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Tous les autres exemplaires originaux sont filmAs en commenpant par la premiere page qui comporte une empreinte d'impression ou d'illustration et en terminant par la dernlAre page qui comporte une telle empreinte. Un des symboles suivants appara?tra sur la derniire image de cheque microfiche, selon le cas: le symbols -^»> signifie "A SUIVRE ", le symbole V signifie "FIN". Les cartes, pirnches, tableaux, etc., peuvent dtre film*s A des taux de reduction diffdrents. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour §tre reproduit en un seul clich*. il est film* d partir de I'angle sup*rieur gauche, de gauche * droits, et de haut en bas. en prenant le nombre d'images n*cessaire. Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la m*thode. ly errata ed to mt me pelure, apon d JJ t 3 32X 1 2 3 4 5 6 •<.^ r TWENTIETH CENTURY SERIES In the Midst of Alarms . The Devil's Playground . The Face and the Mask . Robert Barr John Mackie Robert Barr The Phantom Death . W. Clark Russell The Sale of a Soul . F. Frankfort Moore Dead Man's Court . Maurice H. Hervey Sinners Twain • • ■ . John Mackie Toxin ...••... Ouida I Married a Wife . John Strange Winter Diana's Hunting • • Robert Buchanan Dartmoor .... Maurice H. Hervey From Whose Bourne. . . Robert Barr The Flaw In the Marble .... — Vawder's Understudy James Knapp Reeve ^ 4 SERIES Robert Barr ohn Maekie obert Barr rk Russell ^ort Moore I. Hervey n Maekie Ouida e Winter ^iLchanan T. Hervey iert Barr • "^~"~ op Meeve '^1 1-1 I "I'LL DO IT, THOUGH IT BLAST ME."— «S?. In the Midst of Alarms By ROBERT BARR Illustrated by C. Moorc-Smith SIXTH EDITION flew HJorit an^ Xontion FREDERICK A. STOKES COMPANY PUBLISHERS Copyright, 1894, by FREDERICK A. STOKES COMPANY. j;2;jjiimi i s»iCT>^ ^. TO E. B ^;2!jjig™M iLi >g y,,. IN THE MIDST OF ALARMS. CHAPTER I. In the marble-floored vestibule of the Metro- politan Grand Hotel in Buffalo, Professor Still- son Renmark stood and looked about him with the anxious manner of a person unused to the gaudy splendor of the modern American house of entertainment. The professor had paused halfway between the door and the marble counter, because he began to fear that he had arrived at an inopportune time, that something unusual was going on. The hurry and bustle bewildered him. An omnibus, partly filled with passengers, was standing at the door, its steps backed over the curbstone, and beside it was a broad, flat van, on which stalwart porters were heaving great square, iron-bound trunks belonging to commercial travelers, and the more fragile, but not less bulky, Saratogas, doubtless the property of the ladies who sat patiently in the omnibus. Another vehicle which had just arrived was backing up to the curb, and the irate driver used language suitable to the occasion ; for the two restive horses were not behaving exactly in the way he liked. A man with a stentorian, but monotonous and mournful, voice was filling the air with the information that a train was about to depart In tbc asi^Bt ot Blarme. for Albany, Saratoga, Troy, Boston, New York, and the East. When he came to the words " the East," his voice dropped to a sad minor key, as if the man despaired of the fate of tiiose who took their departure in that direction. Every now and then a brazen gong sounded sharply ; and one of the negroes who sat in a row on a bench along the marble-paneled wall sprang forward to the counter, took somebody's handbag, and disappeared in the direction of the elevator with the newly arrived guest fol- lowing him. Groups of men stood here and there conversing, heedless of the rush of arrival and departure around them. Before the broad and lofty plate-glass win- dows sat a row of men, some talking, some reading, and some gazing outside, but all with their feet on the brass rail which had been apparently put there for that purpose. Nearly everybody was smoking a cigar. A lady of dignified mien came down the hall to the front of the counter, and spoke quietly to the clerk, who bent his well-groomed head deferentially on one side as he listened to what she had to say. The men instantly made way for her. She passed along among them as c«mposedly as if she were in her own drawing room, inclin- ing her head slightly to one or other of her acquaintances, which salutation was gravely acknowledged by the raising of the hat and the temporary removal of the cigar from the lips. All this was very strange to the professor, and he felt himself in a new world, with whose customs he was not familiar. Nobody paid the slightest attention to him as he stood there among it all with his satchel in his hand. As he timidly edged up to the counter, and tried to accumulate courage enough to address the clerk, a young man came forward, flung his handbag on the polished top of the counter, '^ In tbc rtbiJ>0t ct Blarma. 7 metaphorically brushed the professor aside, pulled the bulky register toward him, and in- scribed his name on the page with a rapidity equaled only by the illegibility of the result. " Hello, Sam ! " he said to the clerk. " How's things ? Get my telegram ? " " Yes," answered the clerk; "but I can't give you 27. It's been taken for a week. I reserved 85 for you, and had to hold on with my teeth to do that." The reply of the young man was merely a brief mention of the place of torment. " It IS hot," said the clerk blandly. " In from Cleveland } " " Yes. Any letters for me ? " " Couple of telegrams. You'll find them up in 85." '• Oh, you were cocksure I'd take that room ? " " I was cocksure you'd have to. It is either that or the tifth floor. We're full. Couldn't give a better room to the President if he came." "Oh, well, what's good enough for the Presi- dent I can put up with for a couple of days." The hand of the clerk descended on the bell. The negro sprang forward and took the " grip." " Eighty-five," said the clerk ; and the drum- mer and the negro disappeared. " Is there any place where I could leave my bag for a while ? " the professor at last said timidly to the clerk. "Your bag?" The professor held it up in view. " Oh, your grip. Certainly. Have a room, sir?" And the clerk's hand hovered over the bell. " No. At least, not just yet. You see, m " All right. The baggage man there to the left will check it for you." " Any letters for Bond ? " said a man, push- 8 f n tbe Amidst of Blarma. i 'I ing himself in front of the professor. The clerk pulled out a fat bunch of letters from the compartment marked " B," and handed the whole lot to the inquirer, who went rapidly over them, selected two that appeared to be addressed to him, and gave the letters a push toward the clerk, who placed them where they were before. The professor paused a moment, then, realiz- ing that the clerk had forgotten him, sought the baggage aan, whom he found in a room filled with trunks and valises. The room com- municated with the great hall by means of a square opening whose lower ledge was breast high. The professor stood before it, and handed the valise to the man behind this open- ing, who rapidly attached one brass check to the handle with a leather thong, and flung the other piece of brass to the professor. The latter was not sure but there was something to pay, still he quite correctly assumed that if there had been the somewhat brusque man would have had no hesitation in mentioning the fact ; in which surmise his natural common sense proved a sure guide among strange sur- roundings. There was no false delicacy about the baggage man. Although the professor was to a certain ex- tent bewildered by the condition of things, there was still in his nature a certained dogged per- sistence that had before now stood him in good stead, and which had enabled him to distance, in the long run, much more brilliant men. He was not at all satisfied with his brief interview with the clerk. He resolved to approach that busy individual again, if he could arrest his attention. It was some time before he caught the speaker's eye, as it were, but when he did so, he said : " I was about to say to you that I am wait- ing for a friend from New York who may not '^ llarma. professor. The letters from the md handed the vent rapidly over d to be addressed push toward the hey were before, ent, then, reahz- ten him, sought )und in a room The room com- by means of a dge was breast before it, and hind this open- brass check to ", and flung the professor. The s something to ssumed that if brusque man mentioning the itural common g strange sur- delicacy about ) a certain ex- of things, there d dogged per- 3d him in good n to distance, ant men. He 3rief interview approach that Jld arrest his are he caught when he did It I am wait- who may not ^ If h\i in I »«0H, DICK YATES ! CERTAINLY. HE'S HERE."— /'a^^ 9. •ffn tbe asi^st of alarms. #:#" yet have arrived Yates of the " ♦' Oh, Dick Yates ! Certainly. ^ Turning to the negro, he said : His name is Mr. Richard He's here." Go down to the bilHard room and see if Mr. Yates is there. If he is not, look for him at the bar." The clerk evidently knew Mr. Dick Yates. Apparently not noticing the look of amaze- ment that had stolen over the professor's face, the clerk said : " If you wait in the reading room, I'll send Yates to you when he comes. The boy will find him if he's in the house ; but he may be uptown." The professor, disliking to trouble the oblig- ing clerk further, did not ask him where the reading room was. He inquired, instead, of a hurrying porter, and received the curt but com- prehensive answer : " Dining room next floor. Reading, smok- ing, and writing rooms up the hall. Billiard room, bar, and lavatory downstairs." The professor, after getting into the barber shop and the cigar store, finally found his way into the reading room. Numerous daily papers were scattered around on the table, each attached to a long, clumsy cleft holder made of wood ; while other journals, similarly encum- bered, hung from racks against the wall. The professor sat down in one of the easy leather- covered chairs, but, instead of taking up a paper, drew a thin book from his pocket, in which he was soon so absorbed that he became entirely unconscious of his strange surround- ings. A light touch on the shoulder brought him up from his book into the world again, and he saw, looking down on him, the stern face of a heavily mustached stranger. " I beg your pardon, sir, but may I ask if you are a guest of this house ? " A shade of apprehension crossed the pro- lO ITn tbe Abidst ot Blarms. K fessor's face as he slipped the book into his pocket. He had vaguely felt that he was tres- passing when he first entered the hotel, and now his doubts were confirmed. " I — I am not exactly a guest," he stammered. " What do you mean by not exactly a guest ? " continued the other, regarding the professor with a cold and scrutinizing gaze. " A man is either a guest or he is not, I take it. Which is it in your case ? " '• I presume, technically speaking, I am not." " Technically speaking ! More evasions. Let me ask you, sir, as an ostensibly honest man, if you imagine that all this luxury — this — this elegance — is maintained for nothing ? Do you think, sir, that it is provided for any man who has cheek enough to step out of the street and enjoy it ? Is it kept up, I ask, for people who are, technically speaking, not guests ? " The expression of conscious guilt deepened on the face of the unfortunate professor. He had nothing to say. He realized that his conduct was too flagrant to admit of defense, so he attempted none. Suddenly the countenance of his questioner lit up with a smile, and he smote the professor on the shoulder. " Well, old stick-in-the-mud, you haven't changed a particle in fifteen years ! You don't mean to pretend you don't know me? " "You can't — vou can't be Richard Yates? " " I not only can, but I can't be anybody else. I know, because I have often tried. Well, well, well, well ! Stilly we used to call you ; don't you remember ? I'll never forget that time we sang ' Oft in the stilly night ' in front of your window when you were studying for the exams. You always luere a quiet fellow. Stilly. I've been waiting for you nearly a whole day. I was up just now with a party of friends when the boy brought me your card — a little philanthropic t( arms. i book into his lat he was tres- the hotel, and he stammered, actlyaguest?" the professor e. " A man is e it. Which is ng, I am not." evasions. Let lionest man, if I ry— this—this ing.? Do you any man who the street and )r people who ;ts } " t cleepenedon sor. He had ; his conduct fense, so he untenance of md he smote you haven't You don't e?" rd f n tbe /Ibiddt of Btacms. II lyl 1 Yates ? " /body else. Well, well, you ; don't lat time we )nt of your the exams. Stilly. I've ay. I was when the lanthropic It gathering — sort of mutual benefit arrangement, you know : each of us contributed what we could spare to a general fund, which was given to some deserving person in the crowd." "Yes," said the professor dryly. "I heard the clerk telling the boy where he would be most likely to find you." " Oh, you did, eh } " cried Yates, with a laugh. '• Yes, Sam generally knows where to send for me ; but he needn't have been so darned public about it. Being a newspaper man, I know what ought to go in print and what should have the blue pencil run through it. Sam is very dis- creet, as a general thing ; but then he knew, of course, the moment he set eyes on you, that you were an old pal of mine." Again Yates laughed, a very bright and cheery laugh for so evidently wicked a man. " Come along," he said, taking the professor by the arm. " We must get you located." They passed out into the hall, and drew up at the clerk's counter. " I say, Sam," cried Yates, " can't you do something better for us than the fifth floor } I didn't come to Buffalo to engage in ballooning. No sky parlors for me, if I can help it." " I'm sorry, Dick," said the clerk ; " but I ex- pect the fifth floor will be gone when the Chicago express gets in." " Well, what can you do for us, anyhow ? " " I can let you have 518. That's the next room to yours. Really, they're the most com- fortable rooms in the house this weather. Fine lookout over the lake. I wouldn't mind having a sight of the lake myself, if I could leave the desk." •' All right. But I didn't come to look at the lake, nor yet at the railroad tracks this side, nor at Buffalo Creek either, beautiful and romantic as it is, nor to listen to the clanging of the ten thousand locomotives that pass within hearing 12 ITn tbe Itsi^et of Blarm0. Ill distance for the delight of your guests. The fact is that, always excepting Chicago, Buffalo is more like — for the professor's sake I'll say Hades, than any other place in America." " Oh, Buffalo's all right," said the clerk, with that feeling of local loyalty which all Americans possess. " Say, are you here on this Fenian snap .'* " " What Fenian snap.-^" asked the newspaper man. " Oh ! don't you know about it ? I thought, the moment I saw you, that you were here for this affair. Well, don't say I told you, but I can put you on to one of the big guns if you want the particulars. They say they're going to take Canada. I told 'em that I wouldn't take Canada as a gift, let alone fight for it. I've deen there." Yates' newspaper instinct thrilled him as he thought of the possible sensation. Then the light slowly died out of his eyes when he looked at the professor, who had flushed somewhat and compressed his lips as he Hstened to the slight- ing remarks on his country. *' Well, Sam," said the newspaper man at last, "it isn't more than once in a lifetime that you'll find me give the go-by to a piece of news, but the fact is I'm on my vacation just now. About the first I've had for fifteen years ; so, you see, I must take care of it. No, let the Argus get scooped, if it wants to. They'll value my services all the more when I get back. No. 518, I think you said ? " The clerk handed over the key, and the pro- fessor gave the boy the check for his valise at Yates' suggestion. " Now, get a move on you," said Yates to the elevator boy. " We're going right through with you." And so the two friends were shot up to- gether to the fifth floor. rm0. guests. The icago, Buffalo ; sake I'll say merica." he clerk, with all Americans n this Fenian the newspaper I thought.the t here for this but I can put you want the going to take 't take Canada ^e been there." led him as he )n. Then the hen he looked somewhat and to the slight- laper man at lifetime that iece of news, on just now. n years ; so, No, let the to. They'll n I get back. and the pro- his valise at laid Yates to |ight through shot up to- CHAPTER II. The sky parlor, as Yates had termed it, cer- tainly commanded a very extensive view. Im- mediately underneath was a wilderness of roofs. Farther along were the railway tracks that Yates objected to ; and a line of masts and propeller funnels marked the windings of Buffalo Creek, along whose banks arose numerous huge elevators, each marked by some tremendous letter of the alphabet, done in white paint against the somber brown of the big building. Still farther to the west was a more grateful and comforting sight for a hot day. The blue lake, dotted with white sails and an occasional trail of smoke, lay shimmer- ing under the broiling sun. Over the water, through the distant summer haze, there could be seen the dim line of the Canadian shore. " Sit you down," cried Yates, putting both hands on the other's shoulders, and pushing him into a chair near the window. Then, plac- ing his finger on the electric button, he added : " What will you drink } " " I'll take a glass of water, if it can be had without trouble," said Renmark. Yates' hand dropped from the electric button hopelessly to his side, and he looked reproach- fully at the professor. " Great Heavens ! " he cried, " have something mild. Don't go rashly in for Buffalo water be- fore you realize what it is made of. Work up to it gradually. Try a sherry cobbler or a milk, shake as a starter." »3 14 f n tbe asit>6t of Blarms. A glass of water will Order what you like do for i ; I "Thank you, no. very well for me. yourself." " Thanks, I can be depended on for doing that." He pushed the button, and, when the boy appeared, said : " Bring up an iced cobbler, and charge it to Professor Renmark, No. 518. Bring also a pitcher of ice water for Yates, No. 520. There," he continued gleefully, "I'm go- ing to have all the drinks, except the ice water, charged to you. I'll pay the bill, but I'll keep the account to hold over your head in the future. Professor Stillson Renmark, debtor to Metro- politan Grand — one sherry cobbler, one gin sling, one whisky cocktail, and so on. Now, then. Stilly, let's talk business. You're not married, I take it, or you wouldn't have re- sponded to my invitation so promptly." The professor shook his head. " Neither am I. You never had the courage to propose to a girl ; and I never had the time." " Lack of self-conceit was not your failing in the old days, Richard," said Renmark quietly. Yates laughed. " Well, it didn't hold me back any, to my knowledge. Now I'll tell you how I've got along since we attended old Scrag- more's academy together, fifteen years ago. How time does fly ! When I left, I tried teach- ing for one short month. I had some theories on the education of our youth which did not seem to chime in with the prejudices the school trustees had already formed on the subject." The professor was at once all attention. Touch a man on his business, and he generally responds by being interested. ' And what were your theories ? " he asked. " Well, I thought a teacher should look after the physical as well as the mental welfare of his pupils. It did not seem to me that his duty t0nm irms. tin tbc /IRiOet of Blarms. 15 water will do you like for on for doing and, when the n iced cobbler, nark, No. 518. for Yates, No. fully, "I'm go- the ice water, 1, but I'll keep d in the future, •tor to Metro- bler, one gin so on. Now, . You're not Idn't have re- >mptly." The Jeither am I. pose to a girl ; l^our failing in mark quietly. In't hold me w I'll tell you ed old Scrag- years ago. tried teach- ome theories lich did not ejudices the ned on the II attention, he generally ' he asked. d look after d welfare of hat his duty to those under his charge ended with mere book learning." " I quite agree with you," said the professor cordially. •* Thanks. Well, the trustees didn't. I joined the boys at their games, hoping my example would have an influence on their con- duct on the playground as well as in the school- room. We got up a rattling good cricket club. You may not remember that I stood rather better in cricket at the academy than I did in mathematics or grammar. By handicapping me with several poor players, and having the best players among the boys in opposition, we made a pretty evenly matched team at school section No. 12. One day, at noon, we began a game. The grounds were in excellent con- dition, and the opposition boys were at their best. My side was getting the worst of it. I was very much interested ; and, when one o'clock came, I thought it a pity to call school and spoil so good and interesting a contest. The boys were unanimously of the same opinion. The girls were happy, picnicking under the trees. So we played cricket all the after- noon." " I think that was carrying your theory a little too far," said the professor dubiously. "Just what the trustees thought when they came to hear of it. So they dismissed me; and I think my leaving was the only case on record where the pupils genuinely mourned a teacher's departure. I shook the dust of Canada from my feel, and have never regretted it. I tramped to Buffalo, continuing to shake the dust off at every step. (Hello ! here's your drinks at*last. Stilly. I had forgotten about them — an unusual thing with me. That's all right, boy; charge it to room 518. Ah! that hits the spot on a hot day.) Well, where was I ? Oh, yes, at I L "♦'1 J. 16 f n tbe asi:>Bt ot Blarms Buffalo. I got a place on a paper here, at just enough to keep life in me ; but I liked the work. Then I drifted tc Rochester at a bigger salary, afterward to Albany at a still bigger salary, and of course Albany is only a few hours from New York, and that is where all newspaper men ultimately land, if they are worth their salt. I saw a small section of the war as special cor- respondent, got hurt, and rounded up in the hospital. Since then, although only a reporter, I am about the top of the tree in that line, and make enough money to pay my poker debts and purchase iced drinks to soothe the asperities of the game. When there is anything big go- ing on anywhere in the country, I am there, with other fellows to do the drudgery ; I writ- ing the picturesque descriptions and interview ing the big men. My stuff goes red-hot over the telegraph wire, and the humble pos- tage stamp knows my envelopes no more. I am acquainted with every hotel clerk that amounts to anything from New York to San Francisco. If I could save money, I should be rich, for I make plenty ; but the hole at the top of my trousers pocket has lost me a lot of cash, and I don't seem to be able to get it mended. Now, you've listened with your customary patience in order to give my self-esteem, as you called it, full sway. I am grateful. I will reciprocate. How about yourself ? " The professor spoke slowly. " I have had no such adventurous career," he began. " I have not shaken Canadian dust from my feet, and have not made any great success. I have simply plodded ; and am in no danger of be- coming rich, although I suppose I spend as little as any man. After you were expel — after you left the aca " " Don't mutilate the good old English lan- guage, Stilly. You were right in the first :^ .4 ph in} jec at mal ii pu me • here, at just igger salary, ;r salary, and rs from New 'spaper men their salt. I special cor- bel up in the ly a reporter, hat line, and ;er debts and ie asperities hing big go- I am there, :ery ; I writ- d interview oes red-hot Tumble pos- lo more. I clerk that 'ork to San I should be e at the lop lot of cash, it mended. customary esteem, as ■ful. I will ave had no •• I have r feet, and 3. I have ger of be- spend as cpel — after iglish lan- the first Ifn tbe /Ibiddt or Blarme. 