The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1912-07-19

They Understood the Necessity Of Sc
crecy.
who were in my confidence, became as
interested almost as l. l told them
that under no circumstances were the
Turpins to know anything about me:
that everything must be done through
them. They understood the necessity
of secrecy, as l told them that the ben
i eficiaries of this act would reject it
and force a foreclosure had they any
reason to suspect that the interest had
been reduced through any desire to
l had done something for Miss Ellen,
1 determined to leave for the west.
1t was while going to take my train
that a circumstance occurred that de-
layed my departure for several days
more. l was late and was hurrying
through the depot when ran fairly in
the arms of Bud. l did not recognize
him at first, and it was only when /
stepped back with a conventional apol-
ogy that / saw the strong outlines of
his face and knew it to be that of Miss
| Ellen's brother. 1t was only a momen-
tary glimpse l had of him, but he look
ed older and more careworn, it seemed
to me. He seemed preoccupied and
did not recognize me, for, lowering my
face, l hurried past him and reached
the waiting room. l abandoned all in
| tention of taking the train that day,
for at once suspected that my secret
| had became known and that Bud had
come to Atlanta with the determina-
tion of either having the transfer re-
voked or else forcing me to accept the
former interest on the mortgage. BY Il
circuitOus route / reached my hotel
and, sending for a messenger, dispatch
ed note at once to the company in
| forming the officials Of the arrival of
| Mr.. Turpin.
The next day l learned that Bud,
| thinking the transaction somewhat
queer, had come to Atlanta to see
about it himself, and l strongly be-
lieved that Miss Ellen had urged him
to it TO satisfy herself that / was in no
way connected with the benefit which
those at the Pines would derive from
| the reduction of the interest. Bud de-
manded to know to whom his family
was indebted for this unlocked for
piece of generosity. My agent told him
that these mortgages had become very
valuable and that his company had
been authorized to secure as many of
them as possible and to reduce the in
terest on them to per cent. Salts
fed that the matter was a business
transaction, Bud left for the Pines
again and, l had reason to believe,
with lighter heart.
Lost in the background and congrat-
ulating myself on the success Of my
scheme, l wandered into the west The
| face of Ellen was ever before me-
Night and day the picture of her, clad
in a simple gingham frock, her sleeves
rolled up and her hand pointing in the
direction of the old memorial bridge,
was ever in my mind. Several times
tried to resume my writing, but my
pen seemed to drop from my fingers or
else my mind refused to respond to
my will. In detection of spirit my
would sit for hours dreaming of the
Pines and Miss Ellen. In my apathy
l journeyed to Japan, and for awhile
life seemed brighter in that mosaic
looking country; but, go where would,
there was ever recurring to my
thoughts the picture OF Miss Ellen, and
my heart would swell and tears rush
unbidden TO my eyes as l remembered
our parting. There was talk OF war
between my country ana Spain, but
this interested me little. seemed 10
have lost my sense Of the proportion
of things. Resolved at last TO take up
the thread Of my life again and begin
anew, l started for the States. Almost
the first thing | learned on reaching
the Pacific slope was the fact that war
had been declared The will of an in
dignant people had swept aside politics
and diplomacy and had surged with
such sforce about the nations rulers
that NO one dared stand in its path.
The martial spirit Of my ancestors
had never burned within me, for NY
mind had always been set in other di-
rections, and my pursuits We're those
of peace. Never hesitating for a mo-
ment however, / started across the
continent. By telegraph and letters l
collected my scattered influences and,
backed by my delegation in congress,
asked the governor Of my state for a
commission. II was secured without
much trouble, and was mustered in
The service as a first lieutenant of vol
unteers in one Of the regiments from
Massachusetts.
CONTINUED In next Fridays paper.