The Washington times., 1913-06-07

HI sss sesr' rose and moved toward the
Il am sure Of that" she said.
Il do not blame you"
] Up into the purer, finer air Of the
hills-up with Tightening heart though
still carrying a bitter burden of de-
spondency. Night rested upon the hill
| tops and brooded in the valleys. Be-
| low the shadowy landscape lay like
blurred patchwork-still he climbed up
ward till Feldwick lay silent and sleep
ing at his feet and flavor Of the sea
mingled with the night win which
cooled his cheeks. Then Douglas Guest
threw himself breathless among the
bracken and gazed with eager eyes
downward.
If she should not come" he mur-
1 shall go mad
Deeper fell the darkness, until the
| shape of the houses below was lost and
only lights were visible. Such a Tiny
| little circle they seemed. He watched
them with swelling heart. Was this to
| be the end of his dreams, then? Balliff
! Morrison's cottage, two pounds a week,
| and Joan for his wife? He, who had
dreamed of fame, of travel in distant
countries. of passing some day into the
elect of those who had written their
names large in the book of life
| His heart swelled in passionate re-
1 volt.
Even though he might be a pauper,
| though he owed his learning and the
very clothes in which he stood to Gideon
| strong, had any man the right to de-
mand SO huge a sacrifice? He had
spoken his mind and his wishes only to
be crushed with cold contempt. To-
day his answer had been given.
What was it that Gideon Strong had
said? Il have fed you and clothed you
and taught you; / have kept you from
beggary and made you what you are
Thus and thus shall 1t be. 1 have
spoken
He walked restlessly to and fro upon
the windy hilltop. A sense of freedom
heights. The shackles Of Gideon Strong
fell away. Food and clothing and edu-
cation, these were great things to owe,
| but life was surely greater, and life
he owed to no man living-only to God.
Was 1t thing which he dared misuse
fritter helplessly away in this time
forgotten corner of the earth?
Life surely was precious loan TO be
held in trust, to be made as full and
deep and fruitful a thing as a mans
cLcI CouIu IuthS H. u
| Gideon Strong he owed much, but it
was debt which surely could be paid
| in other ways than this.
He stopped short. A light footstep
close at hand startled. then thrilled
him. 1t was Cicely-hatless, breath
less with the climb. and very fai- to
see in the faint half-Eghts. For Cicely,
| though she was Gideon Strong's dauGh-
ter. was not of Feldwick or Feldwick
ways, nor were her gowns simple.
"a achg ,,;l
| lage dressmaker. She had lived all her
life with distant relatives near Lon
| don.
Douglas had never seen her TIL two
| months ago. and her coming mad been
curious break in the life at the farm.
He moved quickly TO meet her. For :.
moment their hands met. Then she
drew away.
How good of you Cicely." he cried
II felt that I must talk to some one or
go mad"
her breath-her bosom rising and fall
ing quickly under her dark gown.
pink flush in her cheeks. Her. hair,
fair and inclined to curliness, had es-
caped bounds little and she brushed
il impatiently back.
Il must only stay for a moment,
Douglas" she said gravely. Let us 90
down the hill by the beacon. We shall
be on the way home"
They walked side by side in silence.
Neither of them We're wholly at their
ease. A new element had entered into
their intercourse. The wonderfully
free spirit of comradeship which had
sprung up between them since her COM
ing, and which had been so sweet
thing 10 him, was for the moment Al
least interrupted.
Il want you to tell me. Douglas, she
said at last, exactly how much of
surprise today has been to you"
1t is easily done" he answered
tried to thank him as well as 1 was
able for all that he has done for me.
then told him that with every respect
for his wishes ] did not feel myself
prepared at present to enter the min
istry. l showed him my diplomas and
told him of NV degrees. / told him
what / wished-to become schoolmas-
ter for a year or two. at any rate.
Well, he listened to me In fixed silence
When | had finished he asked. Is that
all?' I said, Yes and he turned his
back upon me. Your future Is already
provided for, Douglas he said. i WI!
speak to you of it tomorrow. Then he
walked away. That is all the warning
l had
And what about Joan?'
His face flushed hotly
No word from him nor any hint of
such a thing as ever made me think OF
Joan in such a connection. should
have been less surprised II the ceiling
had fallen in upon us"
She looked at him and nodded graVely.
We'll" she said, our oracle has
spoken. What are you goint TO doc'
Il am going to ask for your advice
first" he said
Then you must tell me just how you
feel" she said.
He drew a long breath.
There are so many things" he said.
speaking softly and half to himself.
Last week Cicely, I took a compass
and Il stick and ] walked across the
nils 10 Rvdal Mount where Wordsworth
lived When ! came back I think that
I was quito content I" Grerh all ~"
days here. II is such a beautiful world
Some day when YOU have lived here
longer you will know what ] mean
the bondage will fall upon you. too.