17 place. I am not thin-skinned. You were say- ing after I was expelled. Go on." '* I thought perhaps it might be a sore sub- ject. You remember, you were very indignant at the time, and " " Of course I was — and am still, for that matter. It was an outrage ! " •' I thought it was proved that you helped to put the pony in the principal's room." " Oh, certainly. T/iat. Of course. But what I detested was the way the principal worked the thing. He allowed that villain Spink to turn evidence against us, and Spink stated I originated the affair, whereas I could claim no such honor. It was Spink's own proj- ect, which I fell in with, as I did with every disreputable thing proposed. Of course the principal believed at once that I was the chief criminal. Do you happen to know if Spink has been hanged yet ? " " I believe he is a very reputable business man in Montreal, and much respected." " I might have suspected that. Well, you keep your eye on the respected Spink. If he doesn't fail some day, and make a lot of money, I'm a Dutchman. But go on. This is digression. By the way, just push that electric button. You're nearest, and it is too hot to move. Thanks. After I was ex- pelled " " After your departure I took a diploma, and for a year or two taught a class in the academy. Then, as I studied during my spare time, I got a chance as master of a grammar school near Toronto, chiefly, as I think, though the recom- mendation of Principal Scragmore. I had my degree by this time. Then " There was a gentle tap at the door. "Come in!" shouted Yates. " Oh, it's you. Just bring up another cooling cobbler, will you ? f! i8 fin tbc Itsitfet of Blarme. and charge it, as before, to Professor Renmark. room 518. Yes ; and then " " And then there came the opening in Uni- versity College, Toronto. I had the good for- tune to be appointed. There I am still, and there I suppose I shall stay. 1 know very few people, and am better acquainted with books than with men. Those whom I have the privi- lege of knowing are mostly studious persons, who have made, or will make, their mark in the world of learning. I have not had your ad- vantage, of meeting statesmen who guide the destinies of a great empire." "No; you always were lucky, Stilly. My experience is that the chaps who do the guid- ing are more anxious about their own pockets, or their own political advancement, than they are of the destinies. Still, the empire seems to take its course westward just the same. So old Scragmore's been your friend, has he ? " " He has, indeed." •* Well, he insulted me only the other day." " You astonish me. I cannot imagine so gentlemanly and scholarly a man as Principal Scragmore insulting anybody." "Oh, you don't know him as I do. It was like this : I wanted to find out where you were, for reasons that I shall state hereafter. I cudg- eled my brains, and then thought of old Scrag. I wrote him, and inclosed a stamped and ad- dressed envelope, as all unsought contributors should do. He answered But I have his reply somewhere. You shall read it for yourself." Yates pulled from his inside pocket a bundle of letters, which he hurriedly fingered over, commenting in a low voice as he did so : " I thought I answered that. Still, no matter. Jingo ! haven't I paid that bill yet ? This pass is runout. Must get another." Then he smiled and sighed as he looked at a letter in dainty hi tl mmmmmmi 1116. In tbc /Ibiddt of Blarmd. 19 ior Renmark, Jning in Uni- he good for- im still, and o\v very few I with books we the privi- ous persons, ■ mark in the ad your ad- 10 guide the Stilly. My :lo the guid- )wn pockets, t, than they npire seems e same. So las he ? " ther day." imagine so IS Principal do. It was re you were, ;r. I cudg- old Scrag, d and ad- ontributors I have his r yourself." t a bundle ered over, id so : " I 1^0 matter, "his pass is he smiled in dainty handwriting ; but apparently he could not find the document he sought. " Oh, well, it doesn't matter. I have it some- where. He returned me l))r prepaid envelope, and reminded me that United States stamps were of no use in Canada, which of course I should have remembered. IJut he didn t pay the postage on his own letter, so that I had to fork out double. Still, I doi.'t mind that, only as an indication of his meanness. He went on to say that, of all the members of our class, you —you/ — were the only one who had reflected credit on it. That was the insult. The idea of his making such a statement, when I had told him I was on the New York Argus f Credit to the class, indeed ! I wonder if he ever heard of Brown after he was expelled. You know, of course. No .'• Well, Brown, by his own exertions, became president of the Alum Bank in New York, wrecked it, and got off to Canada with a clear half million. Yes, sir. I saw him in Quebec not six months ago. Keeps the finest span and carriage in the city, and lives in a palace. Could buy out old Scragmore a thousand times, and never feel it. Most liberal contributor to the cause of education that there is in Canada. He says education made him, and he's not a man to go back on education. And yet Scragmore has the cheek to say that yoti were the only man in the class who reflects credit on it ! " The professor smiled quietly as the excited journalist took a cooling sip of the cobbler. " You see, Yates, people's opinions differ. A man like Brown may not be Principal Scrag- more's ideal. The principal may be local in his ideals of a successful man, or of one wha reflects credit on his teaching." " Local ? You bet he's local. Too darned local for me. It would do that man good ta 1 ao f n tbe /ibiDst of Blarme. live in New York for a year. But I'm going to get even with him. T'm going to write him up. I'll give him a column and a half ; see if I don't. I'll get his photograph, and publish a news- paper portrait of him. If that doesn't make him quake, he's a cast-iron man. Say, you haven't a photograph of old Scrag that you can lend me, have you ? " " I have ; but I won't lend it for such a pur- pose. However, never mind the principal. Tell me your plans. I am at your disposal for a couple of weeks, or longer if necessary." " Good boy ! Well, I'll tell you how it is. I want rest and quiet, and the woods, for a week or two. This is how it happened : I have been steadily at the grindstone, except for a while in the hospital ; and that, you will admit, is not much of a vacation. The work interests me, and I am always in the thick of it. Now, it's like this in the newspaper business : Your chief is never the person to suggest that you take a vacation. He is usually short of men and long on things to do, so if you don't worry him into letting you off, he won't lose any sleep over it. He's content to let well enough alone every time. Then there is always somebody who wants to get away on pressing business, — grandmother's funeral, and that sort of thing, — so if a fellow is content to work right along, his chief is quite content to let him. That's the way affairs have gone for years with me. The other week I went over to Washington to inter- view a senator on the political prospects. I tell you what it is. Stilly, without bragging, there are some big men in the States whom no one but me can interview. And yet old Scrag says I'm no credit to his class ! Why, last year my political predictions were telegraphed all over this country, and have since appeared in the European press. No credit ! By Jove, I would li ms. I'm going to vrite him up. see if I don't, lish a nevvs- oesn't make Say, you that you can ■ such a pur- e principal. disposal for issary." how it is. I >, for a week ed : I have xcept for a 1 will admit, )rk interests )f it. Now, ness : Your st that you lort of men don't worry •e any sleep ough alone somebody Dusiness, — of thing, — along, his That's the me. The )n to inter- )spects. I bragging, whom no old Scrag ^ last year ed all over ^d in the e, I would f n tbc ibi^et ot Blarm0. 21 like to have old Scrag in a twenty-four-foot ring, with thin gloves on, for about ten minutes ! " " I doubt if he would shine under those cir- cumstances. But never mind him. He spoke, for once, without due reflection, and with per- haps an exaggerated remembrance of your school-day offenses. What happened when you went to Washington ? " *' A strange thing happened. When I was admitted to the senator's library, I saw another fellow, whom I thought I knew, sitting there. I said to the senator : * I will come when you are alone.' The senator looked up in surprise, and said : ' I am alone.' I didn't say anything, but went on with my interview ; and the other fellow took notes all the time. I didn't like this, but said nothing, for the senator is not a man to offend, and it is by not offending these fellows that I can get the information I do. Well, the other fellow came out with me, and as I looked at him I saw that he was myself. This did not strike me as strange at the time, but I argued with him all the way to New York, and tried to show him that he wasn't treating me fairly. I wrote up the interview, with the other fellow interfering all the while, so I com- promised, and half the time put in what he sug- gested, and half the time what I wanted in myself. When the political editor went over the stuff, he looked alarmed. I told him frankly just how I had been interfered with, and he looked none the less alarmed when I had finished. He sent at once for a doctor. The doctor metaphor- ically took me to pieces, and then said to my chief : ' This man is simply worked to death. He must have a vacation, and a real one, with absolutely nothing to think of, or he is going to collapse, and that with a suddenness which will surprise everybody.' The chief, to my aston- ishment, consented without a murmur, and 1 [ j t 1 1 \ i ■! I i 22 1fn tbc Ai^at ot Blarma. even upbraided me for not going away sooner. Tiien the doctor said to me : ' You get some companion — some man with no brains, if pos- sible, who will not discuss politics, who has no opinion on anything that any sane man would care to talk about, and who couldn't say a bright thing if he tried for a year. Get such a man to go off to the woods somewhere. Up in Maine or in Canada. As far away from post offices and telegraph offices as possible. And, by the way, don't leave your address at the Argus office.' Thus it happened, Stilly, when he described this man so graphically, I at once thought of you." " I am deeply gratified, I am sure," said the professor, with the ghost of a smile, " to be so promptly remembered in such a connection, and if I can be of service to you, I shall be very glad. I take it, then, that you have no intention of stopping in Buffalo } " "You bet I haven't. I'm in for the forest primeval, the murmuring pines and the hem- lock, bearded with moss and green in the some- thing or other — I forget the rest. I want to quit lying on paper, and lie on my back instead, on the sward or in a hammock. I'm. going to avoid all boarding houses or delightful summer resorts, and go in for the quiet of the forest." " There ought to be some nice places along the lake shore." " No, sir. No lake ^hore for me. It would remind me of the Lake Shore Railroad when it was calm, and of Long Branch when it was rough. No, sir. The woods, the woods, and the woods. I have hired a tent and a lot of cooking things. I'm going to take that tent over to Canada to-morrow ; and then I propose we engage a man with a team to cart it some- where into the woods, fifteen or twenty miles away. We shall have to be near a farmhouse. — isi- me. irn tbe ASidst of Blacma. 23 away sooner, ou get some •rains, if pos- . who has no i man would Jlcln't say a Get such a lere. Up in y from post 5ible. And, dress at the Stilly, when ly, I at once e," said the ?, " to be so connection, hall be very 10 intention the forest 1 the hem- 1 the some- I want to ck instead, n going to il summer forest. " ices along It would id when it en it was oods, and a lot of that tent I propose t it some- ity miles rmhouse. so that we can get fresh butter, milk, and eggs. This, of course, is a disadvantage ; but I shall try to get near someone who has never even heard of New York." •• You may find that somewhat difficult." " Oh, I don't know. I have great hopes of the lack of intelligence in the Canadians." " Often the narrowest," said the professor slowly, " are those who think themselves the most cosmopolitan." " Right you are," cried Yates, skimming lightly over the remark, and seeing nothing applicable to his case in it. " Well, I've laid in about half a ton, more or less, of tobacco, and have bought an empty jug." •' An empty one.^ " '* Yes. Among the few things worth having that the Canadians possess, is good whisky. Besides, the empty jar will save trouble at the customhouse. I don't suppose Canadian rye is as good as the Kentucky article, but you and I will have to scrub along on it for a while. And, talking of whisky, just press the button once again." The professor did so, saying : " The doctor made no remark, I suppose, about drinking less or smoking less, did he.-* " " In my case ? Well, come to think of it, there was some conversation in that direction. Don't remember at the moment just what it amounted to ; but all physicians have their little fads, you know. It doesn't do to humor them too much. Ah, boy, there you are again. Well, the professor wants another drink. Make it a gin fizz this time, and put plenty of ice in it ; but don't neglect the gin on that account. Certainly; charge it to room 518." V- CHAPTER III. " asked the burly customs officer at Fort " What's all this tackl and somewhat red-faced Erie. " This," said Yates, " is a tent, with the poles and pegs appertaining thereto. These are a number of packages of tobacco, on which I shall doubtless have to pay something into the exchequer of her Majesty. This is a jug used for the holding of liquids. I beg to call your attention to the fact that it is at present empty, which unfortunately prevents me making a liba- tion to the rites of good-fellowship. What my friend has in that valise I don't know, but I suspect a gambling outfit, and would advise you to search him." " My valise contains books principally, with some articles of wearing apparel," said the pro- fessor, opening his grip. The customs officer looked with suspicion on the whole outfit, and evidently did not like the tone of the American. He seemed to be treat- ing the customs department in a light and airy manner, and the officer was too much impressed by the dignity of his position not to resent flip- pancy. Besides, there were rumors of Fenian invasion in the air, and the officer resolved that no Fenian should get into the country without paying duty. " Where are you going with this tent ? " " I'm sure I don't know. Perhaps you can tell us. I don't know the country about here. ^fmmmmiamm tfn the /R(&6t ot Blarms. 25 :ed the burly fficer at Fort ith the poles rhese are a on which I ing into the s a jug used to call your isent empty, iking a liba- What my irma. at sleeve across the barkeeper, crank in the : you a poiiittr, , — the war, you ve got thrashed u want to get Yankees like 1812?" asked ■ with current ie past. iays we did. I at we wanted 'ly hauled me ihe warning, if . So long." n in the tavern he problem of rk press. He r man could, oubtedly was, confidences of ade them give was going on js Yates often his acquaint- d not get for )fessor sitting chatting with Didly flowing s, " who will in about an the town. I 1 the tent till fin tbe ltS\^0t of Blarmd. 29 "I'll look after that," said the officer; and, thanking him, the two friends strolled up the Street. They were a tritie late in getting back, and when they reached the tavern, they found Bartlett just on the point of driving home. He fruffly consented to take them, if they did not eep him more than five minutes loading up. The tent and its belongings were speedily placed on the hay rack, and then Bartlett drove up to the tavern and waited, saying nothing, al- though he had been in such a hurry a few moments before. Yates did not like to ask the cause of the delay ; so the three sat there silently. After a while Yates said as mildly as he could : " Are you waiting for anyone, Mr. Bartlett } " " Yes," answered the driver in a surly tone. *' I'm waiting for you to go in fur that jug. I don't suppose you filled it to leave it on the counter." " By Jove ! " cried Yates, springing off, " I had forgotten all about it, which shows the ex- traordinary effect this .country has on me already." The professor frowned, but Yates came out merrily, with the jar in his hand, and Bartlett started his team. They drove out of the village and up a slight hill, going for a mile or two along a straight and somewhat sandy road. Then they turned into the Ridge Road, as Bartlett called it, in answer to a ques- tion by the professor, and there was no need to ask why it was so termed. It was a good high- way, but rather stony, the road being, in places, on the bare rock. It paid not the slightest attention to Euclid's definition of a straight line, and in this respect was rather a welcome change from the average American road. Some- times they prissed along avenues of overbranch- ing trees, which were evidently relics of the forest that once covered all the district. The ■V r lit l! 30 Kn tbc ftsi^et of Blarmd. road followed the ridge, and on each side were frequti'.tly to be seen wide vistas of lower lying country. All along the road were comfortable farmhouses ; and it was evident that a prosper- ous community flourished along the ridge. Bartlett spoke only once, and then to the professor, who sat next to him. " You a Canadian ? " " Yes." " Where's /le from } " " My friend is from New York," answered the innocent professor. " Humph ! " grunted Bartlett, scowling deeper than ever, after which he became silent again. The team was not going very fast, although neither the load nor the road was heavy. Bartlett was muttering a good deal to himself, and now and then brought down his whip savagely on one or the other of the borses ; but the moment the unfortunate animals quick- ened their pace he hauled them in roughly. Nevertheless, they were going quickly enough to be overtaking a young woman who was walking on alone. Although she must have heard them coming over the rocky road she did not turn her head, but walked along with the free and springy step of one who is no*: only accustomed to walking, but who likes it. Bartlett paid no attention to the girl ; the professor was en- deavoring to read his thin book as well as a man might who is being jolted frequently ; but Yates, as soon as he recognized that the pedes- trian was young, pulled up his collar, adjusted his necktie with care, and placed his hat in a somewhat more jaunty and fetching position. " Are you going to offer that girl a ride ? " he said to Bartlett. "No, I'm not." " I think that is rather uncivil," he added, forgetting the warning he had had. AL 113. [ich side were )f lower lying : comfortable lat a prosper- e ridge, then to the tin tbe fbit>6t of Blacm0. 31 answered the t, scowling )ecame silent ig very fast, le road was good deal to jht down his )f the horses ; nimals quick- in roughly. dy enough to was walking heard them id not turn the free and accustomed ett paid no or was en- as well as a juently ; but It the pedes- ar, adjusted nis hat in a position. ride ? " he ' he added, " You do, eh ? Well, you offer her a ride. You hired the team." " By Jove ! I will," said Yates, placing his hand on the outside of the rack, and springing lightly to the ground. " Likely thing," growled Bartlett to the pro- fessor, *' that she's going to ride with the like of It » IIM). The professor looked for a moment at Yates, politely taking off his hat to the apparently astonished young woman, but he said nothing. " Fur two cents," continued Bartlett, gather- ing up the reins, " I'd whip up the horses, and let him walk the rest of the way." " From what I know of my friend," answered the professor slowly, " I think he would not object in the slightest." I3artlett muttered something to himself, and seemed to change his mind about galloping his horses. Meanwhile, Yates, as has been said, took off his hat with great politeness to the fair pedes- trian, and as he did so he noticed, with a thrill of admiration, that she was very handsome. Yates always had an eye for the beautiful. " Our conveyance," he began, " is not as comfortable as it might be, yet I shall be very happy if you will accept its hospitalities." The young woman flashed a brief glance at him from her dark eyes, and for a moment Yates feared that his language had been rather too choice for her rural understanding, but before he could amend his phrase she answered briefly : " Thank you. I prefer to walk." •'Well, I don't know that I blame you. May I ask if you have come all the way from the village ? " " Yes." " That is a long distance, and you must be i: i tij t I fl • It \ I ,{ J ; \ 3a fn tbc /ISiC)0t ot Blacmd. very tired." There was no reply ; so Yates continued. " At least, I thought it a long dis- tance ; but perhaps that was because I was riding on Bartlett's hay rack. There is no • downy bed of ease ' about his vehicle." As he spoke of the wagon he looked at it, and, striding forward to its side, said in a husky- whisper to the professor : "Say, Stilly, cover up that jug with a flap of the tent." " Cover it up yourself," briefly replied the other ; " it isn't mine." Yates reached across and, in a sort of acci- dental way, threw the flap of the tent over the too conspicuous jar. As an excuse for his action he took up his walking cane and turned toward his new acquaintance. He was flattered to see that she was loitering some distance behind the wagon, and he speedily rejoined her. The girl, looking straight ahead, now quickened her pace, and rapidly shortened the distance between herself and the vehicle. Yates, with the quickness characteristic of him, made up his mind that this was a case of country diffidence, which was best to be met by the bringing down of his conversation to the level of his hearer's intelligence. " Have you been marketing.? " he asked. "Yes." " Butter and eggs, and that sort of thing ? " " We are farmers," she answered, *' and we sell butter and eggs " — a pause — " and that sort of thing." Yates laughed in his light and cheery way. As he twirled his cane he looked at his pretty companion. She was gazing anxiously ahead toward a turn in the road. Her comely face was slightly flushed, doubtless with the exercise of walking. " Now, in my country," continued the New n0. In tbe /ISiddt o( Blarnid. 