The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1915-01-19


practically unscathed affected that
loyal soul almost to tears.
But when congratulations had been
mutually exchanged. there fell an
awkward pause. The eyes of the four
sought one another's ruefully. each
pair quick with the unuttered but in
exorable inquiry: What next?
In the outcome. It was Mr.. Barcus
who advanced the suggestion which
was adopted-though this was its re-
ception more through lack of q better
than for any actual appeal intrinsic
In the proposition.
when we broke down, l saw" he
ventured. with backward Jerk of
his thumb to indicate the road, n can
yon branching off from this one about
quarter Of mile over yonder II It's
all the same to you people, we might
stroll round that way and see what it's
natural attractions may be-if any.
But it's sure mighty poor sort of q
canyon that doesn't lead anywhere
and nothing could possibly be more
fatiguing to our mercurial and rest
less tempers than to squat down here
and fold our hands in our laps and
wait for something to turn up-and
anyway we can't be worse off than we
are-and-"
Sufficient" Mr.. Law interrupted
with bleak smile
Crooking deferential arm, Barcus
offered 1t to Judith.
Everything is lovely in the formal
garden" he insisted-"so sweetly ro>
mantle. Are you game for an idle
saunter. just to while the idle hours
away?'
The woman found spirit enough for
wan smile as she tucked her hand
gratefully beneath his arm.
You're the cheerfulest soul I over
met" she said demurely. What I'm
going to do without you when-if ever
we get out Of this awful business,
goodness only knows"
Let's talk OF something else." he
suggested hastily.
Unless, Of course" she pursued
with unbroken gravity. Il marry
Heaven the young man prayed
fervently, "forfend,"
That is hardly gallant"
Il mean-heaven forfend that you
should throw yourself away"
"Humph!" she mused Perhaps
you're right
Their banter was not without a
subtle object. namely. to reassure the
girl who followed. supported by her
lovers arm.
In the course of the last 81 hours
Roses jealousy of her sisters new /
found friendliness with Alan had
become acutely evident The least
courtesy which circumstances now
and again demanded that he show
Judith or seem a boor. was enough
betrothed.
Nor. indeed, was Rose altogether
destitute OF plausible excuse for this /
feeling. 1t was uudenYbie that be-
tween Alan and Judith s,AInd of sym
PATH had1Srown&0Gt of ,IS trials and
hardships they had of late suffered
in common. 1t was fndeniable-but
even in his most private thoughts
Alan denied 1t fierceiy. Judith. on
the other hand, not only acknowledged
it freely to herself, but secretly de-
rived strangely sweet and poignant
pleasure from the knowledge that she.
loved so madly and hopalessly.
That her love was hopeless she
might not be altogether Indifferent TO
her. after all that had passed between
them. his loyalty to Rose was un-
shakable. And not for worlds would
Roses rival have had it otherwise.
She could not have Esved him Cd she
did had he not been SO unmsvably
true. AS 1t was. since she could not
hope her love might be returned. she
was content to love and to promise
herself that. II opportunity ever Of
fered. she would not prove unreadr to
sacrifice herself for her love-
And at times she caught herself
praying that such opportunity would
he accorded her. and quickly. and
that the sacrifice il should demand
would be complete.
Now prayers are sometimes an
swered when the boon eravcd is good
for the soul
Slowly and painfully these four
toiled along an obscure trail that fcl-
lowed the windings of the little river.
until branch struck into the main
stream and so discovered to them yet
another trail leading into the west
ward canyon
Then again slowly and painfully
they plodded on following blindly an
other trail blazed by Fates as blind as
they.
Above them, on the road rhey had
abandoned. the crimson racer doubled