Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1914-09-16

nhent TOT which he was fitted. and his
small income went only short way In
London. Matters grew worse and worse
until they were compelled to take one
room in cheap lodging house.
one night Thornton went home stag
ger1ng under blow harder than any
ne had been called upon to bear. The
little clerkship that they had depended
on. even for their meager living, was
TO be taken from him in month be-
cause Of reduction In the office force,
and simultaneously he had been called
upon to bear arms In South Africa.
Ills face was pale and baggard as he
entered the little room. which was al
most In darkness. AS he hesitated on
the threshold hearty voice from the
gloom cut him to the heart.
Hello. Paul, old mani I've tracked
you at last. Thought you could shake
me, didn't your
1t was Trelawney. and before Thorn
ton realized 1t he was sobbing like q
child on his friends shoulder.
Arthur. God bless you! I hoped
you would never know how far down
hill have been sliding"
THAT fool pride Of yours, know.
Well. l meant to find you. and have
Now, the only thing for a man to do
who is sliding down hill Is to dig his
toes in deep and begin to climb back
again."
But slipped pretty close to the
bottom-today," replied Thornton. and
then he told Trelawney and his wife Of
the untoward events OF the day. Crotch.
en- gave sharp cry and buried her
face In her hands Trelawney turned
to her quickly. his lips setting into a
hard line He sat silent while the wo-
man wept softly. and then. shaking
himself as II aroused from dream. ne
| said:
Come, I see way clearly out Of
this. We will lay 1t all over until to-
| morrow"
The next night Trelawney was II
high spirits when he entered Thorn
tons room
Congratulate me, Paul and Crotch
| EN-" he cried. II am going to South
Africa"
Husband and wife stared at Trelaw.
ney In amazement, and finally Paal
said:
Going to South Africal Why. you
said nothing about this last night You
surely had no such intention yesterday.
What is the meaning Of this sudden
impulse, for such 1t seems to beT
well. yes, 1t Is sudden impulse,
and as to its meaning you viii learn
that later on"
mo. Be frank, Trelawney; tell me
its meaning now"
well, Paul, 1t simply means that
you can remain with your wife"
"Trelawney, do you mean that you
have enlisted as my substitute and
without my consent?" said Paul.
Substitute? No, Paul. 1t will never
be said that Paul Thornton sent anoth-
er to the front for him. for know you
would not have 1t So"
"What is this enigma r asked Paul.
Let me introduce myself-Paul
Thornton of Her Majesty's Ninth vol
unteers. Now, listen to me. Paul
am making no sacrifice. 1t all fits in
perfectly with my plans for the fu-
ture."
But l shall stop you. shall go to
the war office and
THAT will be useless The war Of
fee will not be open until tomorrow.
and by midnight ! shall be out of Lon
don. Paul. nothing can be more to my
liking. Pray do not try to block a
plan which will give me more pleasure
than perhaps l shall ever enjoy again
In my life have no ties. no RESPONSE
bilides.
Take now your own case: What
would Gretchen do in a strange coun-
try without friends or means Of sup
port while you were away? Instead Of
that, 1t pleases me-and you must not
try to rob me of this gratification-that
Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Trelawney sail
within the week for America-in fact.
their passage is already booked on the
Lucania. The agent sent them the
tickets by me-"
Trelawney took an envelope from his
pocket and placed 1t on the table, con-
tinuing before Thornton could inter
rupt him:
And Trelawney's solicitor has been
instructed to send to him In America
only a portion of his income. and he
has obtained letter Of credit and the
necessary credentials"
Trelawney placed another envelope
on the table
arthur, l say you shall not do thisr'
broke out Thornton.
paul" he said slowly. surely you
will not deny me the great happiness
1 shall take In doing this thing for-for
Gretchen"
They both looked into his eyes and
saw the pleading, and they both knew
that It was for the woman he loved
that he wished to make the sacrifice.
They came to America. where the
new Trelawney sank under the tnflu-