Evening star., 1914-01-27

heart, but in honor he was bound The
path was marked out for him and it
seemed that he dared not turn aside.
His aimless wanderinss had now taken
him far from the township. The sun was
beginning to set over the western hills.
! flooding plain and valley with golden
light
Suddenly he determined on a course of
action. A quarter of a mile away there
was q flag station on the railway line
at that point. The impulse seemed to
come from without rather than from
within, and new hope that had no foun-
dation In reason sprang into life. He
would go down to the city and trust that
some honorable means of escape might
open before him.
But whatever wild hopes may have
buoyed him up at the beginning of his
journey. 1t was with a heavy heart that
Jack Marston stepped from the train on
difficulty had presented itself. He was
weary with the jolting journey in the
slow train. A passing glimpse that he
caught of himself in a mirror did not re-
assure him. The worry was beginning
to tell on him and he was certainly not
looking his best.
He engaged a room at a good hotel and
washed off the stains of travel. He had
debated with himself whether he should
go directly to see Allison. 1t was Z
o'clock and she would probably be ex-
pecting him. He did not want to go and
yet it was for this very purpose that he
had made the journey He found his
way to the familiar house. and, not with
out feeling of guilt and shame. pressed
the bell.
lie was shown into the drawing room.
Would Allison come running to him with
a cry of welcome on her lips? Would
ne be forced to begin again the acting
of a part that had become abhorrent
to him?
He waited a long time Despite his
dread of the coming interview. he was
curiously impatient for its beginning
Why did Allison not come? 1t was hard
this way.
When the servant returned bearing a
note his impatience gave place to feel
ing of anger. He never paused to con-
slider how unreasonable his annoyance
might be. He was in a mood to take
offense at small things. Was it for one
who thought so slightly of him that he
was preparing to make the sacrifice OF
his life? He tore open the envelope ana
read the contents of the note
Dear Sir: l regret that feel quite
unequal to seeing you tonight. | have
been greatly pained and upset by the
shock 1 have received. On the receipt
of the news of your misfortune L at once
communicated with you. and. deeply as L
feel for you in the circumstances. l can
only add that my decision as expressed
in my letter must be regarded as final
Yours sincerely. ALLISON GREY
He looked from the letter to the face
of the servant and en- back again to
the letter All his irritation was gone.
and in its place was a sense of puzzled
wonder There was a mystery some
where that he could not understand
HAS anything happened?" he asked,
awkwarGly, ,
Miss Allison has not been very we'll,
sir th. servant answered
THANK YOU said Marston, as he
turned and slowly left the house.
He was altogether at loss to under
stand the meaning of the note out
in his heart Since the hour when he
mad left Nell and gone out 10 the bloom
covered hillside something had taken
place that might alter the whole aspect
of affairs. He could not even conjecture
what it was, but Allison's letter would
reveal the truth.
Hey, Marston,'
He turned at a familiar voice.
by jove. Jack, I'm sorry This Is
bad luck for YOU
WHAT 49,
Il know something has happened, but
what it may be 1 haven't the least idea
Great Scott. I'm afraid I'm the bearer
of bad news then, but you'd better nave
it Bruce & Sampson have failed Tor
close ON a quarter of a million. We had
the news here this morning.
At any other time the news that his
firm had failed, and that his own pros
poets in life were for the moment ruined,
would have come TO him with the force
of a knock-down blow. Now 1t set his
pulses bounding with great JOY.
I'm glad to hear it." he said. There's
a train for Orakai at half-past s l must
catch ii and get home
He started running in the direction of