Every note had been returned
with the seal unbroken: she would
not even allow him a syllable or ap-
peal. And for what? lie cudg.ed his
ingenuity in vain. Obviously. he hal
committed some objectionable sin in
Cynthias eyes. and quite as obvious
ly, he was never even to know what
it was
Another 60 minutes were gone, and
with a groan. Paul.ling dragged him
self stiiily 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
united the rope that fastened his shell
and threw it in the bottom of the boat
He settled himself with painstaxing
care in his seat and resting on his
oars. sat for moment. gazing abou,
him at the faml.a: landmarks every
where, made doubly dear by associa-
ton. For il 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. 1t would be but moments
work. and-setting his lirs. he shot
ahead like an arrow, then gradually
slowed down. His face was quito
pale, almost ashen. and his heart was
pounding heavily His eyes. from
mild gray, had grown erfectly black
Suddenly he Dropped his oars and
sprang into the waters 1t closed over
him, sending millions of circles rip
.pling away in every direction II
was icy cold and chilled Pa hiding to-
the marrow. His head emerged ate
&c, Oh
a few powerful strokes brought hi
to firm ground He cla:nbereh =
bank. shaking himself like drawcba.'
terrier.
THE devil!" he muttered
Then some sudden revuls'o of foe.
ing caused him to laugh aloud. The
was an instantaneous echo and witt"
a hot, guilty feeling. Pauldins turn,
and glared in the direction froi
which 1t came.
Less than rod away, a girl. slim
and graceful, in white yachting suit
smiled at hin over the Japan
Cynthia
The Il ext niirute he was at her
side. But she deity evacel his touch
and stood regard lg him with cold, in
scrutible eyes lie noticed with a
rang that her oheeAs aal lost some
of their rcurdness and much of their
old-time color
Why did you con,n hc-a to-day o.
he asked ST, adyina his voice by an
effort.
The girl remained silent. with quiz.
ical eyes. Her iirs. trembling, hu.
mid and ha,fpalted closed abruptly
over TIE words she would have ut,
,ered. Her mlste gaze accused him
more plainly than words could have
done.
Cynthia" he began after con