The Argosy — page 150: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

136 A Crisis in his Life. I did not do it intentionally. Going into our room the next day,a sheet of paper with some wniting on it lay on the table, the ink still wet. Supposing it was some message just left .for me by Tod, I went up to read it, and caught the full sense of the lines. “Dear Mrs. Everty,—I have just received your note. I am sorry that I cannot drive you out to-day—and fear that I shall not be able to do so at all. Our fnends, who are staying here, have to receive the best part of my leisure time. Faithfully yours, J. ToDHETLEy.” And I knew by thecontents of the note, by its very wording even, that the erisis was past, and Tod saved. «Thank you, Johnny! ' Perhaps you'll read your own letters another time. That's mine.” He had come out of his room with the envelopes and sealing-wax. ‘‘T beg your pardon, Tod. I thought it was a message you had left for me, seeing it lie open.” “You've read it, I suppose ?" “Yes, or Just as good. My eyes seemed to take it all in at once ; and I am as glad as though I had a purse of fairy gold.” “Well, it’s no use trying to fight against a stream,” said he, as he folded the note. ‘And if I had known the truth about the emeralds, why—there'd have been no bother at all.” ‘‘ Putting the emeralds out of the question, she is not a nice person to know, Tod. And there’s no telling what might have come of it.” “T suppose not. When the two paths, down-hill and up-hill, cross each other, as Brandon put it, and the one is pleasant and the other is not, one has to do a bit of battle with oneself in choosing the right.” And something in his face told me that in the intervening day and nights, he had battled with himself as few can battle; fought strenuously with the evil, striven hard for the good, and come out a conqueror. ‘‘¥t has cost you pain.” ) “Somewhat, Johnny. There are few good things in the way of duty, but what do cost man pain—as it seems to me. The world and a safe conscience will give us back our recompense.” ‘“‘And Heaven too, Tod.” “ Ay, lad; and Heaven.” Jounny Luptow. ECoOMmicloooks (CO) in —_)