Las Vegas optic., 1912-10-14

thing else
He isn't my brother" she inter
rupted absently. II wish he was.
She sighed as she uttered the las
sentence.
mo. Of course he isn't your rea,
! brother; I forgot. But he must seem
| like one"
Yes" rather doubtfuIly.
you must be proud Of him."
7 am" there was nothing doubtful
this time.
! Miss Van Hornet What did your
uncle say about Caph Mats meeting
me the other day7"
! Uncle Eben doesn't know. Nat
\ didn't tell anyone but me. He doeen't
boast And uncle would be glad be
helped you. As told you before, Mr..
lEllery, I'm not ashamed Of my uncle.
He has been SO good to me that nev-
er can repay him, neverl When my
own father was drowned he took me
in. a little orphan that would prob
ably have been sent to a home. When
he needed money most he said nothing
TO me. but insisted that / should be
educated. didn't know until after
wards Of the self.sacriice my four
years at the Middleboro Academy
meant to him"
$50 you went away to school?g he
unused. "This Is why"
THAT is why / don't say never done
nothin' and be you and 'hain't
neither Yes. thank you, that's why.
I | don't wonder you were surprised"
She was going. but the minister had
something to say. He stepped forward
and walked beside her.
Just a minute, please" he urged.
miss Van Horne. do understand. I
do respect your uncle. We have mu.
tual friend, you and I, and through her
| have come to understand many
things
Grace turned and looked at him.
"A mutual friend?" she repeated.
"Oh, know Mrs CofEin?"
Yes; Mrs. Coffin. She's a good
woman and wise one"
Il know. I feel the same way about
her. She means so much to me. /
love her more than anyone else in the
world, except uncle, Of course--and
Nat ! miss her very much since
since" si.is.
Since came, you mean. I'm sorry.
| wish-I hate to think am the cause
which separates you two, It isn't my
fault, as you know"
"Ohl know that"
Yes. and object to having others
choose my friends for me, people who,
because of fanatical prejudice, stand
in the way Of If it wasn't for that,
you might call and see Mrs. Coffin,
just as you used to do"
But it's impossible. Uncle respects
and is fond Of Aunt Keziah, but he
wouldn't hear Of my visiting the par
sonage.'
She was close to the overhanging
edge of the bluff and the sod upon
which she stood was bending beneath
her feet He sprang forward, caught
her about the waist, and pulled her
back. The sod broke and ratified
down the sandy slope She would have
had a slight tumble, nothing worse,
had she gone with it. There was no
and yet the minister was very
white as be released her.
She, too was pale for a moment,
and then crimson.
"Thank you," she gasped. I'll
must go. 1t is late. didn't realize
how late it was. II must go. II
think the sunsets from this point are
the finest have ever seen. come
here every Sunday afternoon to see
them"
This remark was given merely to
cover embarrassment, but it had an
unexpected effect.
"You do?" cried the minister. The
next moment he was alone. Grace Van
Horne had vanished in the gloom Of
the pine thickets.
II was a strange John Ellery who
walked slowly back along the path. He
saw nothing real, and heard nothing,
not even the excited person who, hid
den behind the bayberry bush, hailed
him as he passed. 1t was not until
this person rushed forth and seized
him by the arm that he came back to
the unimportant affairs Of this mate
rial earth
why! Why, Mr., Pepper!" he
gasped "Are you here? What do you
want%
Am I here?" painted Ryan. "Ain't
been here for the last twenty min
utes waitin' to get chance at you?
Amt I been chasin' you from Dan to
Beersheby all this dummed excuse
me afternoon? oh. my godfreys
mightyw
why, what's the matter?"
You you made me do IT." guarded
Ryan. "Yes, sir, twas you put me UP
to 1t. When you was at our house
t'other day, after Laviny locked me
up, you told me the way to get square
was to lock her up, too. And I done
til Yes, sir, done 1t when she got
back from meetin' this noon. run
Off and left her locked in. And-and'
--he walled, wringing his hands 4
II amt dast to go home sence
What'll | do?"
ITO Be Continued