33 it., y ; so Yates : a long clis- cause 1 was rhere is no icle." looked at it. d in a husky I'ith a flap of replied the sort of acci- ent over the :use for his : and turned ivas flattered me distance rejoined her. w quickened the distance Yates, with n, made up of country met by the to the level asked. if thing ? " , *' and we -"and that heery way. t his pretty usly ahead omely face he exercise i the New Yorker, " we idolize our women. Pretty girls don't tramp miles to market with butter and eggs." " Aren't the girls pretty — in your country?" Yates made a mental note that there was not as much rurality about this girl as he had thought at first. There was a piquancy about the conversation which he liked. That she shared his enjoyment was doui)tful, for a slight line of resentment was noticeable on her smooth brow. " You bet they're pretty ! I think all American girls are pretty. It seems their birth- right. When I say American, I mean the whole continent, of course. I'm from the States myself — from New York." He gave an extra twirl to his cane as he said this, and bore himself with that air of conscious superiority which naturally pertains to a citizen of the metropolis. " But over in the States we think the men should do all the work, and that the women should — well, spend the money. I must do our ladies the justice to say that they attend strictly to their share of the arrange- ment." " It should be a delightful country to live in — for the women." " They all say so. We used to have an adage to the effect that America was paradise for women, purgatory for men, and — well, an entirely different sort of place for oxen." There was no doubt that Yates had a way of getting along with people. As he looked at his companion he was gratified to note just the faintest suspicion of a smile hovering about her lips. Before she could answer, if she had intended to do so, there was a quick clatter of hoofs on the hard road ahead, and next instant an elegant buggy, whose slender jet-black polished spokes flashed and twinkled in the I- m I ! . j; 'i ■ i i Il '' 34 Hn tbe /IBi50t of Blarma. sunlight, came clashing past the wagon. On seeing the two walking together the driver hauled up his team with a suddenness that was evidently not relished by the spirited dappled span he drove. " Hello, Margaret ! " he cried ; " am I late ? Have you walked in all the way ? " " You are just in good time," answered the girl, without looking toward Yates, who stood aimlessly twirling his cane. The young woman put her foot on the buggy step, and sprang lightly in beside the driver. It needed no second glance to see that he was her brother, not only on account of the family resemblance between them, but also because he allowed her to get into the buggy without offering the slightest assistance, which, indeed, was not needed, and graciously permitted her to place the duster that covered his knees over her own lap as well. The restive team trotted rapidly down the road for a few rods, until they came to a wide place in the highway, and then whirled around, seemingly within an ace of up- setting the buggy ; but the young man evidently knew his business, and held them in with a firm hand. The wagon was jogging along where the road was very narrow, and Bartlett kept his team stolidly in the center of the way. •' Hello, there, Bartlett ! " shouted the young man in the buggy ; " half the road, you know — half the road." " Take it," cried Bartlett over his shoulder. " Come, come, Bartlett, get out of the way, or I'll run you down." "You just try it." Bartlett either had no sense of humor or his resentment against his young neighbor smoth- ered it, since otherwise he would have recog- nized that a heavy wagon was in no danger of being run into by a light and expensive buggy. hel ravi on la\N ma. •ffn tbe ^(56t of Blarms. 35 wagon. On er the driver denness that the spirited "am I late? » answered the s, who stood 'oung woman , and sprang needed no her brother, resemblance ! allowed her offering the ;d, was not her to place ver her own )tted rapidly il they came ^ and then n ace of up- lan evidently n in with a ging along md Bartlett f the way. the young f'ou know — shoulder. t the way, nor or his >or smoth- ave recog- danger of ive buggy. The young man kept his temper admirably, but he knew just where to touch the elder on the raw. His sister's hand was placed appealingly on his arm. He smiled, and took no notice of her. "Come, now, you move out, or I'll have the law on you." " The law ! " roared Bartlett ; " you just try It on. " Should think you'd had enough of it by this time." " Oh, don't, don't, Henry ! " protested the girl in distress. " There aint no law," yelled Bartlett, " that k.n make a man with a load move out fur any- thing." " You haven't any load, unless it's in that jug. Yates saw with consternation that the jar had been jolted out from under its covering, but the happy consolation came to him that the two in the buggy would believe it belonged to Bartlett. He thought, however, that this dog- in-the-manger policy had gone far enough. He stepped briskly forward, and said to Bart- lett: " Better drive aside a little, and let them pass." " You 'tend to your own business," cried the thoroughly enraged farmer. " I will," said Yates shortly, striding to the horses' heads. He took them by the bits and, in spite of Bartlett's maledictions and pulling at the lines, he drew them to one side, so that the buggy got by. " Thank you I " cried the young man. The light and glittering carriage rapidly disap- peared up the Ridge Road. Bartlett sat there for one moment the pic- ture of baffled rage. Then he threw the reins I'rv '*.', I ,■2 H !Ul 1 36 Hn tbe Osi^et ot Blarms. ii il! : 11 Hi down on the backs of his patient hordes, and descended. " You take my horses by the head, do you, you good-fur-nuthin* Yank? You do, eh ? I like your cheek. Touch my horses an' me a-holdin' the Hnes ! Now, you heair me ? Your traps comes right off here on the road. You hear me ? " " Oh, anybody within a mile can hear you." " Kin they ? Well, off comes your pesky tent. " " No, it doesn't." " Don't it, eh ? Well, then, you'll lick me fust ; and that's something no Yank ever did nor kin do." " I'll do it with pleasure." " Come, come," cried the professor, getting down on the road, *' this has gone far enough. Keep quiet, Yates. Now, Mr. Bartlett, don't mind it ; he meant no disrespect." " Don't you interfere. You're all right, an' I aint got nothin' ag'in you. But I'm goin' to thrash this Yank within an inch of his life ; see if I don't. We met 'em in i8i2, an' we fit 'em an' we licked 'em, an' we can do it ag'in. I'll learn ye to take my horses by the head." " Teach," suggested Yates tantalizingly. Before he could properly defend himself, Bartlett sprang at him and grasped him round the waist. Yates was something of a wrestler himself, but his skill was of no avail on this occasion. Bartlett's right leg became twisted around his with a steel-like grip that speedily convinced the younger man he would have to give way or a bone would break. He gave way accordingly, and the next thing he knew he came down on his back with a thud that seemed to shake the universe. " There, darn ye ! " cried the triump*^nt farmer; "that's 1812 and Queenstown Heights for ye. How do you like 'em ? " anc sool are ho\ J :m0. t horses, and head, do you, 'U do, eh ? I )rses an' me I he^r me ? on the road. I hear you." r pesky tent." m'll l;ck me ank ever did ssor, getting : far enough, artlett, don't 11 right, an' I I'm goin' to of his life ; 2, an' we fit do it ag'in. e head." izingiy. id himself, him round a wrestler ^ail on this me twisted at speedily uld have to e gave way knew he thud that riumpHant ueenstown In?" tn tbe ^iddt of Blacma. 37 Yates rose to his feet with some deliberation, and slowly took off his coat. " Now, now, Yates," said the professor soothingly, " let it go at this. You're not hurt, are you ? " he asked anxiously, as he noticed how white the young man was around the lips. " Look here, Renmark ; you're a sensible man. There is a time to interfere and a time not to. This is the time not to. A certain international element seems to have crept into this dispute. Now, you siand aside, like a good fellow, for I don't want to have to thrash both of you." The professor stood aside, for he realized that, when Yates called him by his last name, matters were serious. " Now, old chucklehead, perhaps you would like to try that again." " I kin do it a dozen times, if ye aint satisfied. There aint no Yank ever raised on pumpkin pie that can stand ag'in that grapevine twist." " Try the grapevine once more." Bartlett proceeded more cautiously this time, for there was a look in the young man's face he did not quite like. He took a catch-as-catch- can attitude, and moved stealthily in a semi- circle around Yates, who shifted his position constantly so as to keep facing his foe. At last Bartlett sprang forward, a. id the next in- stant found himself sitting on a piece of the lock of the country, with a thousand humming birds buzzing in his head, while stars and the landscape around joined in a dance together. The blow was sudden, well placed, and from the shoulder. " That," said Yates, standing over him, " is 1776 — the Revolution — when, to use your own phrase, we met ye, fit ye, and licked ye. How do you like it } Now, if my advice is of any use to you, take a broader view of history ii m ' I I .1 ;i^ 1 11 38 tn tbc Abidst ot B(arm6. than you have done. Don't confine yourself too much to one period. Study up the War of the Revolution a bit." Bartlett made no reply. After sitting there for a while, until the surrounding landscape as- sumed its normal condition, he arose leisurely, without saying a word. He picked the reins from the backs of the horses and patted the nearest animal gently. Then he mounted to his place and drove off. The professor had taken his seat beside the driver, but Yates, putting on his coat and picking up his cane, strode along in front, switching off the heads of Canada thistles with his walking stick as he proceeded. ihi hel grd m . ,«, t.>-,t.c«ft*«r> rms. le yourself too he War of the sitting there landscape as- ose leisurely, :ed the reins d patted the lounted to his or had taken is, putting on strode along s of Canada le proceeded. M M CHAPTER IV. Bartlett was silent for a long time, but there was evidently something on his mind, for he communed with himself, his mutterings growing louder and louder, until they broke the stillness ; then he struck the horses, pulled them in, and began his soliloquy over again. At last he said abruptly to the professor : " What's this Revolution he talked about ? " " It was the War of Independence, beginning in 1776." " Never heard of it. Did the Yanks fight us? '• The colonies fought with England." " What colonies ? " '• The country now callod the United States." "They fit with England, eh? Which licked ? " "The colonies won their independence." " That means they licked us. I don't believe a word of it. 'Pears to me I'd 'a' heard of it ; fur I've lived in these parts a long time." " It was a little before your day." " So was 1812 ; but my father fit in it, an' I never heard him tell of this Revolution. He'd 'a' known, I sh'd think. There's a nigger in the fence somewheres." " Well, England was rather busy at the time with the French." " Ah, that was it, was it ? I'll bet England never knew the Revolution was a-goin' on till it was over. Old Napoleon couldn't thrash 'em. d '■ \ 'i 40 Kn tbe ^iddt of Blarmd. I 111 I i> and it don't stand to reason that the Yanks could. I thought there was some skullduggery. Why, it took the Yanks four years to lick them- selves. I got a book at home all about Napo- leon. He was a tough cuss." The professor did not feel called upon to defend the character of Napoleon, and so si- lence once more descended upon them. Bart- lett seemed a good deal disturbed by the news he had just heard of the Revolution, and he growled to himself, while the horserj suffered more than usual from the whip and the hauling back that invariably followed the stroke. Yates was some distance ahead, and swinging along at a great rate, when the horses, apparently of their own accord, turned in at an open gateway and proceeded, in their usual leisurely fashion, toward a large barn, past a comfortable frame house with a wide veranda in front. " This is my place," said Bartlett shortly. •* I wish you had told me a few minutes ago," replied the professor, springing off, •' so that I might have called to my friend." " I'm not frettin' about him," said Bartlett, throwing the reins to a young man who came out of the house. Renmark ran to the road and shouted loudly to the distant Yates. Yates apparently did not hear him, but something about the next house attracted the pedestrian's attention, and after standing for a moment and gazing toward the west he looked around and saw the professor beckoning to him. When the two men met, Yates said : '• So we have arrived, have we? I say, Stilly, she lives in the next house. I saw the buggy in the yard." "She.? Who?" " Why, that good-looking girl we passed on the road. I'm going to buy our supplies at kn sar irn tbe /Dbiddt ot Blarms. 41 at the Yanks skullduggery. '< to lick them- about Napo- illed upon to •n, and so si- them. Bart- I by the news ition, and he I'se.o suffered d the hauling roke. Yates 'inging along apparently of »pen gateway irely fashion, rtable frame shortly, linutes ago," , " so that I aid Bartlett, n who came uted loudly ntly did not next house and after toward the e professor men met, say. Stilly, the buggy passed on upplies at that house, Stilly, if you have no objections. By the way, how is my old friend 1812 ? " " He doesn't seem to harbor any harsh feel- ings. In fact, he was more troubled about the Revolution than about the blow you gave him." "News to him, eh.'* Well, I'm glad I knocked something into his head." "You certainly did it most unscientifically." " How do you mean — unscientifically .'' " " In the delivery of the blow. I never saw a more awkwardly delivered undercut." Yates looked at his friend in astonishment. How should this calm, learned man know any- thing about undercuts or science in blows .'* '* Well, you must admit I got there just the same." " Yes, by brute force. A sledge hammer would have done as well. But you had such an opportunity to do it neatly and deftly, with- out any display of surplus energy, that I re- gretted to see such an opening thrown away." " Heavens and earth. Stilly, this is the pro- fessor in a new light ! What do you teach in Toronto University, anyhow ? The noble art of self-defense ? " " Not exactly ; but if you intend to go through Canada in this belligerent manner, I think it would be worth your while to take a few hints from me." " With striking examples, I suppose. By Jove ! I will. Stilly." As the two came to the house they found Bartlett sitting in a wooden rocking chair on the veranda, looking grimly down the road. " What an old tyrant that man must be in his home ! " said Yates. There was no time for the professor to reply before they came within ear- shot. " The old woman's setting out supper," said the farmer grufifly, that piece of information i;': I 4 p.i :l^ If iii 43 tn tbe iSsi^Bt ot Blacms. i I ! i I l> i being apparently as near as he could get to- ward inviting them to share his hospitality. Yates didn't know whether it was meant for an invitation or not, but he answered shortly : " Thanks, we won't stay." " Speak fur yourself, please," snarled Bartlett. " Of course I go with my friend," said Ren- inark ; *' but we are obliged for the invitation." *' Please yourselves." *' What's that ? " cried a cheery voice from the inside of the house, as a stout, rosy, and very good-natured-looking woman appeared at the front door. " Won't stay ? IV/io won't stay? I'd like to see anybody leave my house hungry when there's a meal on the table ! And, young men, if you can get a better meal any- where on the Ridge than what I'll give you, why, you're welcome to go there next time, but this meal you'll have here, inside of ten minutes. Hiram, that's your fault. You always invite a person to dinner as if you wanted to wrastle with him ! " Hiram gave a guilty start, and looked with something of mute appeal at the two men, but said nothing. *' Never mind him," continued Mrs. Bartlett. " You're at my house ; and, whatever my neighbors may say ag'in me, I never heard any- body complain of the lack of good victuals while I was able to do the cooking. Come right in and wash yourselves, for the road between here and the fort is dusty enough, even if Hiram never was taken up for fast driving. Besides, a wash is refreshing after a hot day." There was no denying the cordiality of this invitation, and Yates, whose natural gallantry was at once aroused, responded with the readi- ness of a courtier. Mrs. Bartlett led the way into the house ; but as Yates passed the farmer the latter cleared his throat with an effort, and, 4hro\ (lirecl whisl know! it i that the ji J ;ouIcl get to- hospitality. meant for an shortly : rled Bartlett. ," said Ren- ; invitation." { voice from ut, rosy, and appeared at W/io won't ve my house able ! And, ir meal any- '11 give you, ;xt time, but ten minutes, 'ays invite a I to wrastle looked with ro men, but rs. Bartlett. latever my heard any- tuals while ne right in tween here if Hiram Besides, a ity of this gallantry the readi- 1 the way the farmer effort, and, irn tbe /Ibi06t ot Blarme. 43 throwing his thumb over his shoulder in the direction his wife had taken, said in a husky whisper: " No call to — to mention the Revolution, you know." " Certainly not," answered Yates, with a wink that took in the situation. " Shall we sample the jug before or after supper ? " " After, if it's all the same to you ; " adding, •* out in the barn." Yates nodded, and followed his friend into the house. The young men were shown into a bedroom of more than ordinary size, on the upper floor. Everything about the house was of the most dainty and scrupulous cleanliness, and an air of cheerful comfort pervaded the place. Mrs. Bartlett was evidently a housekeeper to be proud of. Two large pitchers of cool, soft water awaited them, and the wash, as had been pre- dicted, was most refreshing. " I say," cried Yates, *' it's rather cheeky to accept a man's hospitality after knocking him down." " It would be for most people, but I think you underestimate your cheek, as you call it." " Bravo, Stilly ! You're blossoming out. That's rapartee, that is. With the accent on the rap, too. Never you mind ; I think old 1812 and I will get on all right after this. It doesn't seem to bother him any, so I don't see why it should worry me. Nice motherly old lady, isn't she.^ " "Who? 1812?" "No; Mrs. 1812. I'm sorry I complimented you on your repartee. You'll get conceited. Remember that what in the newspaper man is clever, in a grave professor is rank flippancy. Let's go down." The table was covered with a cloth as white * I. ■ ' ' ^ 1 1 i^ w \ M ■ I ir 1. 1 I ii :l; ! IjHl il 44 ITn tbe /Ibidst of Blarma. and spotless as good linen can well be. The bread was genuine homemade, a term so often misused in the cities. It was brown as to crust, and flaky and light as to interior. The butter, cool from the rock cellar, was of a re- freshing yellow hue. The sight of the well- loaded table was most welcome to the eyes of hungry travelers. There was, as Yates after- ward remarked, " abundance, and plenty of it. " " Come, father! " cried Mrs. Bartlett, as the young men appeared ; they heard the rocking chair creak on the veranda in prompt answer to the summons. " This is my son, gentlemen," said Mrs. Bart- lett, indicating the young man who stood in a noncommittal attitude near a corner of the room, The professor recognized him as the person who had taken charge of the horses when his father came home. There was evidently something of his father's demeanor about the young man, who awkwardly and silently responded to the recognition of the strangers. " And this is my daughter," continued the good woman. " Now, what might your names be ? " " My name is Yates, and this is my friend Professor Renmark of T'ronto," pronouncing the name of the fair city in two syllables, as is, alas ! too often done. The professor bowed, and Yates cordially extended his hand to the young woman. " How do you do, Miss Bart- lett ? " he said, " I am happy to meet you." The girl smiled very prettily, and said she hoped they had a pleasant trip out from Fort Erie. " Oh, we had," said Yates, looking for a mo- ment at his host, whose eyes were fixed on the tablecloth, and who appeared to be quite con- tent to let his wife run the show. " The road's a little rocky in places, but it's very pleasant." rm0. Ifn tbc /Ibiddt ot Blarmd. 45 well be. The term so often brown as to interior. The , was of a re- of the well- o the eyes of s Yates after- plenty of it." artlett, as the cl the rocking ompt answer lid Mrs. Bart- ho stood in a :r of the room, le person who len his father ly something : young man, onded to the ontinued the your names s my friend pronouncing 'ables, as is. ssor bowed, and to the Miss Bart- eet you." d said she from Fort • for a mo- xed on the quite con- The road's Dleasant." " Now, you sit down here, and you here," said Mrs. Bartlett ; " and I do hope you have broufjht good appetites with you." The strangers took their places, and Yates had a chance to look at the younger member of the family, which opportunity he did not let slip. It was hard to believe that she was the daughter of so crusty a man as Hiram Bartlett. Her cheeks were rosy, with dimples in them that constantly came and went in her incessant efforts to keep from laughing. Her hair, which hung about her plump shoulders, was a lovely golden brown. Although her dress was of the cheapest material, it was neatly cut and fitted ; and her dainty white apron added that touch of wholesome cleanliness which was so noticeable everywhere in the house. A bit of blue ribbon at her white throat, and a pretty spring flower just below it, completed a charming picture, which a more critical and less susceptible man than Yates might have contemplated with pleasure. Miss Bartlett sat smilingly at one end of the table, and her father grimly at the other. The mother sat at the side, apparently looking on that position as one of vantage for command- ing the whole field, and keeping her husband and her daughter both under her eye. The teapot and cups were set before the young woman. She did not pour out the tea at once, but seemed to be waiting instructions from her mother. That good lady was gazing with some sternness at her husband, he vainly endeavoring to look at the ceiling or anywhere but at her. He drew his open hand nerA'ously down his face, which was of unusual gravity even for him. Finally he cast an appealing glance at his wife, who sat with her hands folded on her lap, but her eyes were unrelent- ing. After a moment's hopeless irresolution « li f.i. ill 46 f n tbe lisi^et of Blarme. !•, Bartlett bent his head over his plate and mur- mured : " For what we are about to receive, oh, make us truly thankful. Amen." Mrs. Bartlett echoed the last word, havinjr also bowed her head when she saw surrender in the troubled eyes of her husband. Now, it happened that Yates, who had seen nothing of this silent struggle of the eyes, being exceedingly hungry, was making every prej)ara- tion for the energetic beginning of the meal. He had spent most of his life in hotels and New York boarding houses, so that if he ever knew the adage, " Grace before meat," he had forgotten it. In the midst of his preparations came the devout words, and they came upon him as a stupefying surprise. Although naturally a resourceful man, he was not quick enough this time to cover his confusion. Miss Bartlett's golden head was bowed, but out of the corner of her eye she saw Yates' look of amazed bewilderment and his sudden halt of surprise. When all heads were raised, the young girl's still remained where it was, while her plump shoulders quivered. Then she covered her face with her apron, and the silvery ripple of a laugh came like a smothered musical chime trickling through her fingers. '* Why, Ki't^y / " cried her mother in as- tonishment, " whatever is the matter with you?" The girl could no longer restrain her mirth. "You'll have to pour out the tea, mother! " she exclaimed, as she fled from the room. " For the land's sake ! " cried the astonished mother, rising to take her frivolous daughter's place, "what ails the child ? I don't see what there is to laugh at." Hiram scowled down the table, and was evi- dently also of the opinion that there was no 0C( in tl wit I Ir m0. ite and niur- ive, oh, make word, havin^T aw surreiult't d. ho had seen le eyes, being very prei)ara- of the meal, n hotels and It if he ever leat," he had preparations came upon . Although as not quick usion. Miss i, but out of ates' look of dden halt of raised, tiie was, while Then she the silvery sred musical ler in as- tiatter with her mirth. Dther!"she I. astonished daughter's I't see what id was evi- ire was no liH In tbe IKsi^et ot Blarmd. 