Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1914-10-02

From the start i'll fortune attended
him. He was unable to find employ
ment for which he was fitted. and his
small income went only a short way In
London. Matters grew worst and worse
until they were compelled to take one
room in a cheap lodging house.
One night Thornton went home stag
gering under a blow harder than any
he 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 a month be-
cause of a reduction In the Office force.
and simultaneously he had been called
upon to bear arms in South Africa.
His face was pale and haggard as he
entered the little room, which was al
most in darkness. As he hesitated on
the threshold a 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 it he was sobbing like a
child on his friends shoulder.
ARTHUR. God bless you'll I hoped
you would never know how far down
hill I have been sliding"
"That fool pride of yours, I know.
Well. l meant to find you. and I 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."
s"But l 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 a 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 if aroused from a dream. he
said:
"Come, l see a way clearly out of
this. We will lay 1t all over until to-
morrow"
The next night Trelawney was in
high spirits when he entered Thorn
toms room.
Congratulate me, Paul and Gretch-
emf he cried. II am going to South
Africa"
Husband and wife stared at Trelaw-
ney in amazement. and finally Paul
said:
"Going to South Africa! 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 it seems to be?"
swell, yes, it is a sudden impulse,
and as to its meaning you win learn
that later on"
"No. Be frank, Trelawney; tell me
its meaning now"
"Well, Paul, 1t simply mean that
you can remain with your wife"
"~Trelawney, do you mean that you
have enlisted as my substitute and
without my c%onsent?" said Paul.
Substitute? No, Paul, 1t will never
be said that Paul Thornton sent anoth-
er to the front for him, for l know you
would not have it So"
What is this enigmaT n asked Paul.
LET me introduce myself-Paul
Thornton of Her Majesty's Ninth vol
unteers. Now. listen to me, Paul. l
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 var Of
fee will not be open until tomorrow,
and by midnight l 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 mor pleasure
than perhaps l shall ever enjoy again
in my life. have no ties. no RESPONSE
bilities.
"Take now your W case: What
would Gretchen do In a strange coun
try without friends or mean Of sup
port while you were away2 Instead OF
that, it pleases me-and you must not
try to rob me of this gratifcation-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 he
tickets by me-"
Trela whey 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 a letter Of credit and the
necessary credentials"
Trelawney placed another envelope
on the table.
Arthur. l say you shall not do thisF'
broke out Thornton.
Paul." he said slowly, surely you
will not deny me the great happiness
l shall take in doing this thing for-for
| Gretchen2"
They both looked into his eyes and
saw the pleading, and they both knew
that it was for the woman he loved
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