The Washington herald., 1915-04-25
DAILY SHORT STORY.
IN THE LAST HOUR.


unrelenting than his method of back.
ing them up. He also had a heart
Several little affairs had made hin
aware Of the existence of that organ
but Of it's real nature-its capacity
| for untold pleasure and its potential.
ity of untold pain-he was quite un.
aware until he met Emily Royce al
the Barry's house party.
Then there began strange proceed.
| ings in his cardiac region. the like oi
| which he had never before expert.
enced. He rode with her through the
autumn lanes; he shot with her in,
the autumn woods. The world and
its cares were somewhere far away.
and life was very new and strange
and altogether charming.
1t was the evening of the impromptu
dance that Thorpe came back to earth
with q shock. He and Emily were
seated behind a screen of friendly
palms. Some one was playing
Waldteufel waltz on the piano. and
the swish Of skirts and the click OF
dainty shoes on the polished nooi
drifted from the shadows Of common
place talk into deeper waters. Her
cheeks were scarlet. and her eyes had
dropped to the foxskin rug at heI
feet The words were on the edge OF
his tongue, but they were never saidi
for suddenly the square jaw set, the
shoulders went back, and Thorpe in
his masterful way was suggesting that
they take a turn or two in the waltz
That night in the secusion of his
own room Thorpe lit a cigarette and
communed with himself. That Emily
Royce was the one woman in the
world he would ever care for he ad-
mitted frankly. But Emily Royce
was the heiress to a round million,
and Thorpe's assets were merely q
promising array of prospects. There
was but one course left to him, and
as he lit another cigarette he began
packing his suitcase. In the morning,
despite the threats and entreaties OF
Barry and his guests, he departed
1t was his ideals Of honor that said
he must go: IL was his square jaw
which caused this decision to be car
ried out; but it was his newly dis
covered heart which tortured him
poignantly with pictures of a girl
checked. with her eyes on the foxI
rug. He went to the other, side Of
the continent.
1t was June. when he came back
East. At the Office he found a letter
from Barry saying he would never be
forgiven II he. did not run UP into the
country for day or two upon his
immediate return. For a moment the
thought of going there filled him with
a vague dread, but this he put sturd-
lily from him.
Come, closer ranks there" he saiG
grimly to himself. Don't skulk be-
hind the bushes in that fashion" And
forestalling his arrival by telegram
ha left late Saturday afternoon fol-
Barry's place.
when Thorpe boarded the train he
went at once to the smoking compart-
ment Of the Pullman to finish his
cigar. The sun had gone down be-
hind the hills and mellow twilight lay,
over the green meadow lands across
which the train was speeding. when
he rose to 60 to his seat in the car.
As he passed down the aisle he sud
denly stopped short. aware that every
nerve in his body was tingling. He
had come face to face with Emily
Royce.
The seat just ahead Of her was va
cant, and after an interchange of sur
prised greeting. he dropped into It.
II the cardiac disturbance returned
with renewed vigor, the square jaw
was as tense as steel. and no hint OF
the true state of his feelings was con-
veyed to her. Their conversation.
moreover. kept within bounds quite
consistent with his ideals of honor
small talk about the Barrys. town. OF
the view from the window as they
sped through some picturesque bit OF,
country. Thorpe was thinking vague
ly that this meeting would only make
the future less endurable. yet in his
present contentment he cared little
for that.
Suddenly there was a jolt of set
brakes, a crash, a moment of suspense
in which he saw an agonized face OPP
posite his-then darkness. When he
came to himself he was lying on his
side beneath pile of debris. Car
chairs and broken boards ,were piled
above him. Close to him he saw her
white face with dishevelled hair and
wide-open eyes.
Emily" he cried. ARE you hurt?"
NO" she said slowly. Il think not
Are you hurt?'
No" he said, mot at ALL"
He struggled hercely to free him.
self, but 1t was useless, and q terri
BILE pain in his left leg made him
smother a groan.
Were quite helpless" he said. but
keep your courage up. They'll have
US out Of here in a Bit
I'm not afraid" she said Buy
you are hurt. I know by your face.
It's very white"
He said nothing. but began another
for freedom. enraged at his
own helplessness. Outside was con-
fused din of ak blows and voices. He
listened. An ominous crackle came
to his ears. and even as he choked
down a curse an acrid smoke was
borne In upon them. He covered his
face with his free hand.
"Oh, my God,' he groaned. To
have you die like this!"
IT don't think I shall be Afraid
she said with you"
He stretched out his hand and took
hers.
II have fought to keep myself from
telling you," he said. but now moth
nR matters. I can tell you now"
"oh," she said. Il saw and knew
Ind because I was helpless was mis-
.rable."
He felt her hand tighten on his
rhe smoke thickened. Then all att
,nce the AZ blows were near: . Hood
II light broke upon them. Voices
we're close At hand. He saw her lifted
Tut and felt strong arms beneath him.
Il should never have told you II
lad thought we would ever be here
ie told her later In the bare front
Dom Of the farmhouse where they
rad been taken. He lay on . sofa.
lis left leg swathsd in bandages. and
he sat close beside him.
Dear" she said. Il would 60
through all that-and more to hear
L"