47 occasion for mirth. The professor was equally in the dark. " 1 am afraid, Mrs. Bartlett," said Yates, "that I am the innocent cause of Miss Kitty's mirth. You see, madam — it's a pathetic thing to say, but really I have had no home life. Althoiij^h I attend church regularly, of course," he added with jaunty mendacity, " 1 must con- fess that I haven't heard grace at meals for years and years, and — well, I wasn't just pre- pared for it. I have no doubt I made an ex- hibition of myself, which your daughter was quick to see." " It wasn't very polite," said Mrs. Bartlett with some asperity. " I know that," pleaded Yates with contrition, " but I assure you it was unintentional on my part." "Bless the man!" cried his hostess. "I don't mean you. I mean Kitty. But that girl never couM keep her face straight. She always favored me more than her father." This statement was not difficult to believe, for Hiram at that moment looked as if he had never smiled in his life. He sat silent through- out the meal, but Mrs. Bartlett talked quite enough for two. " Well, for my part," she said, " I don't know what farming's coming to ! Henry Howard and Margaret drove past here this afternoon c'»s proud as Punch in their new covered buggy. Things is very different from what they was when I was a girl. Then a farmer's daughter had to work. Now Margaret's took her diploma at the ladies' college, and Arthur he's begun at the university, and Henry's sporting round in a new buggy. They have a piano there, with the org^n moved out into the back room." " The whole Howard lot's a stuck-up set," muttered the farmer. mi I • \ i '■ l\ (, I ii 48 f n tbe jflbfdat of Blarms* But Mrs. Bartlett wouldn't have that. Any detraction that was necessary she felt com- petent to supply, without help from the nominal head of the house. " No, I don't go so far as to say that. Neither would you, Hiram, if you hadn't lost your law- suit about the line fence ; and served you right, too, for it wouldn't have been begun if I had been at home at the time. Not but what Mar- garet's a good housekeeper, for she wouldn't be her mother's daughter if she wasn't that; but it does seem to me a queer way to raise farmers' children, and I only hope they can keep it up. There were no pianos nor French and German in my young days." " You ought to hear her play! My lands!" cried young Bartlett, who spoke for the first time. His admiration for her accomplishment evidently went beyond his powers of expression. Bartlett himself did not relish the turn the conversation had taken, and he looked some- what uneasily at the two strangers. The pro- fessor's countenance was open and frank, and he was listening with respectful interest to Mrs, Bartlett's talk. Yates bent over his plate with flushed face, and confined himself strictly to the business in hand. •' I am glad," said the professor innocently to Yates, '• that you made the young lady's ac- quaintance. I must ask you for an introduc- tion." For once in his life Yates had nothing to say, but he looked at his friend with an expression that was not kindly. The latter, in answer to Mrs. Bartlett's inquiries, told how they had passed Miss Howard on the road, and how Yates, with his usual kindness of heart, had offered the young woman the hospitalities of the hay rack. Two persons at the table were much relieved when the talk turned to the tent. It i of f n tbe AfOdt of Blarma. 49 ive that. Any she felt com- m the nominal that. Neither lost your law- 'ved you right, egun if I had 3ut what Mar- »e wouldn't be sn't that; but raise farmers' m keep it up. and German My lands!" for the first :omplishment of expression, the turn the ooked some- s. The pro- d frank, and erest to Mrs. is plate with trictly to the nnocently to g lady's ac- m introduc- hing to say, expression answer to they had ' and how heart, had ities of the were much tent. It was young Hiram who brought about this boon. He was interested in the tent, and he wanted to know. Two things seemed to bother the boy : First, he was anxious to learn what diabolical cause had been at work to induce two appar- ently sane men to give up the comforts of home and live in this exposed manner, if they were not compelled to do so. Second, he desired to find out why people who had the privilege of living in large cities came of their own accord into the uninteresting country, anyhow. Even when ex- planations were offered, the problem seemed still beyond him. After the meal they all adjourned to the ver- anda, where the air was cool and the view extensive. Mrs. Bartlett would not hear of the young men pitching the tent that night. "Goodness knows, you will have enough of it, with the rain and the mosquitoes. We have plenty of room here, and you will have one comfortable night on the Ridge, at any rate. Then in the morning you can find a place in the woods to suit you, and my boy will take an ax and cut srake^ .or you, and help to put up your precious tent. Only remember that when it rains you are to come to the house, or you will catch your deaths with cold and rheumatism. It will be very nice till the novelty wears off ; then you are quite welcome to the front rooms u|)stairs, and Hiram can take the tent back to Erie the first time he goes to town." Mrs. Bartlett had a way of taking things for granted. It never seemed to occur to her that any of her rulings might be questioned. Hiram sat gazing silently at the road, as if all this was no affair of his. Yates had refused a chair, and sat on the edge of the veranda, with his back against one of the pillars, in such a position that he might, without turning his head, look through the I'' If i.\ \ -n L ft ! U '^ 1 • ■ u 50 Hn tbe A^idat ot Blarma. I . ; >; ;; i! open doorway into the room where Miss Bart- lett was busily but silently clearing away the tea things. The young man caught fleeting glimpses of her as she moved airily about her work. He drew a cigar from his case, cut off the end with his knife, and lit a match on the sole of his boot, doing this with an easy auto- matic familiarity that required no attention on his part ; all of which aroused the respectful envy of young Hiram, who sat on a wooden chair, leaning forward, eagerly watching the man from New York. "Have a cigar?" said Yates, offering the case to young Hiram. " No, no ; thank you," gasped the boy, aghast at the reckless audacity of the proposal. " What's that ? " cried Mrs. Bartlett. Al- though she was talking volubly to the professor, her maternal vigilance never even nodded, much less slept. " A cigar ? Not likely ! I'll say this for my husband and my boy : that, what- ever else they may have done, they have never smoked nor touched a drop of liquor since I've known them, and, please God, they never will." " Oh, I guess it wouldn't hurt them," said Yates, with a lack of tact that was not habitual. He fell several degrees in the estimation of his hostess. " Hurt 'em ? " cried Mrs. Bartlett indig- nantly. " I guess it won't get a chance to." She turned to the professor, who was a good listener — respectful and deferential, with little to say for himself. She rocked gently to and fro as she talked. Her husband sat unbendingly silent, in a sphinxiike attitude that gave no outward indica- tion of his .nental uneasiness. He was thinking gloomily that it would be just his luck to meet Mrs. Bartlett unexpectedly in the streets of Fort Erie on one of those rare occasions when V he Isonl I \\vA ••'hinl ;ha(f ceai ;:' nes :; cig;|l ■ natil He pac< of He his ! ■"•^^ggP^' " ' "" " arma. here Miss Bart- aring away the caught fleeting lirily about lier is case, cut off I match on the an easy auto- 10 attention on the respectful on a wooden watching the 5, offering the he boy, aghast jposal. Bartlett. Al- the professor, nodded, much opeIhaven'.icep.youwamn^',„„^„^^ feff a° mfnmeSer Jh"" ^""«'- " " breaJ: "Laws I h ^^''*" ■' " '''' y^-'" e.datec^]S^:%" would -^"-e, Mr. «= no, have forgoZVlTboT " '"y- ^"^ "^e u wealthy, and w\%q » ';',Onhrsfr?±'':^-.r-'.M.. Va.es ■• looked admirinlivat .fc,^"'' young H,>am h<^, w« as clever ""= ^^^ Yorker^„"L?ng .«"th °ruetS;t^''',oried Mrs. Bar.Jet, ''°."P =0 late as .hat'i "'^""y- " What do yo"' <^'« thaf Klvn'^;"'^''^ Yates airily. ..,„■ ^7d wl,ich cal'^forth " 'r!"^ -^^'^or^^'i Vo:^?Hira'^Vr -^^''"^ " '"'^' ^"''' Session asaton™ofl"° P»"«"«wi,h ones nm «^^"tureposr„tarhe&- TheteVt^^d s'ne burning question with arms. f n tbe ASiddt of Blarms* 57 liting long," he }' " If break- clock, we soon They get pre- 5- '* Then do uld make, Mr. -tt, laughing, the house and I— everything. >ade than the boy, and like d wise.' If. Yates." 's with some " get out a I'm healthy >fessor here, iser than he wo o'clock, '"g Hiram -r, wishing 5. Bartlett, »at do you tly; "arti- morning, fbel suits me 's pro- tent and tion with him. He mumbled something about Yates hav- ing slept late in order to avoid the hearing of the words of thankfulness at the beginning of the meal. What his parents caught of this remark should have shown them how evil communica- tions corrupt good manners ; for, big as he was, the boy had never before ventured even to hint at ridicule on such a subject. He was darkly frowned upon by his silent father, and sharply repri;nanded by his voluble mother. Kitty apparently thought it rather funny, and would like to have laughed. As it was, she contented herself with a sly glance at Yates, who, incredi- ble as it may seem, actually blushed at young Hiram's allusion to the confusing incident of the day before. The professor, who was a kind-hearted man, drew a herring across the scent. " Mr. Bartlett has been good enough," said he, changing the subject," to say we may camp in the woods at the back of the farm. I hav^e been out there this morning, and it certainly is a lovely spot." " We're awfully obliged, Mr. Bartlett," said Yates. " Of course Renmark went out there merely to show the difference between the ant and the butterfly. You'll find out what a hum- bug he is by and by, Mrs. Bartlett. He looks honest ; but you wait." " I know just the spot for the tent," cried young Hiram — " down in the hollow by the creek. Then you won't need to haul water." " Yes, and catch their deaths of fever and ague," said Mrs. Bartlett. Malaria had not then been invented. " Take my advice, and put your tent — if you wt7i put it up at all — on the highest ground you can find. Hauling water won't hurt you." " I agree with you, Mrs. Bartlett. It shall be so. My friend uses no water — you ought to ' iji >. 1 1' ! Br'35a» V hi 58 f n tbe /l^tOet ot Blarms. have seen his bill at the Buffalo hotel. I have it somewhere, and am going to pin it up on the outside of the tent as a warning to the youth of this neighborhood — and what water I need I can easily carry up from the creek." The professor did not defend himself, and Mrs. Bartlett evidently took a large discount from all that Yates said. She was a shrewd woman. After breakfast the men went out to the barn. The horses were hitched to the wagon, which still contained the tent and fittings. Young Hiram threw an ax and a spade among the canvas folds, mounted to his place, and drove up the lane leading to the forest, followed by Yates and Renmark on foot, leaving the farmer in his barnyard with a cheery good-by, which he did not see fit to return. First, a field of wheat ; next, an expanse of waving hay that soon would be ready for the scythe ; then, a pasture field, in which some young horses galloped to the fence, gazing for a moment at the harnessed horses, whinnying sympathetic- ally, off the next with flying heels wildly flung in the air, rejoicing in their own contrast of liberty, standing at the farther corner and snort- ing defiance to all the world ; last, the cool shade of the woods into which the lane ran, losing its identity as a wagon road in diverging cow paths. Young Hiram knew the locality well, and drove direct to an ideal place for camping. Yates was enchanted. He included all that section of the country in a sweeping wave of his hand, and burst forth : *' • This is the spot, the center of the grove : There stands the oak, the monarch of the wood; In such a place as this, at such an hour, We'll raise a tent to ward of? sun and shower.' \| hour.-l tion. you SI •' 1; Sh;ik(j 1 calcl ten til literati This i "It towar "E more scienc my bo long- that C( spade.' Yat( Shakespeare improved." I have it up on the e youth of I need I nself, and discount a shrewd the barn, on, which . Young nong the [ud drove lowed by he farmer which he :panse of y for the me young I moment pathetic- dly flung ntrast of id snort- the cool ane ran, iverging locality ace for ncluded veeping wood, wer.' ' •ffn tbc /RiDst of Blarme. 59 •' I think you are mistaken," said Renmark. " Not a bit of it. Couldn't be a better camp- ing grounc " Yes ; I know that. I picked it out two hours ago. But you were wrong in your quota- tion. It is not by Shakespeare and yoiirstlt", as you seem to think." " Isn't it .'' Some other fellow, eh ? Well, if Shake, is satisfied, I am. Do you know, Reimy, 1 calculate that, line for line, I've written about ten times as much as Shakespeare. Uo the literati recognize that fact .-^ Not a bit of it. This is an ungrateful world, Stilly." " It is, Dick. Now, what are you going to do toward putting up the tent ? " " Everything, my boy, everything. I know .Tiore about putting up tents than you do about science, or whatever you teach. Now, Hiram, my boy, you cut me some stakes about two feet long — stout ones. Here, professor, throw off that coat and nigligd manner, and grasp this spade. I want some trenches dug." Yates certainly made good his words. He understood the putting up of tents, his experi- ence in the army being not yet remote. Young Hiram gazed with growing admiration at Yates' deftness and evident knowledge of what he was about, while his contempt for the professor's futile struggle with a spade entangled in tree roots was hardly repressed. " Better give me that spade," he said at length ; but there was an element of stubborn- ness in Renmark's character. He struggled on. At last the work was completed, stakes driven, ropes tightened, trenches dug. Yates danced, and gave the war whoop of the country. " Thus the canvas tent has risen, All the slanting stakes are driven, Stakes of oak and stakes of beechwood : A. If' :| , I ; I I ;l I I 60 In tbc ^f^dt of Blarme. Mops his brow, the tired professor ; Grins with satisfaction, Miram ; Dances wildly, the reporter — Calls aloud for gin and water. Longfellow, old man, Longfellow. Bet you a dollar on it ! " And the frivolous Yates poked the professor in the ribs. " Richard," said the latter, " I can stand only a certain amount of this sort of thing. I don't wish to call any man a fool, but you act remark- ably like one." '•Don't be mealy-mouthed, Renny; call a spade a spade. By George ! young Hiram has gone off and forgotten his And the ax, too ! Perhaps they're left for us. He's a good fel- low, is young Hiram. A fool .^ Of course I'm a fool. That's what I came for, and that's what I'm going to be for the next two weeks. ' A fool — a fool, I met a fool i' the forest ' — just the spot for him. Who could be wise here after years of brick and mortar? "Where are your eyes, Renny," he cried, " that you don't grow wild when you look around you ? See the dappled sunlight filtering through the leaves ; listen to the murmur of the wind in the branches ; hear the trickle of the brook down there ; notice the smooth bark of the beech and the rugged covering of the oak ; smell the wholesome woodland scents. Ren- mark, you have no soul, or you could not be so unmoved. It is like paradise. It is Say, Renny, by Jove, I've forgotten that jug at the barn ! " " It will be left there." " Will it ? Oh, well, if you say so." "I do say so. I looked around for it this morning to smash it, but couldn't find it." " Why didn't you ask old Bartlett ? " " I did ; but he didn't know where it was." Yates threw himself down on the moss and Bet you Yates us tand only I don't ;t remark- y; call a liram has le ax, too ! good fei- )urse I'm nd that's o weeks. ;st ' — just /ise here he cried, ^ou look t filtering lurof the of the bark of the oak ; Ren- ot be so -■ Say, at the it this t was. 3SS and In tbc Ai50t ot Blarme. 61 laughed, flinging his arms and legs about with the joy of living. " Say, Culture, have you got any old disrep- utable clothes with you ? Well, then, go into the tent and put them on; then come out and lie on your back and look up at the leaves. You're a good fellow, Renny, but decent clothes spoil you. You won't know yourself when you get ancient duds on your back. Old clothes mean freedom, liberty, all that our ancestors fought for. When you come out, we'll settle who's to cook and who to wash dishes. I've settled it already in my own mind, bui I am not so selfish as to refuse to discuss thf maKer with you." When the professor came out of the temt, Yates roared. Renmark himself smiled ; he knew the effect would appeal to Yates. " By Jove ! old man, I ought to have incli;rled a mirror in the outfit. The look of learru"d r.^- spectability, set off with the garments of a d'*i- reputable tramp, makes a combination that is simply killing. Well, you can't spoil /Aai suit, anyhow. Now sprawl." " I'm very comfortable standing up, thank you." " Get down on your back. You hear me ? " " Put me there." " You mean it ? " asked Yates, sitting up. " Certainly." " Say, Renny, beware. I don't want to hurt you." "I'll forgive you for once. " " On your head be it." " On my back, you mean." "That's not bad, Renny," cried YateSj springing to his feet. " Now, it will hurt. You have fair warning. I have spoken." The young men took sppivring attitudes. Yates tried to do it gently at first, but, finding m f 1 W 1 ^ 1 • 1 1 1 62 ^e couJd more If" tbe mbst Of alarms. "ot touch h opponent, struck "lore earnestly air;,,n X • ' ' °"^"^' si This we.u o„'^'„:Su%"l'^ ''•'■-'"y a'-ounci his foot with the w. '"°^«"^ent. swun^r was a kick." ^' ^^'^^ ^vasn't fair. That ** No, it wasn'f Tf • touch. 1 ,ea„,e.| i ' .-f J?;,^^'^ %'""« ^'^"^1^ there, you know ■ a.u it • .^'"=y <^'' kick •o use your feet as we 1 ' 1?°°^^ '° ''"°'V hovv set on by three a, I ,! y"""" ''^ts if you are Quarter." ""• ^' ' "'^^ °ne night in the Lau'" Yates sat up. Pans'-.?'' '"'• ^^"--k •• when were you i„ "Several times " ^Ja.esga^e.,athi„,fora/ew,no,nen,s,then nev'e^""^' IZlT^ir °" ^^l^^-'ance I teach n.e that litttkick " "^ '""■ ^°" musj VVith pleasure " q^.V! r> f own, while the other sn^Ll ?""'?''' ^'^^'ng •Teaching is my business^i ^^'/"" '^'^^'^h o;xercise any talentsT ''. u' ^ ^^^" '^e glad Jn Endeavoring to^nt ""^ ^^^^ '" that hne the first step ?s^o:onWnce'him V^ ^'"^ -"" know everythine- Th.. V" ^^^^ ^e doesn't ^^--il,. ,ver",?hinjtrea":y .^^ '""^"" P°'"'- dehcous sylvan re reat ^ ^ '"'S'ven. This acrimonious dispute or > nt "°'n'*"'' "^^'f to lf'"S- Let clo^s ■»" Per^hans you cl,oose^as .h^ sce^e irf*"''^^^^ '^™ho"3e Bread is always handv fn L y""' operations stale. When i^ doubt buv t" ^^ P' ^"^'^^ or can never eo wrnnX , / ""ore bread Vn,, ;: What el^eXufd fg .' ^ te^^-'i •• ^ Certanly; efroro V */ ^'^'^' ^ suppose ? " will be more vL^uihl^ /i"*' °" ^^^^ to^et X; " Have you all h ''^" "^'"^•" need?" ^^^ ^" *^e cooking utensils you the outfit" sa^d ■JwL'''Jlt"J?"' "'''°'" I hired •Ve^;'::;r";f^e?°Xt-.. °0"^.-essh^ clothes, J„ '• ,f^;- wau , J ^,^ ^ My dear fellow be adufd!^ /^^ ^^''^d-" You'll get everything t wen.?''' "^"^ ^^^"'t change that rig-out. Bes.des v" ^ ^'' ^^"^- ^^^eaper^n p;cturesque. Your cosZ/'" '° '""^'^ "^o e starvation if v, e run shortTf^. ""u^ '^^^ "« ^ om ^nough for both of us as a n '''> .^°" ^an gTt P*;. well, if you insist Ai P'-^fessional tramp - thrown a Jay on r,:;a^\'i,:-:,-„,Pood advic'e f! ^ % i> % CHAPTER VI. • -i,'t ensils you om I hired 'ubtless he hange my -pad." 't change. 'heaper in Jch more us f om can get tramp. d advice Margaret Howard stood at the kitchen table kneading dough. The room was called the kitchen, which it was not, except in winter. The stove was moved out in spring to a lean-to, easily reached through the open door leading to the kitchen veranda. When the stove went out or came in, it marked the approach or the departure of summer. It was the heavy pendulum whose swing this way or that indicated the two great changes of the year. No job about the farm was so much disliked by the farmer and his boys as the semiannual removal of the stove. Soot came down, stovepipes gratingly grudged to go together again ; the stove was heavy and cumbersome, and many a pain in a rural back dated from the journey of the stove from out- house to kitchen. The kitchen itself was a one-story building, which projected back from the two-story farm- house, giving the whole a T-shape. There was a veranda on each side of the kitchen, as well as one along the front of the house itself. Margaret's sleeves were turned back nearly to her elbows, showing a pair of white and shapely arms. Now and then she deftly dusted the kneading board with flour to prevent the dough sticking, and as she pressed her open palms into the smooth, white, spongy mass, the table groaned protestingly. She cut the roll with a knife into lumps that were patted r rv ''■. ill 'J' i ill 5 ■ T'l 3 ' 1 1 ■} I u» 66 into shapi »" fbc mt>et Of niavme. star 'jy, resides. np.o-M.„..'^'^^'^^ that hm,.- ^/ Of w^'come bn, "^^"^"i no word ' /" " ''^' '" " Good m "'■'' '^'-'e- ' "■"'' ''" blithely :^°r"'?8-. Miss Howan. • ■ , -Vdf'^e^rJ;T::-!^-'^etr,^rr- took the t ""?'^"ed to7nvile h"'""'"^ ««'- ^eatinl hi&,'''!',''''°" for gramed ^ '."' •"" '>e Wort " ok ^^cuse me for rr^- ^""^^ to stav noT::;a,^!i^ -"ded; " bre^d r,L°"s,r '" "^^^ " Certainlv ^* "''" '"lerrupi you "f {"'"'y- Please do no, i . a'rf^af ""'■ ■"''.arwT^'^-y -""-': Tor^ 4F/^e^.'-"''°-^-2o^f.tt'n it for r.-nt "?^^ ^ '"eant it r " ',V^'y ^ould » f US. irn tbc ^lD6t of Blarmg. 67 like hillocks at the open ned round, tliat hour of ' made such :nock. The ed the man before. He I his hat in greeting or 1. with her said Yates »een knock- front door d." ered Mar- in, bui he d entered, e to stay, with my stage will ot let me :)read for that you see if I u some poor; but, then, most of my jokes are rather shopworn." " I am afraid I lack a sense of humor." " All women do," said Yates with easy con- fidence. " At least, all I've ever met." Yates was sitting in a wooden chair, which he now placed at the end of the table, tilting it back until his shoulders rested against the wall. His feet were upon the rung, and he waved his hat back and forth, fanning himself, for it was warm. In this position he could look up at the face of the pretty girl before him, whose smooth brow was touched with just the slightest indi- cation of a faint frown. ^ She did not even fjlance at the self-confident young man, but kept her eyes fixed resolutely on her work. In the silence the table creaked as Margaret kneaded the dough. Yates felt an unaccus- tomed sensation of embarrassment creeping over him, and realized that he would have to re-erect the conversation on a new basis. It was manifestly absurd that a resourceful New Yorker, who had conversed unabashed with presidents, senators, generals, and other great people of a great nation, should be put out of countenance by the unaccountable coldness of a country girl in the wilds of Canada. " I have not had an opportunity of properly in- troducing myself," he said at last, when the creaking of the table, slight as it was, became in- supportable. " My name is Richard Yates, and I come from New York. I am camping out in this neighborhood to relieve, as it were, a mental strain — the result of years of literary work." Yates knew from long experien^-e that the quickest and surest road to a woman's conti- dence was through her sympathy. " Mental strain " struck him as a good phrase, indicating michiight oil and the hollow eye of the devoted student. I' ■ ■ 1-4 . . mm r I :^ 68 ! * *" '^« ^'58t Of aiarma. dark-eyecl look at hini! ^' "^ "'^ '^'■^' ""'«, a "'anfeu;, Jf^f/j ^^^"Shed uneasily. He had that you evidently think m\,T " ''^ >"""• '°ne You should not ju "e brZ'"''""" '"«Ser. Howard. Most of us are be»i''!f *""^' ^iss pessimists to the Lt, ^" ""3" we seem Well, as I nas savinTth? ""'""^standing consists of two par "L w'""P'"S <=ompan*^: "> every respect th^a ve are i^feT^ .»« diff^rem My partner is Mr. St Ilson R. ^" °' '■•'^"'Is. Of something or oth^l!l" S^S' Pg^-o^ i"t^'stttS^^^o'rrs&-' exhibited some ^.^ Professor Renmark .» "l have heard of " Dear me ' T h^^ • i professor had' penetrated f^"" '^^ ^^"^« of the oHhe universitv^f ^''^y^"^' t^ie precincK He told mel^h ^a t'he"rP'^-'^^ p'^^^"" ^ut I suspected at he Ume'?h'?P''°^^"^^"t^. Penny's brag " ^""^ ^^^t was merely Va^s\t7uicT tfse^'ttTh ^i^^-^' -"i agam. if, i„;ieed, he hid ev.V ■ ^''.''«' S™"'"! J-e began to doubt She fv''^'' .^"y- ^'"^h rehsh his glib talk about the ?'""»' '"'' "ot was just about to sav .L ,f • """;e''=">'- He about that institution'^ for hi "^ deferentially who would speak d s^^sneCfnll "'r T « ""an ■f he thoughi he n1^?f !. "y,"' •''e equator I ,1 I: I y. He had >y your tone ent meager, ances. Miss in we seem, ithstanding. g company so different ■ of friends. <, professor ty College. heard of me of the * precincts precincts, ovements, as merely ened, and ground ly, which did not ity. He rentially a man equator with his urred to entered »tinued, t least, Tiaking Hn tbc /ftiDst of Blarms. 69 itself visible in time for a man to enjoy it. Pro- fessor Kenmark is a man so worthy that I was rather astonished to learn that you knew of him. I am glad for his sake that it is so, for no man more thoroughly deserves fame than he." " I know nothing of him," said Margaret, "except what my brother has written. My brother is a student at the university." " Is he really ? And what is he going in for ? " "A good education." Vates laughed. " Well, that is an all-round hand^ ^ing for a person to have about him. I often wish I had had a university training. Still, it is not valued in an American newspaper office as much as night be. Yet," he added in a tone that showed he did not desire to be unfair to a man of education, "' I have known some university men who became passably good reporters in time." The girl made no answer, but attended strictly to the work in hand. She had the rare gift of silence, and these intervals of quiet abashed Yates, whose most frequent boast was that he could outtalk any man on earth. Opposition, or even abuse, merely served as a spur to his volubility, but taciturnity discon- certed him. " Well," he cried at length, with something like desperation, " let us abandon this animated discussion on the subject of education, and take up the more practical topic of bread. Would you believe. Miss Howard, that I am an expert in bread making .'' " '* I think you said already that you made your bread." " Ah, yes, but I meant then that I made it by the sweat of my good lead pencil. Still, I have . i i it I. 11 I' in .! .! I| 70 . J i ' W !i »'• tbc asibet Of alarms. 11?^'°'-"''^ I believe „.a, so., iface o, ■mo a trough maeir man just in from fill L , ' ^ '''S lumber- for b^ ' VeT'" '^"-n.r^o ^.rhfl -" li^fj-r^i^-^i^^rfis^rv--"'-^^^^^^^ sary, he is content t^ 5 '^^"y ^vashing- nerec ^"^h an appftite o? mS'"^ P-Per."!fa ha '"a^n^of the woods/' '"''^^"^"eous stufif as the ancJ the surface of th*» f^ki ' "^^ ^''sapneareH Vh&'- ^f' -"o^n'^/tr ,r *■-"'«' With- '^""^=^"'---vVrp^,arii£Vhi^,S the ^/' rni0. 'eve that some f-' alive to-day. '""e is some. to think of jt. P one winter sack of fiour Jour in a pail ,^vith a hoe •'■'s assistant "ig small or [ was in the ^ len." P'aced, Miss >r having to 'len brougfit They never Jtl, although ^Jing about a thresh- '. but their [iff Jumber- ^ough, and abbledote ' J be wants i"g neces- - meal. I r. that has uff as the ites could <■ in spite fie pans, e middle ppeared, . With she had ly white ^ble and e placid (III tbc /Ibi^et Of "Unrris. 71 face of a pond in the moonlight. Yates realized that the way to success lay in keei)ing the con- versation in his own hands and not (lej)ending 'on any response. In this way a man may best display the store of knowledge he possesses, to the admiration and bewilderment of his audi- ence, even though his store consists merely of samples like the outfit of a commercial traveler ; yet a commercial traveler who knows his busi- ness can so arrange his samples on the table of his room in a hotel that they give the onlooker an idea of the vastness and wealth of the ware- houses from which they are drawn. " Bread," said Yates with the serious air of a very learned man, " is a most interesting sub- ject. It is a historical subject — it is a biblical subject. As an article of food it is mentioned oftener in the Bible than any other. It is used in parable and to point a moral. ' Ye must not live on bread alone.' " From the suspicion of a twinkle in the eye of his listener he feared he had not quoted correctly. He knew he was not now among that portion of his samples with which he was most familiar, so he hastened back to the historical aspect of his subject. Few people could skate over thinner ice than Richard Yates, but his natural shrewdness always caused him to return to more solid footing. " Now, in this country bread has gone through three distinct stages, and although I am a strong believer in progress, yet, in the case of our most important article of food, I hold that the bread of to-day is inferior to the bread our mothers used to make, or perhaps, I should say, our grandmothers. This is, un- fortunately, rapidly becoming the age of machinery — and machinery, while it may be quicker, is certainly not so thorough as old- fashioned hand work. There is a new^ writer ^Wv'\ U]^' ■A\i ■'AH. w u ' ifii ''! '" »c most Of alarms. abolished-.-,, le,7,' «.7 '''°"''' lil"'< 'nm ' b"' not to the girl that b''f '? "'« professo word of Ruski,f in |^f ,i" ''il'.' ""er re.-,d a had made to him he haH h V'" *""«'on he "se, and he had worked l^.^'"''' ^<"nerne else now with telling 7Ct ;"».''" ^''"^'^ ^efo e looked welling newsDaoe^ .^'■- ^"''"" ^^V^ '■ atr of erudition and rSl ^°'"'""' giving an however, was no, Vtbeltl\'*- ^'- ^ates, pared to enter into a Vl?c? ■ "' "oment pre- age or the merits onheEnS" °" ""'«^"'<= , ' Ah, well," he said ^?^^" "'"'«''• °f course, Ruski^ ?s no, '!,'L''"'^='">' 'Peaking, meant was that he is ?Ll, t" ■"""• What I York as_,hat is-you W °"-^''-'" New new-comparatively new R~,*"'°"'P»fatively about bread, the old ^n^'h "'• ^' ' was saying I might calli,, producefth "'' "\°' ''^^^^ '"! ever made in this coumrv t?' ''""^'°"» l°af "s ng kind, and was bak?;. """' ""^ ^alt- bottomed iron keX n ■ i^ '" * '■o""''. flat- J thmk Mrs. Bariletf i,, never uses i, now ""warnir' ?'""'"«'' »he embers, was it not ? " P'"*^*'' on the hot «haUheg!?i;rs''ha''wtg' ".°fe*'"' P'«'"^« ^' '^^ "« expressed it to H I I s very bitter ^^ to see it will send for ^ u. if you will I not call the •The Seven My father t be nearly ^rgaret had varcl to the t took him e professor, ver read a illusion he rnerne else tide before skin says " giving an Mr. Yates, ment pre- either the r. speaking, What I —in New 3aratively as saying bread, as ous loaf he salt- nd, fiat- see the Ligh she the hot )Ieasure :d it to "I N f n tbe Ubi^Bt of Blarm0. 73 himself. " The hot coals were drawn out and the kettle placetl upon them. When the lid was in position, hot coals were put on the top of it. The bread was firm and white and sweet inside, with the most delicious golden brown crust all around. Ah, that was bread ! but perhaps I appreciated it because I was always hungry in those days. Then canje the alleged improve- ment of the tin Dutch oven. That was the second stage in the evolution of bread in this country. It also belonged to the log-house and open-fireplace eia. Bread baked by direct heat frcm the tire and reflected heat from the polished tin. I think our present cast-iron stove arrange- ment is preferable to that, although not up to the old-time kettle." If Margaret had been a reader of the New York Argus, she would have noticed that the facts set forth by her visitor had already ap- peared in that paper, much elaborated, in an article entitled " Our Daily Bread." In the pause that ensued after Yates had finished his dissertation on the staff of life the stillness was broken by a long wailing cry. It began with one continued, sustained note, and ended with a wail half a tone below the first. The girl paid no attention to it, but Yates started to his feet. *' In the name of What's that ? " Margaret smiled, but before she could an- swer the stillness was again broken by what appeared to be the more distant notes of a bugle. " The first," she said, " was Kitty Bartlett's voice calling the men home from the field for dinner. Mrs. Bartlett is a very good house- keeper, and is usually a few minutes ahead of the neighbors with the meals. The second was the sound of a horn farther up the road. It is what you would deplore as the age of tin ap- f y hi:' 1 t 74 »» tbc most Of alarms. I'f( ',( '>"nM,r ,|,e „.„.„,•, .il.'f,'!,'''' you use.i,|,i „,: -a'sVmetfdT" '.'If """^ °f Va,es ,hae ,„, inat his visit had nnt , J"^^^^st him. He {dt quest for bread had bwn ™ ,' <^°"''se the He had expected to be?K."'^''''>' ^" "cuse favorable iinpression he u!" '? 'f •■•« "-e unl 's jaunty conversation on th' p' ^<' ""ade by day before, and he ,ean^» . !J*"'S^ ^oad the was still the same A j'!f ■' '"',' ^is posit on f"" m life came fro„,^?°''/'--" «' Vales' sic" knew when he wa belted 'h' '^f "^ "ever 'e eat now, but he saw he I,.,) f ''"' "<" ^''mit not gamed anv arl^,„. ': 'o"" some reason s ormish. He "incited if L'", ,\ P^elim.nary tire m good order 31 °''''' *•« well to re- so.me future time H^ ""^ "'« contest at •^""ff like a rebuff th^anlf- '2 '!""'«'' '"any ^e.re up in arms and (,» '"^%litmff qualities "nunpressionable g f .ha,T°'^"' '<> 'hovv ,h " bel.gluly valued. ^ "" ''^ *^^ "o' a man to of 'he'hous'e' o^etd"" 'T, "I^ """" Ponion woman hardly y^,'"'^: ^"'\ „"'e.e entered a °"- ^een ulfo^b^.^^'l.^S;-- who "- 110. tn tbc /IMDat of Blaring. 75 f^iir tin oven il" The reply was inaudible. "Oh, you know whom I mean. That con- ceited city fellow." There was evidently an admonition and i warning. " Well, I don't care if he does. I'll tell him so to his face. It might do him good." Next moment there appeared a pretty vision in the doorway. On the fair curls, which were flying about her shoulders, had been carelessly place| ;uul riiniul loveU] "II aiul, \\ here, j;i)ing| 1IV4 ;c! manner ramp, and re or less ward ? " .said Mrs. "She is deal and :I all the Margaid s put an ive much I and the the pro- : ; for he re Mrs. ly there , where Ues had Ring to ?here?" at con- and i ell hin) vision 1 weie elessly f n tbe Albiddt of Blarma. 17 placed her brother's straw hat, with a broad and torn brim. Her face was flushed with running ; and of the fact that she was a very lovely girl there was not the slightest doubt. "How de do?' she said to Mrs. Howard, and, nodding to Vates, cried : " I knew you were here, but I came over to make sure. There's j^oing to be war in our house. Mother's made a prisoner of the professor already, but he doesn't know it. He thinks he's going back to tlie tent, and she's packing up the things he wanted, and doing it awfully slow, till I get back. He said you would be sure to be wait- wv^ for him out in the woods. We both told him there was no fear of that. You wouldn't leave a place where there was good cooking for all the professors in the world." " You are a wonderful judge of character. Miss Hartlett," said Yates, somewhat piqued by her frankness. " Of course I am. The professor knows ever so much more than you, but he doesn't know when he's well off, just the same. You do. He's a quiet, stubborn man." " And which do you admire the most, Miss Hartlett — a quiet, stubborn man, or one who is conceited ? " Miss Kitty laughed heartily, without the slii,dUest trace of embarrassment. " Detest, you mean. I'm sure 1 don't know. Margaret, which is the most objectionable } " Margaret looked reproachfully at her neigh- '.)'.. on being thus sudde ly questioned, but said nothing. Kitty, laughing again, sprang toward her friend, dabbed a little kiss, like the peck of a bird, on each cheek, cried : " Well, I must be off, or mother will have to tie up the professor to keep him," and was off accordingly with the speed and lightness of a young fawn. j , 1 f .i ^» II '. Ih- 78 ^n tbc mt^st Of alarms. flutt Extraorcl .'"-yy girl.; remarked Y. 5!' «( ^'iTls andlral'ir icalli Sh e is a good girj, 'CO dress d ites, as the 'sappeared But d B/es s me. I said noth cried Margaret eniph at- "g to the cont Yat ' ^"n t you think she k JX . contr.irv oP'-nions about ot In '''^;^'/'-^^ ^^"' es. "' o^'^er people?" asked 'She did not know that /learing when she first s no -. ^'°V T""^ ^^'t''in a kind girl and cr. . ,^ ''^'" ^^''y- But sh -ouIdni;havrtaC^;^r^^!^^!.-therwiL1 ^^ere merely because vr>. '."'''^ ^o come over riy Oh. R es shi appened to V-es,as'^5.'^,S^;:g,I'-3uHy, to stand moment aoo. j I ^o^'ght I vv, un for h ■^''"'^ '''" ^'*'^"^'' up ror hers. " a^ i ^e IS a martyr to d as sh was said e Was say in 'g a IS at the c uty. and if I ■P '"m. Now he vvill Zl?' "°^^'"«" ^^'«u''ci peace when he know ' ,„ "'7 ^°°^' ^'mner in and good dinn -'If- ' ^\ouZ'^,":-^ "-, h^ ;;:^, Bv t\ had d brotl I's time the sil e cook i no get )r(.\-id ler arriv "^e'tswork.a;:^^^^:^"^[.;;V?'^^p«'^ ■^'-nved from the fiel i^ t. ^"^^^^'^ '''"'I .'^traw hats on the roof \7 ^'"^ *'^e'> veranda, and. takinjr w t.r °^ '^^^ '^'fch t'>e rain barrel. nltZ^Tj'' ^ ^."^ basin fr en '" 'f he had ,-, sy, ,,a ' i^^^^ he could .duavs showed an easv f- n,i • -""'''ei-ce. and he people of this eaVel, I"''"^ "■'''' "'^ g'eal ;»■•"• who had read nue, 'ont ''^"^^'"ifio a "' a measure, lockec ou o 'J' '"" "'"' «■■'«■ V-s knew ,.,an, ouL-^r^erlrili^X- Yates, as the 'Appeared, aret eniphat- f n tbc /RiD0t of Blarms. 79 he contrary. 1 at free with asked le ? " ■vere within ^ter that she But she's lervvise she > come over appened to urly," said as she was 5 saying a . and if he •ng would I dinner in >g for him, - wili get e flagpole It her and put their - kitchen isin from outside ested in parently i alwavs and he e great rtii: to a ho was, : world, he late war, and all of the politicians. Of the latter there was not an honest man among them, according to tlie reporter; of the former there were few who had not made Mie most ghastly mistakes. He looked on the world as a vast hoard of commonplace people, wherein the men of real genius were buried out of sight, if there were any men of genius, which he seemed to doubt, and those on the top were thf^re either througii their own intrigues or because they h;id been forced up by circumstances. His opinions sometimes caused a look of j)ain to cross the face of the older man, who was en- thusiastic in his quiet way, and had his heroes. He would have been a strong Republican if he had lived in the States ; and he had watched the four-years' struggle, througii the papers, with keen and absorbed interest. The North had been fighting, in his opinion, for the great and undying principle of human liberty, and had deservedly won. Yates had no such delu- sion. It was a politicians' war, he said. Principle wasn't in it. The North would have been quite willing to let slavery stand if the situation had not been forced by the firing on Fort Sumter. Then the conduct of the war did nr)t at all meet the approval of Mr. Yates. " Oh. yes," he said, " I suppose Grant will go down into history as a great general. Tlie truth is that he sim|)ly knew how to subtract. That is all there is in it. He ha:! the additional hoon of an utter lack of imagination. We had many generals who were greater than Grant, hut they were troubled with imaginations, imagination will ruin the best general in the world. Now, lake yourself, for exami)le. If you were to kill a man unintentionally, your conscience would trouble you all the rest of your life. Think how you would feel, then, if vou were to cause the death of ten thousand I 'i'!! 1 1. ■" ir ■i Hi f f I n 1; (■> \i r I lip '. t !i 80 Hn tbc /IBiDst ot IHlarms. men all in a lump. It would break you down. The mistake an ordinary man makes may re- sult in the loss of a few dollars, which can he replaced ; but if a general makes a mistake, the loss can never be made up, for his mistakes are estimated by the lives of men. He says * Go ' when hr should have said 'Come.' He says ' Attack ' when he should have said * Retreat. Wliat is the result? Five, ten. or fifteen thou- sand men, many of them better men than he is, left dead on the field. Grant had nothing of this feeling. He simply knew how to subtract, as I said before. It is like this : You have fifty thousand men and I have twenty-tive thou- sand. When I kill twenty-five thousand of your men and you kill twenty-five thousand ot my men, you have twenty-five thousand left and I have none. You are the victor, and the thoughtless crowd howls about you, but that does not make you out the greatest general by a long shot. If Lee had had Grant's number, and Grant had Lee's, the result would have been reversed. Grant set himself to do this little sum in subtraction, and he did it — did it probably as (juickly as any other man wouhi have done it, and he knew that when it was done the war would have to stop. That's all there was to it." The older man shook his head. " I doubt," he said. " if history will take your view either of the motives of those in power or of the way the war was carried on. It was a great and noble struggle, heroically fought by those deluded people who were in the wrong, and stubbornly contested at immense self-sacrifice by those who were in the right." " What a pity it v/as," said young Howard to the newspaper man, with a rudeness that drew a frown from his father, " th.it you didn't get to show 'em how to carry on the war." in his given I too lal "01 the ul Fenia| You theirs| on.' •01 They their " I Perl inconl Vatesj Mr. a| as he resoUj pri/.etl word- was s knew progr ress. ment As his o ineni for und( J< you down. ' do this it—did it ^" would n it was 'hat's all doubt," either of way the d noble deluded bbornly ose who *ard to it drew t get to fn tbc /ESiDst ot Blarme. 8i •* Well," said Yates, with a humorous twinkle in his eye, " I Hatter myself that I would have given them some valuable pointers. Still, it is too late to bemoan their neji^lect now." " Oh, you may have a chance yet, " continued the unabashed young man. " They say the Fenians are coming over here this time sure. You ought to volunteer either on our side or on theirs, and show how a war ought to be carried on." •'Oh, there's nothing in the Fenian scare! Tliey won't venture over. Tiiey hght with their mouths. It's the safest way." " I Ijelicve you," said the youth significantly. Perhnps it was because the boy had been so inconsiderate as to make these remarks that Yates received a cordial invitation from both Mr. and Mrs. Howard to visit the f;irm as often as he cared to do so. Of this privilege Yates resolved to avail himself, but he would have prized it more if Miss Margaret hr.d added her word — which she did not, perhaps because she was so busy looking after the bread. Yates knew, however, that with a woman apparent progress is rarely synonymous with real prog- ress. This knowledge soothed his disapj)oint- ment. As he walked back to the camp he reviewed his own feelings with something like astonish- ment. The march of events was rapid even for him, who was not slow in anything he undertook. " It is the result of leisure," he said to him- self. " It is the first breathing time I have had for fifteen years. Not V^o days of my vacation ^one, and here I am hope'.essly in love ! " ■I. ! n I 4i| ^ i ! I ' Ml i ; 1 i i .11 LJi^^^trJL Mm) ^' /) CHAPTER VII. I '■; »■' vvhen he got outside he fo U^ 't ^^^^^'^ '. bii^ he professor, and wande ecUnJ .^"''^""^^ ^^^ "P the side road, switch ,^^,7'^''^^ '''inilessjy always grow in great nmfn-^'^" ''''''^' ^^at ^^ches of a Can.tch?n coup 'v^n ''^'""^ "'^ ■"le day was sunn,, '-""ntry thorou'rhf-nv. -andere'd oi: i^^J J^^^^-^^^n, ^.s^^^ thought of m..ny things H l^ '.''^ ^^'"^^t he ^e would find ii/edeacHv^ ^^''^'"^^^ '^^''^t york, without even the rnnc , " ^•''' ^''°'" New }"/ paper, the fever h rAdin'^'? ^f '-^ '"orn- become a sort of vice Jfk /^ °^ ^^'hich had He had imagined \)Z hi ''."^ '''^^ smokint out his morning me/ h. .?"''' "^^ exist wi 1 1?: it vvas not ^^^^^^T^^.^^^'^/^^^i^^^ that fs he had supposed veTh. •^^'''^^^'" '" hfe ^;^«"8:htofii,yn,,,,;,^^>;t h ,^^^, ^^^^^^ ^^^ of current date. He comM '' ''P'^ '^''th him t'me in many years re ?d. "'''''• ^"'" the first vague fear wh ch "junt ^''f'^'' ^^'^hout fh 't ,^e took up an opn±^^^^^ hin. w tn th^ press.^ I^efo^re he coul r'''''""/'*'""P f'"" " ^was to scan it over S ' T^'^'r ^ ^'''' '^'''hit f "/ 'tem of news wl'ch t h '' 'L'l ^""tained the previous dav/ TiV inul"''r ^ ^''^^' "^'^'^^^J hangs over the head of h. ^ "'''"^ " ^^^op " the sword so often clt "^')^^^''P'''- "^an like e Bartletts ^oocls; bin xistence of »t aimlessly ^eeds that ilong the roufrhfare. ''s Yates forest he /I red that roil) New 'f a inorn- 'I'ch had smoking^. fist with- i2f'(l that >r in life ^'hcn lie vith him t'le first )ut that 11 when ij) from habit ntained missed coop " ■ni like he joy ^ tii! es eating e, and ITn tbc /HbtDdt ot Blarms. S3 another paper gave fuller particulars than the At'i^iis did, Yates found himself almost wishing the accident had not occurred, although he recognized such a wish as decidedly unprofes- sional. Richard's idea of the correct spirit in a re- porter was exemplified by an old broken-down, out-of-work morning newspaper man, who had net long before committed suicide at an hour in the day too late for the evening papers to get the sensational item. He had sent in to the paper for which he formerly worked a full account of the fatality, accurately headed and suo-headed ; and, in his note to the city editor, he told why he had chosen the hour of 7 \\ M. as the time for his departure from an unappre- ciative world. " Ah, well," said Yates under his breath, and suddenly pulling himself together, '• I mustn't think of New York if 1 intend to stay here for a couple of weeks. I'll be city-sick the first thing I know, and then I'll make a break for the metroj)olis. This will never do. The air here is enchanting, it fills a man with new life. This is the spot for ir»e, and I'll stick to it uW I'm right again. Hang New York! But I mustn't think of Broadway or I'm done for." He came to the spot in the road where he could see the white side of the tent under the (lark trees, and climbed up on the rail fence, silting there for a few moments. The occa- sional call of a quail from a neighboring field was the only sound that broke the intense still- ness. The warm smell of spring was in the air. The buds hatl but recently broken, and the woods, intensely green, had a lo(;k of newness and freshness that was comforting to the eye and grateful to the other senses. The world seemed to be l)ut lately niafle. The young man breathed deeply of the vivifying air, and I ■I i I' I ■:( ^ U I , { H ' .' i, ,f (I 84 »n tbc mibet Of aurms. it fo New York's a fool with ^en. With a siffh, he added :^^f^'r' '° «■ I,':?..".^^!'^- ' bonder 'ho" L'ZytZt fietlin)f on with out nie. bacUoth.p,t •^^.^.^,^^^^ M.;^ th, spreading landj |t 't uouidii't do. H '^!s '.\ates. Where's fh.i,.-.. e streets 'erie was Yates looked re's the bread? quickl)' ^tartled. and saw t le p.^ssor'r'' '""^^^^'^^^ hiin. P'oiessor conunL" townrw The bread ? I "g toward fo didn't either Tl, '"'"^"^ '''' '-^'^out it. N I am tn rr':.. T^ ^>' ^^'^''e baki,)P--^rhnV 1 "11 to go for it I g— that w fo; I :>s it. - -... .w j,jj ,0,. It ater in tl,« 1 ** ,, vviis it. Old you rake in, ...-o e ' . >■■ ''''>• ^^''''-^ 'oot Piofes egetables mostlv. Th'-if fall right, 'h " i^xcellent. "le. i was just ave a good d inner } ny. when you inter. u «■■«!... VVI,ar'do r '":'5 'K f-'n"l.ou;ei' pted am 0"g them } You all ab you say to board in are a schooln "ig round ou ^"J't. Isn't ed 'aster, and J-agedbj, paying I h e, and lettiniTh" bl »y from one h' infl. Ronny .> the ci of dat u cat ion in e teacher g 'I'm take it out ouse to another .5 l^^:\T""!.. ..°"ce existed e now m ^"ff. Denmark. \ve lecom/ "I^'^^^'" ^°ol<- pow older. Bythew!v I '' '"'"^^'^ ^^^ vve ^^ft -^^ As well as cou ;^h ^^''^ '' ^^^' "^^n Bart- In tbe Iisit>Bt or Blarme. 85 natter with fool to it." <-an stand le boys are 'Pt drifting ^'uses in : round f'r, and at ion in teacher ? it out lother? ted in ' cook- as we Bart- ^rtlett fears we will get rheumatism if we sit on the ground." " She is a kind woman, Renny, and a thought- ful. And that reminds me : I have a hammock somewhere among my belongings. I will swing it up. Chairs are comfortable, but a h.irninock is luxury." Yates slid down from the fence top, and to- gether the two men walked to the tent. The hammock was unfurled and slung between two trtes. Yates tested it cautiously, and finally trusted himself to its restful folds of network. Ht? was swaying indolently several feet from the ground when he said to Ren mark : "1 call this paradise — paradise regained ; but it will be |)aradise lost ne.xt iDonth. Now, pro- fessor, 1 am ready to do the cooking, but I have a fancy for doing it by proxy. The general directs, and the useful prosaic man executes. Where are your vegetables, Renny ? Potatoes and carrots, eh .-* Very good. Now, vou may wash them, Rennv ; but first you must bring some water from the spring." The professor was a patient man, and \\v. obeyed. Yates continued to swing in the ham- mock, alternating directions with rhapsodies on the beauties of the day and the stillness of tin- woods. Renmark said but little, and attended strictly to the business in hand. The vege- tables finished, he took a book from his valise, tilted a chair back against a tree, and began to read. " I'm depending upon you for the bread," he said to the drowsy man in the hammock. " Right you are, Renny. Your confidence is not misplaced. I shall presently journey down into the realms of civilization, and fill the long- felt want. I shall go to the Howards by way of the Bartlett homestead, but I warn you that if there is a meal on, at either place, you will :!) •I i L ! :i 'IJ^ »/ 86 !(i I i! '" *"''• 'ft'Sst Of niarriw. not j)ave nie her^ ♦« ♦ . ~"W„,,. So you':,,!" « /""^ fi'-^t efforts .„ fast for n.y opi,,i„„ "^ '""^'- '° ^ait until brealc- ''fc;/;:::f^,;l,^S^''e|oM.ea.,,p^^^ ;'" "fler. If it were oH' '', " "■''■'t we are Go(>c|.|,y/' """• my l)lessinjj, Renny "",^Mrec:;:i"e'',:'.hf -'J. ''-"u,,. ">e woo.ls,' «l to the I^.rtlett S el*^^';'.'''"^ "'"^I firmer and his son at wrl';'';h '1^ ''"•'^^ "•« From between the tlistanMu, '' '•'"''' '^'^^s. arose straight up 2 ,\eZf ''"'' ''•"•" "'"^ umn of s,nol• ''eitrht chvelhng. At fi , Ya'terf!, ''°',"' 'l''"^''^ "'e P 'he outhouses were on firl "*-■;'',' "'"' '^""'e '"s pace to a run b, , . ^•■''"'""^ 'l'"cl■ ^''"'le t nng- were wrong thev „' m'' "'^" '' ''"y- i;''"^'en space l>etvveen thn if m "' ''*' ''"'''• >" the a I'uge can,p tire hi, -f' '"'|^' '"San,l the house l>Y two crJtche.l su norts T ' ''' ''"''■• "l'''<^l'' kettle over the fla.nes' -nierif " '"•'>' ''"" nearly to the hriin. anre on the ofessor, is hat we are cessitv of inie a' fel- ?. Kenny. e woods, ne which saw the cl< fields, ^irn there '^lue col- nheii^ht, )ove the \t some Jick'ened ^flection ^' visible if any- ^-"itinue walked I safely . in the house, upheld !,'■ iron ^s full iready ^h the ndled. s. but nmed from Hn tbc /BMDst ot Blarms. 87 her face, wl.ile the hat at the same time pro- tet tt'fl iier rosy countenance from the tire. She plainly was not prepared to receive visitors, and she started when the young man addressed her. flushing still more deeply, apparently annoyed at his unwelcome appearance. " Good-afternoon," he said cordially. "Pre- paring for washing? I thought Monday was washing day." "It is." "Then I iiave not been misinformed. And you are not preparing for washing } " " We are." Y.ites laughed so heartily that Kitty, in sj^te of herself, had to permit a smile to brighten her own features. She always found it difficult to remain solemn for any length of time. *' This is obviously a conundrum," said Yates, ticking off the items on his four fingers. " First, Monday is washing day. Second, this is i^ot Monday. Third.neither is to-morrow. Fourth, we are preparing for washing. I give it up. Miss Hartlett. I'lease tell me the answer." - " The answer is that I am making soap ; soft soap, if you know what that is." " Practically, I don't know what it is ; but I have heard the term used in a political connec- tion. In the States we say that if a man is very diplomatic he uses soft soap, so I suppose it has lubricating qualities. Sam .Slick used the term 'soft sawder' in the same way; but what sawder is, soft or hard, I haven't the slightest idea." " I thought you knew everything, Mr. Yates." "Me? Bless you, no. I'm a humble gleaner in the field of knowledge. That's why I brought a Toronto professor with me. I want to learn something-, Won't you teach me how to make soap ? * \ n W'r '\ n ■ -' 1 IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1/ /^/.. d/. 1.0 I.I 1^ 12.5 ■^ 112.2 ^ lis lllllio 150 1.8 IIIIIL25 1.4 III 1.6 ^ 6" ► ^ ^ V] /: 7 ^ Photographic Sciences Corporation ^^^' 33 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. MS80 (716) 872-4S03 ,.v t^1 ^\ .1^ 88 tn tbe /biOdt ot Blarma. r «l ii; li^iti' ** I'm very busy just now. When I said that we were preparing for washing, I should per- haps have told you there was something else we are not prepared for to-day." "What is that?" " A visitor." " Oh, I say, Miss Bartlett, you are a little hard on me. I'm not a visitor. I'm a friend of the family. I want to help. You will find me a most diligent student. Won't you give me a chance ? " " All the hard work's done. But perhaps you knew that before you came." Yates looked at her reproachfully, and sighed deeply. " That's what it is to be a misunderstood man. So you think, among other bad qualities, I have the habit of shirking work ? Let me tell you, Miss Bartlett, that the reason I am here is because I have worked too hard. Now, confess that you are sorry for what you said — trampling on an already downtrodden man." Kitty laughed merrily at this, and Yates laughed also, for his sense of comradeship was strong. *• You don't look as if you had ever worked in your life ; I don't believe you know what work is." " But there are different kinds of labor. Don't you call writing work ? " " No." " That's just where you're mistaken. It is, and hard work, too. I'll tell you about the newspaper business if you'll tell me about soap making. Fair exchange. I wish you would take me as a pupil. Miss Bartlett ; you would find me quick at picking up things." "Well, then, pick up that pail and draw a pailful of water." >H fn tbe JXSit^et ot Blarnid. 89 " I'll do it," cried Yates sternly ; " I'll do it, though it blast me." Yates picked up the wooden pail, painted blue on the outside, with a red stripe near the top for ornament, and cream-colored inside. It was called a " patent pail " in those days, as it was a comparatively recent innovation, being cheaper, lighter, and stronger than the tin pail which it was rapidly replacing. At the well was a stout pole, pinned through the center to the upright support on which it swung, like the walking-beam of an engine. The thick end, which rested on the ground, was loaded with heavy stones ; while from the thin end, high in the air, there dangled over the mouth of the well a slim pole with a hook. This hook was ingeniously furnished with a spring of hickory, which snapped when the handle of the pail was placed on the hook, and prevented the " patent " utensil from slipping off when it was lowered to the surface of the water. Yates speedily recog- nized the usefulness of this contrivance, for he found that the filling of a wooden pail in a deep well was not the simple affair it looked. The bucket bobbed about on the surface of the water. Once he forgot the necessity of keeping a stout grip on the pole, and the next instant the pail came up to the sunlight with a sudden- ness that was terrifying. Only an equally sud- den backward jump on Yates' part saved his head. Miss Bartlett was pleased to look upon this incident as funny. Yates was so startled by the unexpected revolt of the pail that his native courtesy did not get a chance to prevent Kitty from drawing up the water herself. She lowered the vessel, pulling down the pole in a hand-over-hand manner that the young man thought decidedly fetching, and then she gave an almost imperceptible twist to the arrange- ment that resulted in instant success. The I:- ■'^a ,\'*-i ^ f n tbe Ifbi^et of Blarma. '^(:i 't ^< (♦ next thing Yates knew the full pail was resting on the well curb, and the hickory spring had given the click that released the handle. " There," said Kitty, suppressing her merri- ment, " that's how it's done," " I see the result, Miss Bartlett ; but I'm not sure I can do the trick. These things are not so simple as they seem. What is the next step.?" •' Pour the water into the leach." " Into the what ? " " Into the leach, I said. Where else ? " " Oh, I'm up a tree again. I see I don't even know the A B C of this business. In the old days the leech was a physician. You don't mean I'm to drown a doctor? " " This is the leach," said Kitty, pointing to a large, yellowish, upright wooden cylinder, which rested on some slanting boards, down the sur- face of which ran a brownish liquid that dripped into a trough. As Yates stood on a bench with the pail in his hand he saw that the cylinder was filled nearly to the top with sodden wood ashes. He poured in the water, and it sank quickly out of sight. " So this is part of the soap-making equip- ment ? " he said, stepping down ; " I thought the iron kettle over the fire was the whole factory. Tell me about the leach." •' That is where the hard work of soap making comes in," said Kitty, stirring the contents of the iron kettle with a long stick. " Keeping the leach supplied with water at first is no fun, for then the ashes are dry. If you put in five more pails of water, I will tell you about it." " Right ! " cried Yates, pleased to see that the girl's evident objection to his presence at first was fast disappearing. " Now you'll under- tn tbe Abtdet of Blarme. 91 stand how energetic I am. I'm a handy man about a place." When he had completed his task, she was still stirring the thickening liquid in the caldron, guarding her face from the fire with her big straw hat. Her clustering, tangled fair hair was down about her shoulders ; and Yates, as he put the pail in its place, when it had been emptied the fifth time, thought she formed a very pretty picture standing there by the fire, even if she were making soft soap. " The wicked genii has finished the task set him by the fair)' princess. Now for the reward. I want all the particulars about the leach. In the first place, where do you get this huge wooden cylinder that I have, without apparent effect, been pouring water into ? Is it manufactured or natural? " " Both. It is a section of the buttonwood tree." " Buttonwood ? I don't think I ever heard of that. I know the beech and the maple, and some kinds of oak, but there my wood lore ends. Why the buttonwood ? " " The buttonwood happens to be exactly suited to the purpose. It is a tree that is very fine to look at. It seems all right, but it gener- ally isn't. It is hollow or rotten within, and, even when sound, the timber made from it is of little value, as it doesn't last. Yet you can't tell until you begin to chop whether it is of any use or not." Kitty shot a quick glance at the young man, who was sitting on a log watching her. " Go on, Miss Bartlett ; I see what you mean. There are men like the buttonwood tree. The woods are full of them. I've met lots of that kind, fair to look upon, but hollow. Of course you don't mean anything personal ; for you must have seen my worth by the way I stuck to the water hauling. But go on." W''i If f v.'l »t i ii iliiii Ill r 1" 1 ' lii! m \\ u ■ 92 Hn tbe HKsi^et ot Blarmd. a ■ " Dear me, I never thought of such a thin but a guilty conscience, they say " said Kitty, with a giggle. " Of course they say ; but it's wrong, like most other things they say. It's the man with the guilty conscience who looks you straight in the eye. Now that the buttonwood is chopped down, what's the next thing to be done ? " " It is sawn off at the proper length, square at one end and slanting at the other." " Why slanting ? " " Don't you see, the foundation of plank on which it rests is inclined, so the end of the leach that is down must be slantingly cut, otherwise it would not stand perpendicularly. It would topple over in the first windstorm." " I see, I see. Then they haul it in and set it up?" " Oh, dear no ; not yet. They build a fire in it when it gets dry enough." " Really ? I think I understand the compre- hensive scheme, but I slip up on the details, as when I tried to submerge that wooden pail. What's the fire for.?" " To burn out what remains of the soft in- side wood, so as to leave only the hard outside shell. Then the charring of the inner surface is supposed to make the leach better — more water-tight, perhaps." " Quite so. Then it is hauled in and set up?" " Yes ; and gradually filled with ashes. When it is full, we pour the water in it, and catch the lye as it drips out. This is put in the caldron with grease, pigskins, and that sort of thing, and when it boils long enough, the result is soft soap." " And if you boil it too long, what is the result?" ♦' Hard soap, I suppose. I never boil it too long." li •ffn tbe ^iDat ot Blarmg. 93 The conversation was here interrupted by a hissing in the fire, caused by the tumultuous boiling over of the soap. Kitty hurriedly threw in a basin of cold lye, and stirred the mixture vigorously. " You see," she said reproachfully, " the result of keeping me talking nonsense to you. Now you will have to make up for it by bring- ing in some wood and putting more water into the leach." " With the utmost pleasure," cried Yates, springing to his feet. " It is a delight to atone for a fault by obeying your commands." The girl laughed. " Buttonwood," she said. Before Yates could think of anything to say in reply Mrs. Bartlett appeared at the back door. " How is the soap getting on, Kitty ? " she asked. " Why, Mr. Yates, are you here.? " " Am I here ? I should say I was. Very much here. I'm the hired man. I'm the hewer of wood and the hauler of water, or, to speak more correctly, I'm the hauler of both. And besides, I've been learning how to make soap, Mrs. Bartlett." " Well, it won't hurt you to know how." " You bet it won't. When I get back to New York, the first thing I shall do will be to chop down a buttonwood tree in the park, if I can find one, and set up a leach for myself. Lye comes useful in running a paper." Mrs. Bartlett's eyes twinkled, for, although she did not quite understand his nonsense, she knew it was nonsense, and she had a liking for frivolous persons, her own husband being so somber-minded. " Tea is ready," she said. " Of course you will stay, Mr. Yates." " Really, Mrs. Bartlett, I cannot conscien- tiously do so. I haven't earned a me?l since ;fi J " u.| j ; Ml f IV h»i I' ■1 iMl < 1 u ; 94 1fn tbe lisi^Bt of Blarms. i M I ( I'll' :i' ■ ,' 'fi li the last one. No ; my conscience won't let me accept, but thank you all the same." " Nonsense ; my conscience won't let you go away hungry. If nobody were to eat but those who earn their victuals, there would be more starving people in the world than there are. Of course you'll stay." •' Now, that's what I like, Mrs. Bartlett. I like to have a chance of refusing an invitation I yearn for, and then be forced to accept. That's true hospitality." Then in a whisper he added to Kitty ; " If you dare to say ' button- wood,' Miss Bartlett, you and I will quarrel." But Kitty said nothing, now that her mother had appeared on the scene, but industriously stirred the contents of the iron kettle. " Kitty," said the mother, " you call the men to supper." "I can't leave this," said Kitty, flushing; " it will boil over. You call, mother." So Mrs. Bartlett held her open palms on each side of her mouth, and gave the long wailing cry, which was faintly answered from the fields, and Yates, who knew a thing or two, noted with secret satisfaction that Kitty had refused doubtless because he was there. j :li CHAPTER VIII. " I TELL you what it is, Renny," said Yates, a few days after the soap episode, as he swung in his hammocii at the camp, " I'm learning something new every day." " Not reallv ? " asi lOO Hn tbe asit>Bt of Blarme. you begin at the last book. You'll enjoy this lot. I'm glad I brought them along." " It is a blessing," said Renmark, with the ghost of a smile about his lips. " I can truthfully say that they are entirely new to it me. '* That's all right, my boy," cried Yates loftily, with a wave of his hand. " Use them as if they were your own." Renmark aros'; leisurely and picked up a quantity of the books. " These will do excellently for lighting our morning camp fire," he said. " And if you will allow me to treat them as if they were my own, that is the use to which I will put them. You surely do not mean to say that you read such trash as this, Yates .^ " " Trash ? " exclaimed Yates indignantly. " It serves me right. That's what a man gets for being decent to you, Renny. Well, you're not compelled to read them ; but if you put one of them in the fire, your stupid treatises will follow, if they are not too solid to burn. You don't know good literature when you see it." The professor, buoyed up, perhaps, by the conceit which comes to a man through the pos- session of a real sheepskin diploma, granted by a university of good standing, did not think it necessary to defend his literary taste. He busied himself in pruning a stick he had cut in the forest, and finally he got it into the sem- blance of a walking cane. He was an athletic man, and the indolence of camp life did not suit him as it did Yates. He tested the stick in various ways when he had trimmed it to his satisfaction. " Are you ready for a ten-mile walk ? " he asked of the man in the hammock. " Good gracious, no. Man wants but little f n tbe AiOst of Blacme. lOI walking here below, and he doesn't want it ten miles in length either. I'm easily satisfied. You're off, are you ? Well, so long. And I say, Renny, bring back some bread when you return to camp. It's the one safe thing to do." t ■ v: I I •\i f . A k-ALii. ^ mm •I If .1*1''!''' CHAPTER IX. ^en across theTeds,nUlT^ '^' ^^^^^ and He avoided the habit'atioi .'^^'"^ *« the road he could, for he was ne h. °^ "'^^ ^^ "^"ch as nor so frequently hun/rf,:\:L'h''"^ He strode along the rJad ^' companion, where ,t led him^ Everyone h. '^""^ '""^h Good-day." after the fSlv ""'* ^^^^ ^'"^ country. Those with wJ^" ^ ^"'^°^ of the cles going in his d recS .?' ''n ^'^^''^ ^ehi! \ nde, and went on w?. . • ^"^^ ^^^^^d him should choose to wa/k wh."^"""^ ^^at a mLn pulsory. The proSr Hk" '' ^^^ ^^^ com" found himself good com J """^^ ^'^^nt men the need of co^p'amonTn"f;\"^ ^^^ "^^ ^'el had felt relieved mtheJ u ^'^^^Iks. He when Yates refused foaccomn" ^if.^PPointed Yates, swinging drowsilylnTfh? ^'"'' , ^"^ no less gratified. Even whi^ ^^"^"^ock, was fncl mtmiate friends the firsff^ T"" ^'^ ^'^ ^ng out together is a sevf/^"^ "^^^'^ ^^ oamp- regard for each other If n '^'^'" °" their had occupied a terTt \ P^mon and Pythias worst eneS.y ofVS Xth' 'V "^^ 'hi of that time have venL °j^ "^ safety, and would have be ' '"t° '^^ <^amp in Denmark thought ^^f"u ^^^^ome. walked along iff. f^ ^^^"^ things as he Yates had sh^own hfm h"^ JP' '"timacy wi^h -t • f n tbe ASiDst of Blarms, 103 had turned out to be merely ephemeral. Neither would now choose the other as an inti- mate associate. Another illusion had gone. •' I have surely enough self-control," said Renmark to himself, as he walked on, " to stand his shallow flippancy for another week, and not let him see what I think of him." Yates at the same time was thoroughly enjoy- ing the peaceful silence of the camp. " That man is an exaggerated schoolmaster, with all the faults of the species abnormally developed. If I once open out on him, he will learn more truth about himself in ten minutes than he ever heard in his life before. What an unbearable prig he has grown to be." Thus ran Yates' thoughts as he swung in his hammock, looking up at the ceiling of green leaves. Nevertheless, the case was not so bad as either of them thought. If it had been, then were marriage not only a failure, but a practical impossibility. If two men can get over the first few days in camp without a quarrel, life be- comes easier, and the tension relaxes. Renmark, as he polished off his ten miles, paid little heed to those he met ; but one driver drew up his horse and accosted him. " Good-day," he said. " How are you get- ting on in the tent } " The professor was surprised at the question. Had their tenting-out eccentricity gone all over the country ? He was not a quick man at rec- ognizing people, belonging, as he did, to the "I - remember-your-face-but-can't - recall-your- name " fraternity. It had been said of him that he never, at any one time, knew the names of more than half a dozen students in his class ; but this was an undergraduate libel on him. The young man who had accosted him was driv- ing a single horse, attached to what he termed a •' democrat " — a four-wheeled light wagon, i .^A li"''^ ( ^ i I04 f n tbe Aidat of Blarms. not so slim and elegant as a buggy, nor so heavy and clumsy as a wagon. Renmark looked up at the driver with confused unrecog- nition, troubled because he vaguely felt that he had met him somewhere before. But his sur- prise at being addressed speedily changed into amazement as he looked from the driver to the load. The " democrat " was heaped with books. The larger volumes were stuck along the sides with some regularity, and in this way kept the miscellaneous pile from being shaken out on the road. His eye glittered with a new interest as it rested on the many-colored bind- ings ; and he recognized in the pile the peculiar brown covers of the " Bohn " edition of classic translations, that were scattered like so many turnips over the top of this ridge of literature. He rubbed his eyes to make sure he was not dreaming. How came a farmer's boy to be driving a wagon load of books in the wilds of the country as nonchalantly as if they were so many bushels of potatoes ? The young driver, who had stopped his horse, for the load was heavy and the sand was deep, saw that the stranger not only did not recog- nize him, but that from the moment he saw the books he had forgotten everything else. It was evidently necessary to speak again. •' If you are coming back, will you have a ride ?" he asked, " I — I think I will," said the professor, de- scending to earth again and climbing up beside the boy. " I see you don't remember me," said the latter, starting his horse again. *' My name is Howard. I passed you in my buggy when you were coming in with your tent that day on the Ridge, Your partner — what's his name — Yates, isn't it ? — had dinner at our house the other day." 9, tn tbc AiOdt of Blacm6. 105 IfHIi Sy> nor so Renmark d unrecog- elt that he it his sur- tngecJ into iver to the ped with uck along 1 this way g shaken ith a new red bind- e peculiar 3f classic so many iterature. was not oy to be wilds of were so is horse, as deep, : recog- saw the It was have a 5or, de- beside id the ime is *n you on the ime — le the " Ah, yes. I recollect you now. I thought 1 had seen you before ; but it was only for a moment, you know. I have a very poor memory so far as people are concerned. It has always been a failing of mine. Are these your books ? And how do you happen to have such a quantity ? " " Oh, this is the library," said young Howard. " The library ? " " Yes, the township library, you know." "Oh! The township has a library, then? I didn't know." " Well, it's part of it. This is a fifth part. You know about township libraries, don't you ? Your partner said you were a college man." Renmark blushed at his own ignorance, but he was never reluctant to admit it. *' I ought to be ashamed to confess it, but I know nothing of township libraries. Please tell me about them." Young Howard was eager to give information to a college man, especially on the subject of books, which he regarded as belonging to the province of college-bred men. He was pleased also to discover that city people did not know everything. He had long had the idea that they did, and this belief had been annoyingly corroborated by the cocksureness of Yates. The professor evidently was a decent fellow, who did not pretend to universal knowledge. This was encouraging. He liked Renmark better than Yates, and was glarl he had offered him a ride, although, of course, that was the custom ; still, a person with one horse and a heavy load is exempt on a sandy road. " Well, you see," he said in explanation, "it's like this: The township votes a sum of money, say a hundred dollars, or two hundred, as the case may be. They give notice to the Government of the amount voted, and the Gov- i ■ (, ', ! !».;.; A \l M io6 ^n tbc asit>6t Of ararma. ri :(•':. :jl €rnment arlrlc fi-.^. numbe,. and ,hey ToubH irVSr """'< "' ^ f'-,es cij: 1' 'r,,;^^,r'; "'«" '^'^ boot a>s' worth are bou^gh or wh.?"' '"'u"^'-^^ dot 'f .and the books are the n^^"^' ""^ amount f h'P- Five persons are ni'^^°5"'y P^ '^^ '""n- ship as librarians amP th °u' '" "'^ •own- security. IVIv father; 1 ■'^y have to pi,i The lib'raryTs S f i'^'?^^2J" '"■• 'his sect^^' librarian gets a share On.f P^''^' "ntl each next section and get all .h^- V'^f" ' So to the 'o the next section La„ ^", ''°°'<^- They go 2' 'hat place. X man ' A^"'' «"' ^11 the books dfy and takes a» wThave V° "^ '^""^^ 'o? Plete change every yeaT'lnri? T «^" ^ com- ?et back the first bafch 'wh^l'? ^l^ i''"'^ "e have forgotten all aboui Tn w^ '^*' "•"« «e ll XI2 f n tbc Aid0t oX Blarm0* ■ 1: I I f-! " Hanged if I know, and he didn't look as if he knew himself. He's a queer fish, aint he ? " " He is. Everybody can't be as sensible and handsome as we are, you know. Wiiere are you going with those horses, young man ? " " To get them shod. Won 't you come along ? You can ride the horse I'm on. Its got a bridle. I'll ride the one with the halter." " How far away is the blacksmith's shop?" " Oh, a couple of miles or so ; down at the Cross Roads." '• Well," said Yates, " there's merit in the idea. I take it your generous offer is made in good faith, and not necessarily for publication." " I don't understand. What do you mean ? " " There is no concealed joke, is there ? No getting me on the back of one of those brutes to make a public exhibition of me ? Do they bite or kick or buck, or playfully roll over a person ? " " No," cried young Bartlett indignantly. " This is no circus. Why, a baby could ride this horse." " Well, that's about the style of horse I prefer. You see, I'm a trifle out of practice. I never rode anything more spirited than a street car, and I haven't been on one of them for a week." ** Oh, you can ride all right. I guess you could do most things you set your mind to." Yates was flattered by this evidently sincere tribute to his capacity, so he got out of the hammock. The boy, who had been sitting on the horse with both feet on one side, now straightened his back and slipped to the ground. "Wait till I throw down the fence," he said. Yates mounted with some difficulty, and the two went trotting down the road. He managed to hold his place with some little uncertainty, but the joggling up and down worried him. He never seemed to alight in quite the same look as if ^int he?" nsible and Vliere are lan ? " me along? >t a bridle. s shop?" ^n at the it in the ' made in lication." mean ? " re? No «" brutes Do they I over a gnantly. uld ride [prefer. never set car, week." ss you to." sincere of the ing on ; now round, e said, id the naged ;ainty, him. same f n tbe Aiddt of Blarmd. 113 place on the horse's back, and tliis gave an clement of chance to his position which em- barrassed him. He expectutation /^ Mac- ." from ^o one t it was ^e had as still o say : have, f n tbc ASid0t ot Blarme. "7 vou won't be so ready to pick a quarrel with a man. This must have meant something significant, but the blacksmith never took anyone into his confidence ; and " down East " is a vague place, a sort of indefinite, unlocalized no-man's-land, situated anywhere between Toronto and Que- bec. Almost anything might have happened in such a space of country. Macdonald's favor- ite way of crushing an opponent was to say : "When you've had some of my experiences, young man, you'll know better'n to talk like that." All this gave a certain fascination to friendship with the blacksmith ; and the farmers' boys felt that they were playing with fire when in his company, getting, as it were, a glimpse of the dangerous side of life. As for work, the blacksmith reveled in it, and made it practi- cally his only vice. He did everything with full steam on, and was, as has been said, a constant reproach to loafers all over the country. When there was no work to do, he made work. When there was work to do, he did it with a rush, sweeping the sweat from his grimy brow with his hooked fore finger, and flecking it to the floor with a flirt of the right hand, loose on the wrist, in a way that made his thumb and fore finger snap together like the crack of a whip. This action was always accompanied with a long-drawn bteath, almost a sigh, that seemed to say : " I wish I had the easy times you fel- lows have." In fact, since he came to the neighborhood the current phrase, " He works like a steer," had given way to, " He works like Macdonald," except with the older people, who find it hard to change phrases. Yet everyone liked the blacksmith, and took no special of- fense at his untiring industry, looking at it rather as an example to others. He did not look up as the two newcomers ! I ii f.i J|i:t ^':'\ '■. ■M - i Ii8 tn tbc jnbitfst of Blarma. :i ' ■\\ ■«•. entered, but industriously pared down the hoof with a curiously formed knife turned like a hook at the point, burned in the shoe to its place, nailed it on, and rasped the hoof into shape with a long, broad file. Not til) he let the foot drop on the earthen floor, and slapped the impatient horse on the flank, did he deign to answer young Bartlett's inquiry. " No," he said, wringing the perspiration from his forehead, " all these horses aint ahead of you, and you won't need to come next week. That's the last hoof of the last horse. No man needs to come to my shop and go away again, while the breath of life is left in me. And I don't do it, either, by sitting on a bench and whittling a stick." " That's so. That's so," said Sandy, chuc- kling, in the admiring tone of one who inti- mated that, when the boss spoke, wisdom was uttered. " That's one on you, Sam." " I guess I can stand it, if he can," said the whittler from the bench ; which was considered fair repartee. " Sit it, you mean," said young Bartlett, laughing with the others at his own joke. " But," said the blacksmith severely, " we're out of shoes, and you'll have to wait till we turn some, that is, if you don't want the old ones re- set. Are they good enough ? " " I guess so, if you can find 'em ; but they're out in the fields. Didn't think I'd bring the horses in while they held on, did you ? " Then, suddenly remembering his duties, he said by way of general introduction : " Gentlemen, this is my friend Mr. Yates from New York." The name seemed to fall like a wet blanket on the high spirits of the crowd. They had imagined from the cut of his clothes that he was a storekeeper from some village around, or an auctioneer from a distance, these two occupl whichl pared] perhaj f n tbe ASiDat ot Blarntd. 119 vn the hoof •ned like a shoe to its l":oof into tii/ he let Id slapped P he deign -rspiration ^Jnt ahead »ext week. Neman ^ay again, '• And I ench and "^'y, chuc- ^'^o inti- ciom was said the nsidered BartJett, < " we're we turn ones re- they're ing the Then, said by n, this 9 lanket y had •at he ound, s two occupations being the highest social position to which a man might attain. They were pre- pared to hear that he was from Welland, or perhaps St. Catherines ; but New York ! that was a crusher. Macdonald, however, was not a man to be put down in his own shop and be- fore his own achnirers. He was not going to let his prestige slip from him merely because a man from New York had happened along. He could not claim to know the city, for the stranger would quickly detect the imposture, and probably expose him ; but the slightly superior air which Yates wore irritated him, while it abashed the others. Even Sandy was silent. " I've met some people from New York down East," he said in an offhand manner, as if, after all, a man might meet a New Yorker and still not sink into the ground. •' Really ? " said Yates. " I hope you liked them." " Oh, so-so," replied the blacksmith airily. " There's good and bad among them, like the rest of us." " Ah, you noticed that," said Yates. " Well, I've often thought the same myself. It's a safe remark to make ; there is generally no dis- puting it." The condescending air of the New Yorker was maddening, and Macdonald realized that he was losing ground. The quiet insolence of Yates' tone was so exasperating to the black- smith that he felt any language at his disposal inadequate to cope with it. The time for the practical joke had arrived. The conceit of this man must be taken down. He would try Sandy's method, and, if that failed, it would at least draw attention from himself to his helper. " Being as you're from New York, maybe you can decide a little bet Sandy here wants to have with somebody." ■ ( l^jil:!! i > : I20 *" '"« *'&st Of alarms. uncomforiabl)^ warm "^"^ "°"^'' "'« f^'^ to be ™"c..s in |,is swa^w'han r'^q estimating i,3 ?l"»e ,t better. Thefe wii' f "' ^ ''^'' "ever i""oceiice on his l.l!^ . " ' '"ol^ of Perfect 'e'w. ..ce, and the c, owd 'ioTT'^''''^''''^'' ^oun suspense. °""' '°°'« genera Yates glanced at the ,iec/^ • '" '=°"«al. out taking his hands'from ^'^"•^"''•""'th- caielessly : "^ "°"' his pockets, said pound's." '''°'"'' '"'^g-e " weighed a couple of out ." Wt^'"'"''' Sandy beseechingly, holding „ •• Dcf^o^i'tlt rrL^f nt^'"'=\-"' - -"e. horseshoe before ? If you '" P"'^*'' "P a hot 'ts weight, whv don't vou t?l,^"'"°"'' '" "^"ow grocery, store an 'he grocery store ;^mlk y°" 'al'e it over •• -Tain 1 ot "saw s'^ ".weighed ? " anti flung the'iron ba?k o^;^!''^^''"^ =""' "•• Oh™no ■•"■• ."^^"^ ''*'d "s-lonV"'-^'- " " " course C TTj^^ft ^ates. wi^' a grin -of handsare,do'l^^'^-;what^ab^^^^^^ smiled If it f ^veighs ? " irnating its y had never o^ perfect ated coun- ' 'breathless '1 and save Vlacdonald somehow, neighbors' 1 'wrought fully that d mighty. >e he had instantly himself, e general 3nceal. nd, with- ets, said ouple of olding it a smile. P a hot o know to the smiled " li it n, " of mith's In tbe Aidst of Blarms. lai Macdonald saw there was no triumph over him among his crowd, for they all evidently felt as much involved in the failure of Sandy's trick as he did himself ; but he was sure that in future some man, hard pushed in argument, would fling the New Yorker at him. In the crisis he showed the instinct of a Napoleon. "Well, boys," he cried, "fun's fun, but I've got to work. I have to earn ;;/>' living, any- how." Yates enjoyed his victory ; they wouldn't try "getting at " him again, he said to himself. Macdonald strode to the forge and took out the bar of white-hot iron. He gave a scarcely perceptible nod to Sandy, who, ever ready with tobacco juice, spat with great directness on the top of the anvil. Macdonald placed the hot- iron on the spot, and quickly smote it a stal- wart blow with the heavy hammer. The result was appalling. An instantaneous spreading fan of apparently molten iron lit up the place as if it were a flash of lightning. There was a crash like the bursting of a cannon. The shop was tilled for a moment with a shower of bril- liant sparks, that flew like meteors to every corner of the place. Everyone was prepared for the explosion except Yates. He sprang back with a cry, tripped, and, without having time to get the use of his hands to ease his fall, tumbled and rolled to the horses' heels. The animals, frightened by the report, stamped around ; and Yates had to hustle on his hands and knees to safer quarters, exhibiting more celerity than dignity. The blacksmith never smiled, but everyone else roared. The reputa- tion of the country was safe. Sandy doubled himself up in his boisterous mirth. " There's no one like the old man ! " he shouted. " Oh, lordy ! lordy ! He's all wool, and a yard wide." \ i.5 H^^. 1 I {'•J \ '1 .^ 'A li i ^ laa f n tbe Aidet of Blacma. Yates picked himself up and dusted himself off, laughing with the rest of them. " If I ever knew that trick before, I had f' - gotten it. That's one on me, as this youth in spasms said a moment ago. Blacksmith, shake ! 1 11 treat the crowd, if there's a place handy." CHAPTER Xr. People who have but a superficial knowledge of the life and times here set down may possi- bly claim that the grocery store, and not the blacksmith's shop, used to be the real country club — the place where the politics of the country were discussed ; where the doings of great men were commended or condemned, and the government criticised. It is true that the grocery store was the club of the village, when a place like the Corners grew to be a vil- lage ; but the blacksmith's shop was usually the first building erected on the spot where a village was ultimately to stand. It was the nucleus. As a place grew, and enervating luxury set in, the grocery store slowly supplanted the black- smith's shop, because people found a nail keg, or a box of crackers, more comfortable to sit on than the limited seats at their disposal in a smithy ; moreover, in winter the store, with its red-hot box stove, was a place of warmth and joy, but the reveling in such an atmosphere of comfort meant that the members of the club had to live close at hand, for no man would brave the storms of a Canadian winter night, and journey a mile or two through the snow, to enjoy even the pleasures of the store. So the grocery was essentially a village club, and not a rural club. Of course, as civilization advanced, the black- smith found it impossible to compete with the grocer. He could not offer the same induce- 1 *i '!i4': mi 1 . -;i 1 ] ■ ■ 1 : 1 1 1 ' 1 1 1 1 i \ i 1 ■ ;* M f'^ fe>' U . ¥^' if|. r. ii: 124 Hn tbc a^i^et ot Blarmd. ments. The grocery approached more nearly than the smithy the grateful epicurism of the Athenseum, the Reform, or the Carlton. It catered to the appetite of man, besides supply- ing him with the intellectual stimulus of debate. A box of soda crackers was generally open, and, although such biscuits were always dry, they were good to munch, if consumed slowly. The barrel of hazel nuts never had a lid on. The raisins, in their square box, with blue- tinted paper, setting forth the word " Malaga " under the colored picture of joyous Spanish grape pickers, stood on the shelves behind the counter, at an angle suited to display the con- tents to all comers, requiring an exceptionally long reach, and more than an ordinary amount of cheek, before they were got at ; but the barrel of Muscavado brown sugar was where everyone could dip his hand in ; while the n^an on the keg of tenpenny nails might extend his arm over into the display window, where ihe highly colored candies exhibited themselves, although the person who meddled often with them was frowned upon, for it was etiquette in the club not to purloin things which were expensive. The grocer himself drew the line at the candies, and a second helping usually brought forth the mild reproof : " Shall I charge that, Sam ; or would you rather pay for it now ? " All these delicacies were taken in a somewhat surreptitious way, and the takers generally wore an absent-minded look, as if the purloin- ing was not quite intentional on their part. But they were all good customers of the grocer, and the abstractions were doubtless looked on by him as being in the way of trade ; just as the giving of a present with a pound of tea, or a watch with a suit of clothes, became in later days. Be that as it may, he never said anything 5. ore nearly sm of the irlton. It es supply. of (lebatV. lily open, tvays dry, -ci slowly. a lid on. ith blue- Malaga " Spanish hind the t'le con- ptionally amount but the s where the n^an tend his lere ihe ^iseives, en with tiquette h were he line usually Id you lewhat lerally Jrloin- part. Tocer, ed on 1st as ea, or later thing In tbc Aid0t of Blarmd. 125 unless his generosity was taken advantage of, which was rarely the case. Very often on winter nights there was a hila- rious feast, that helped to lighten the shelves and burden the till. This ordinarily took the form of a splurge in cove oysters. Cove oysters came from Baltimore, of course, in round tins ; they were introduced into Canada long before the square tin boxes that now come in winter from the same bivalvular city. Cove oysters were partly cooked before being tinned, so that they would, as the advertisements say, keep in any climate. They did not require ice around them, as do the square tins which now contain the raw oysters. Someone present would say : "What's the matter with having a feed of cove oysters ? " He then collected a subscription of ten cents or so from each member, and the whole was expended in several cans of oysters and a few pounds of crackers. The cooking was done in a tin basin on the top of the hot stove. The contents of the cans were emptied into this handy dish, milk was added, and broken crackers, to give thickness and consistency to the result. There were always plenty of plates, for the store supplied the crockery of the neigh- borhood. There were also plenty of spoons, for everything was to be had at the grocery. What more could the most exacting man need ? On a particularly reckless night the feast ended with several tins of peaches, which needed no cooking, but only a sprinkling of sugar. The grocer was always an expert at cooking cove oysters and at opening tins of peaches. There was a general feeling among the mem- bers that, by indulging in these banquets, they were going the pace rather; and some of the older heads feebly protested against the in- dulgence of the times, but it was noticed that M m . 1.'^' ( 1 M- i. I 5 t 126 Hn tbe ^iDdt ot Blarm0. f >i I i I'f. rJ: i ii they never refrained from doing their share when it came to spoon wori<. " A man has but one Ufe to Uve," the younger and more reckless would say, as if that excused the extravagance; for a member rarely got away without being tifteen cents out of pocket, especially when they had peaches as well as oysters. The grocery at the Corners had been but recently established, and as yet the blacksmith's shop had not looked upon it as a rival. Mac- donald was monarch of all he surveyed, and his shop was the favorite gathering place for miles around. The smithy was also the patriotic center of the district, as a blacksmith's shop must be as long as anvils can take the place of cannon for saluting purposes. On the 24th of May, the queen's birthday, celebrated locally as the only day in the year, except Sundays, when Macdonald's face was clean and when he did no work, the firing of the anvils aroused the echoes of the locality. On that great day the grocer supplied the powder, which was worth three York shillings a pound — a York shilling being sixpence halfpenny. It took two men to carry an anvil, with a good deal of grunting ; but Macdonald, if the crowd were big enough, made nothing of picking it up, hoisting it on his shoulder, and flinging it down on the green in front of his shop. In the iron mass there is a square hole, and when the anvil was placed upside down, the hole was uppermost. It was filled with powder, and a wooden plug, with a notch cut in it, was pounded in with a sledge hammer. Powder was sprinkled from the notch over the surface of the anvil, and then the crowd stood back and held its breath. It was a most exciting moment. Macdonald would come running out of the shop bareheaded, holding a long iron bar, the wavering, red-hot end of J. heir share live," the say, as if I nieniber cents out •caches as heen but cksmith's ih Mac- '. and liis for miles patriotic h's sliop place of 24th of really as s. wlien > he did sed the :'ay the > vvorth shilling men to Jnting ; nough, r it on ■ green here is placed It was vith a sledge notch :rowd most come inga d of f n tbe ii^iddt ot Blarme. 127 which descended on the anvil, while the l)lack- sniith shouted in a terrifying voice: *' Look out, tliere ! " The loose powder hissed and si)at for a moment, tiien bang went the cannon, and a j^reat clcud of siuoke rolled upward, while the rousing cheers came echoing back from ihe sur- rounding forests. The helper, with the powder horn, would spriit i^ to the anvil and pour the black explosive ini jthe hole, while another stood ready with plug and hammer. The delicious scent of burned gunpowder filled the air, and was inhaled by all the youngsters with satisfac- tion, for now they realized what real war was. Thus the salutes were fired, and thus the royal birthday was fittingly celebrated. Where two anvils were to be had, the cannon- ade was much brisker, as then a plug was not needed. The hole in the lower anvil was filled with powder, and the other anvil was placed over it. This was much quicker than pounding in a plug, and had quite as striking and deto- nating an effect. The upper anvil gave a heave, like Mark Twain's shot-laden frog, and fell over on its side. The smoke rolled up as usual, and the report was equally gratifying. Yates learned all these things as he sat in the blacksmith's shop, for they were still in the month of May, and the smoke of the echoing anvils had hardly yet cleared away. All present were eager to tell him of the glory of the day. One or two were good enough to express regret that he had not been there to see. After the disaster which had overturned Yates things had gone on very smoothly, and he had become one of the crowd, as it were. The fact that he was originally a Canadian told in his favor, although he had been contaminated by long residence in the States. Macdonald worked hard at the turning of horseshoes from long rods of iron. Usually an < • I' i ■'I . \» 'III I \ I- ti I m\ 1 1 111 .-^L 128 fn tbe Itsi^et of Blarms. extended line of unfinished shoes bestrode a blackened scantling, like bodiless horsemen, the scantling crossing the shop overhead, just under the roof. Tliese were the work of Mac- donald's comparatively leisure days, and they were ready to be fitted to the hoofs of any horse that came to be shod, but on this occasion there had been such a run on his stock that it was exhausted, a depletion the smith seemed to regard as a reproach on himself, for he told Yates several times that he often had as many as three dozen shoes up aloft for a rainy day. When the sledge hammer work was to be done, one of those present stepped forward and swung the heavy sledge, keeping stroke for stroke with Macdonald's one-handed hammer, all of which required a nice ear for time. This assistance was supposed to be rendered by Sandy; but, as he remarked, he was no hog, and anyone who wished to show his skill was at liberty to do so. Sandy seemed to spend most of his time at the bellows, and when he was not echoing the sentiments of the boss, as he called him, he was commending the expert- ness of the pro tern, amateur, the wielder of the sledge. It was fun to the amateur, and it was an old thing with Sandy, so he never protested against this interference with his duty, believ- ing in giving everyone a chance, especially when it came to swinging a heavy hammer. The whole scene brought back to Yates the days of his youth, especially when Macdonald, putting the finishing strokes to his shoe, let his ham- mer periodically tinkle with musical clangor on the anvil, ringing forth a tintinnabulation that chimed melodiously on the ear — a sort of anvil-chorus accompaniment to his mechanical skill. He was a real sleight-of-hand man, and the anvil was his orchestra. Yates soon began to enjoy his visit to the \ ♦ t hi 0. bestrode a horsemen, rheacl, just rk of Mac- . and they ofs of any s occasion >ck that it h seemed 3r he told ' as many ny day. I'as to be ward and roke for hammer, e. This lered by no hog, 'kill was spend vhen he boss, as expert- ■r of the 1 it was 'otested belie V- pecially r. The ^lays of cutting ' ham- langor ilation ort of anical 1, and o the ITn tbc flMD5t of alarms. 129 !> 'J:'|. rural club. As the members thawed out he found them all first-rate fellows, and, what was more, they were appreciative listeners. His stories were all evidently new to them, and nothing puts a man into a genial frame of mind so quickly as an attentive, sympathetic audi- ence. Few men could tell a story better than Yates, but he needed the responsive touch of interested hearers. He hated to have to explain the points of his anecdotes, as, indeed, what story-teller does not ? A cold and critical man like the professor froze the spring of narration at its source. Besides, Renmark had an objec- tionable habit of tracing the recital to its origin ; it annoyed Yates to tell a modern yarn, and then discover that Aristophanes, or some other prehistoric poacher on the good things men were to say, had forestalled him by a thousand jears or so. When a man is quick to see the point of your stories, and laughs heartily at them, you are apt to form a high opinion of his good sense, and to value his companionship. When the horses were shod, and young Bartlett, who was delighted at the impression Yates had made, was preparing to go, the whole company protested against the New Yorker's departure. This was real flattery. " What's your hurry, Bartlett ? " asked the whittler. " You can't do anything this after- noon, if you do go home. It's a poor time this to mend a bad day's work. If you stay, he'll stay; won't you, Mr. Yates .^ Macdonald is going to set tires, and he needs us all to look on and see that he does it right ; don't you, Mac ? " " Yes ; I get a lot of help from you while there's a stick to whittle," replied the smith. " Then there's the protracted meeting to- night at the schoolhouse," put in another, anx- ious that all the attractions of the place should be brought forward. ii- i I I. 130 M . ! i!l '" tbe mm Of aiarm0. li go»J„''alL?',hat''''','A%rI'''''^^; "'had for. must all be there to enrn ^'^\ "'»'«, so we „""'' S«^' 'hings vvas he paying hin, ?f; ,^^' '» 'hundfr •here enoujrh loafp. , ', ''"Jhow? Wasn't '•"ffthe ranks? " '^°"'«', without him Joj"! wh^Jn)fe's°,t!!'t^^,^'",?,37''e<)Uani,nity.and. his shoulders, took a fr«i , • ""f h* shrugged J^he plug which°he Vr7:\^Z h 't^"" ^°™ wmking at the others «k ,^'P P^'^'^et, leisurely followed Macinn,? i ^^ ''"' «<>• He saying in a whisper as he f "".' °^ "'" ^hop 11 wouldn't nle Jhe old Znlf '^ "'"•'"- ' i^ne c ub then pr?,-^. . ' " ^ were vou " except those who iat on i' 't' «"tside!al] asked: ^^^ °" the bench. Yates Poesn'ri: i!L^ prrlTcted"'' MacdonaldP by the way. what are ^rofraete'^r^'"'? " ^"d' . They're revival meetZTv^?^'''SS?'' ^"^^s you know, for cmn^ -nf ""r^^'S^'ous meet- " ^eallv ? " said vlV "^ sinners." jracted ? ' Are fhey keot nn " ?"^ ^^^^ P^o- two?" "''>' ^ept on for a week or 'he Imk' r^n^ev" 'knlTt^' ^"'°"^''- '« 'ell ?«me Protracted mee'Li''!, ''^"'" '<»■ the just the same thing ever L^F ^'"'^ys stood for 3. ^ had for- j'lt, so We Henderson you, Mac- "t turned at in — — ^'ng there et things I thunder Wasn t ^im join- "'ty, and, h rugged -co from pocket, so. He e shop, 'hittler ; e you." 5ide, al] Yates onald ? And, s ? " meet- pro - ek or o tell r the i for . and hout ever IFn tbc /IRiDst ot Blarms. 131 wants to go to a protracted meeting, yet he can't keep away. He's like a drunkard and the corner tavern. He can't pass it, and he knows if he goes in he will fall. Macdonald's always the first one to go up to the penitent bench. They rake him in every time. He has religion real bad for a couple of weeks, and then he backslides. He doesn't seem able to st?nd either the converting or the backsliding. I sup- pose some time they will gather him in finally, and he will stick and become a class leader, but he hasn't stuck up to date." " Then he doesn't like to hear the subject spoken of ? " " You bet he don't. It isn't safe to twit him about it either. To tell the truth, I was pleased when I heard him swear at Sandy; then I knew it was all right, and Sandy can stand it. Mac- donald is a bad man to tackle when he's mad. There's nobody in this district can handle him. I'd sooner get a blow from a sledge hammer than meet Mac's fist when his dander is up. But so long as he swears it's all right. Say, you'll stay down for the meeting, won't you ? " " I think I will. I'll see what young Bartlett intends to do. It isn't very far to walk, in any case." " There will be lots of r*ce girls going your way to-night after the meeting. I don't know but I'll yog along in that direction myself when it's over. That's the principal u?e I have for the meeti-^gs, anyhow." The whittler and Yates got down from the bench, and joined the crowd outside. Young Bartlett sat on one of the horses, loath to leave while the tire setting was going on. " Are you coming, Yates ? " he shouted, as his comrade appeared. " I think I'll stay for the meeting," said Yates, approaching him and patting the horse. i> ), ' . ' (■ 132 f n tbe /HbiDat of Blarme. ( ' fvf ; He had no desire for mounting and riding away in the presence of that critical assemblage. "All right," said young Bartlett. "I guess I'll be down at the meeting, too ; then 1 can show you the way home." " Thanks," said Yates ; " I'll be on the look- out for you." Young Bartlett galloped away, and was soon lost to sight in a cloud of dust. The others had also departed with their shod horses ; but there were several new arrivals, and the com- pany was augmented rather than diminished. They sat around on the fence, or on the logs dumped down by the wayside. Few smoked, but many chewed tobacco. It was a convenient way of using the weed, and required no matches, besides being safer for men who had to frequent inflammable barns. A circular fire burned in front of the shop, oak bark being the main fuel used. Iron wagon tires lay hidden in this burning circle. Macdonald and Sandy bustled about making preparations, their faces, more hideous in the bright sunlight than in the comparative obscurity of the shop, giving them the appearance of two evil spirits about to attend some incantation scene of which the circular fire was the visi- ble indication. Crosstrees, of four nieces of squared timber, lay near the fire, with a tireless wheel placed flat upon them, the hub in the square hole at the center. Shiftless farmers always resisted having tires set until they would no longer stay on the wheel. The in- evitable day was postponed, time and again, by a soaking of the wheels overnight in some con- venient puddle of water; but as the warmer and dryer weather approached this device, supplemented by wooden wedges, no longer sufficed, and the tires had to be set for summer work. Frequently the tire rolled off on the )( i > 8» ITn tbe ^id8t ot Blatmd* 133 icling away blage. , " J guess hen I can ' the look- was soon 'he others rses; but the com- minished. the Jogs icco. Jt eed, and safer for barns, le shop, Iron ? circle, making 5 in the t)scunty • of two ntation le visi- eces of tireless in the armers 1 they ne m- lin, by i con- arm er evice, onger Timer 1 the sandy highway, and the farmer was reluctantly compelled to borrow a rail from the nearest fence, and place it so as to support the axle ; he then put the denuded wheel and its tire on the wagon, and drove slowly to the nearest black- smith's shop, his vehicle " trailing like a wounded duck," the rail leaving a snake's track behind it on the dusty road. The blacksmith had previously cut and welded the tire, reducing its circumference, and when it was hot enough, he and Sandy, each with a pair of tongs, lifted it from the red-hot circle of fire. It was pressed and hammered down on the blazing rim of the wheel, and instantly Sandy and Macdonald, with two pails of water that stood handy, poured the cold liquid around the red-hot zone, enveloping themselves in clouds of steam, the quick contraction clamping the iron on the wood until the joints cracked together. There could be no loitering ; quick work was necessary, or a spoiled wheel was the result. Macdonald, alternately spluttering through fire and steam, was in his element. Even Sandy had to be on the keen jump, without a moment to call his plug of tobacco his own. Macdonald fussed and fussed, but got through an immense amount of work in an incredibly short space of time, cursing Sandy pretty much all the while; yet that useful man never replied in kind, con- tenting himself with a wink at the crowd when he got the chance, and saying under his breath : " The old man's in great fettle to-day." Thus everybody enjoyed himself : Mac- donald, because he was the center figure in a saturnalia of work ; Sandy, because no matter how hard a man has to work he can chew tobacco all the time ; the crowd, because the spectacle of fire, water, and steam was fine, and they didn't have to do anything but sit I- I. ii^'ii 1 1 t ■ I' jt I f i Hi .^1 134 1In tbc ^i06t ot Blarms. iu ;UMi around and look on. The sun got lower and lower as, one by one, the spectators departed to do their chores, and prepare for the even- ing meeting. Yates at the invitation of the whittler went home with him, and thoroughly relished his evening meal. i!,. I '^ lower and 5 departed the even- on of the horoughly CHAPTER XII. t i Margaret had never met any man but her father who was so fond of books as Professor Renmark. The young fellows of her acquaint- ance read scarcely anything but the weekly papers ; they went with some care through the yellow almanac that was given av/ay free, with the grocer's name printed on the back. The marvelous cures the almanac recorded were of little interest, and were chiefly read by the older folk, but the young men reveled in the jokes to be found at the bottom of every page, their only drawback being that one could never tell the stories at a paring-bee or other social gathering, because everyone in the company had read them. A few of the young men came sheepishly round to get a book out of the library, but it was evident that their interest was not so much in the volume as in the librarian, and when that fact became apparent to the girl, she resented it. Margaret was thought to be cold and proud by the youth of the neighborhood, or " stuck-up," as they expressed it. To such a girl a man like Renmark was a revelation. He could talk of other things than the weather, live stock, and the prospects for the crops. The conversation at first did not include Margaret, but she listened to every word of it with interest. Her father and mother were anxious to hear about their boy ; and from that engrossing subject the talk soon drifted to university life, and the differences between city and country. At last the farmer, with a sigh, 'ir ri'rl 1 1 . m ! f ■ ■'• : i'l lit 136 ITn tbc jfllbiddt of Blarme. arose to go. There is little time for pleasant talk on a farm while daylight lasts. Margaret, remembering her duties as librarian, began to take in the books from the wagon to the front room. Renmark, slow in most things, was quick enough to offer his assistance on this occasion ; but he reddened somewhat as he did so, for he was unused to being a squire of dames. " I wish you would let me do the porterage," he said. " I would like to earn the right to look at these books sometimes, even though I may not have the privilege of borrowing, not being a taxable residcjit of the township." " The librarian," answered Margaret, with a smile, " seems to be at liberty to use her own discretion in the matter of lending. No one has authority to look over her accounts, or to cen- sure her if she lends recklessly. So, if you wish to borrow books, all you have to do is to ask for them." " You may be sure I shall avail myself of the permission. But my conscience will be easier if I am allowed to carry them in." " You will be permitted to help. I like carry- ing them. There is no more delicious armful than books." As Renmark looked at the lovely girl, her face radiant with enthusiasm, the disconcerting thought came suddenly that perhaps her state- ment might not be accurate. No such thought had ever suggested itself to him before, and it now filled him with guilty confusion. He met the clear, honest gaze of her eyes for a mo- ment, then he stammered lamely : " I — I too am very fond of books." Together they carried in the several hundred volumes, and then began to arrange them. " Have you no catalogue .'' " he asked. " No. We never seem to need one. People e, 0'' pleasant Margaret. 1. began to o the front ^'"gs, was ce on this t as he did ^ squire of orterage, " - right to though I ^^^ing, not ip." et, with a lier own o one has 1" to cen- you wish s to ask ilfof the 'e easier ^e carry- armful fiT], her 'certing ' state- hought and it ^e met a mo- mdred I. ^eople Hn tbe AiOdt of Blacms. 137 come and look over the library, and take out whatever book they fancy." " Yes, but still every library ought to be cata- logued. Cataloguing is an art in itself. I have paid a good deal of attention to it, and will show you how it is done, if you care to know." " Oh, I wish you would." " How do you keep a record of the volumes that are out ? " " I just write the name of the person, the title, and the date in this blank book. When the volume is returned, I score out the record." " I see," said Renmark dubiously. "That isn't right, is it.^ Is there a better way ,•' " Well, for a small library, that ought to do ; but if you were handling many books, I think confusion might result." " Do tell me the right way. I should like to know, even if it is a small library." " There are several methods, but I am by no means sure your way is not the simplest, and therefore the best in this instance." " I'm not going to be put off like that," said Margaret, laughing. ** A collection of books is a collection of books, whether large or small, and deserves respect and the best of treatment. Now, what method is used in large libraries?" " Well, I should suggest a system of cards, though slips of paper would do. When any person wants to take out a book, let him make out a card, giving the date and the name or number of the book ; he then must sign the card, and there you are. He cannot deny hav- ing had the book, for you have his own signa- ture to prove it. The slips are arranged in a box according to dates, and when a book is returned, you tear up the recording paper." " I think that is a very good way, and I will adopt it." ill i{ } ' !■: ifi^S 138 fln tbc ^iOst ot Blarms. f.:i 1' '' U* -.1 rt t / i " Then let me send to Toronto and f^ei you a few liundred cards. We'll have them here m a day or two." ** Oh, I don't want to put you to that trouble." " It is no trouble at all. Now, that is settled, let us attack the catalogue. Have you a blank book anywhere about ? We will first make an alphabetical list; then we will arrange them under the heads of history, biography, fiction, and so on." Simple as it appeared, the making of a cata- logue took a long time. Both were absorbed in their occupation. Cataloguing in itself is a straight and narrow path, but in this instance there were so many delightful side excursions that rapid progress could not be expected. To a reader the mere mention of a book brings up recollections. Margaret was reading out the names ; Renmark, on slips of paper, each with a letter on it, was writing them down. "Oh, have you that book .^ " he would say, looking up as a title was mentioned. " Have you ever read it ? " " No ; for, you see, this part of the library is all new to me. W^hy, here is one of which the leaves are not even cut. No one has read it. Is it good ? " " One of the best," Renmark would say, tak- ing the volume. " Yes, I know this edition. Let me read you one passage." And Margaret would sit in the rocking chair, while he cut the leaves and found the place. One extract was sure to suggest another, and time passed before the title of the book found its way to the proper slip of paper. These ex- cursions into literature were most interesting to both excursionists, but they interfered with cataloguing. Renmark read and read, ever and anon stopping to explain some point, or quote -^*-'— - 10. "d ffet you lem here in 3U to that t IS settled, ou a blank t make an ["ge them ">'. fiction, ^f a catn- ^sorbec] in self is a ■ instance xcursions ted. To rings up ■ out the *ch with »uld sav, " Ha^?e brary is ^ich the read it. ay, tak- edition. r chair, • place, sr, and found se ex- :ing to with erand quote :-«l ifi>' , "■!- THK .MAKING OF .\ C.\ 1 Al.OGU K. "— /VtiV /j.S' i- . » JJI I ■I • i %i jccll rod (Uu' aiu con< notil tionj an( Renl '°" ^'" lor nobody else in f n [^'^^O"' '^ there is one sideof the'questiin.''^" house argues on y^r' ^^ell," said Renm^r^ ■ '"''^nner, '^ i( you don" iL'" k^" f^^barrassed are twenty-five I'M n ■'' ^^ ^^^ time you whole sub/ectvvith you^"'^"'^^ ^° ^'^^uss ^he ^.^argaret sighed ^as she leaned back i„ her " Twentv-fivf ? " r.i • . unconscious veracitv nf''"^''.u^'''''"8- ""th the seven years to wa7 ThT,^ ' " '^''« ^»'- be I II find out beforela, lit !^ ^°". "•« ' '"ink unannounced entrTcf: 'he'^ro^he?''^" '"' Hello, you two ' " h J orother. rude familiarity of a bov ^^T"^ ""''^ '^' •^"y- it seems the 110. 'sn't at all fessor more t. yirig reason Ifn tbe /IMdat of Blarmd. 141 • then, I'm ^u want to T ? " - question. '1 thinkinrr fen aback ; ilized that about the d. »» od house- you will re is one, on your >arrasse(l iiTie you 'uss the <■ in her ^ith the will be I think in and th the IS the library takes a longer time to arrange than usual." Margaret rose with dignity. "We are cataloguing," she said severely. " Oh, that's what you call it, is it? Can I be of any assistance, or is two company when they're cataloguing ? Have you any idea what time it is .'' " " I'm afraid I must be off," said the pro- fessor, rising. " My companion in camp won't know what has become of me." " Oh, he's all right ! " said Henry. " He's down at the Corners, and is going to stay there for the meeting to-night. Young Bartlett passed a while ago ; he was getting the horses shod, and your friend went with him. I guess Yates can take care of himself, Mr. Renmark. Say, sis, will you go to the meeting ? I'm going. Young Bartlett's going, and so is Kitty. Won't you come, too, Mr. Renmark.'' It's great fun." ' Don't talk like that about a religious gathering, Henry," said his sister, frowning. " Well, that's what it is, anyhow." " Is it a prayer meeting ? " asked the pro- fessor, looking at the girl. " You bet it is ! "cried Henry enthusiastically, giving no one a chance to speak but himself. " It's a prayer meeting, and every other kind of meeting all rolled into one. It's a revival meet- ing ; a protracted meeting, that's what it is. You had better come with us, Mr. Renmark, and then you can see what it is like. You can walk home with Yates." This attractive dhiouement did not seem to appeal so strongly to the professor as the boy expected, for he made no answer. " You will come, sis ; won't you ? " urged the boy. " Are you sure Kitty is going ? " " Of course she is. You don't think she'd i f 1 i 1 i \ 1 ! 1 ! X t • ''' lit -^ ■■ I'rsiS ■ ^ JH < i.\ t \ '■,« 1 ;: 1 1; , j , : 1 , ■ » li. « > , * ' 1 ' ' > i^ ■•: ■ ' : T • 1 , <; i.„. \ r ! ''* 1 1 i . s 1 ! H \in 1 1 I i : t I 142 ^^ ^bc mtbBt ot nuvms. ["'ss it, do vou ? Ti, .„ dressed readv fn/?/^' ^''^ sliordv re,,,! ^ 'essor concfutdt tuTdltlso!"^ ^^"Trt 'I I I 111'' i , ^'' i I ■■J*,. tie. ^^ ^ere. too ; f^' Margaret 'y returned. N the nrn. CHAPTER XIII. Anyone passing the Corners that evening would have quickly seen that something impor- tant was on. Vehicles of all kinds lined the roadway, drawn in toward the fence, to the rails of which the horses were tied. Some had evidently come from afar, for the fame of the revivalist was widespread. The women, when they arrived, entered the schoolhouse, which was brilliantly lighted with oil lamps. The men stood around outside in groups, while many sat in rows on the fences, all conversing about every conceivable topic except religion. They apparently acted on the theory that there would be enough religion to satisfy the most exacting; • '='n they went inside. Yates sat on the top '" i le fence with the whittler, whose guest he :..a been. It was getting too dark for satisfactory whittling, so the man with the jack-knife improved the time by cutting notches in the rail on which he sat. Even when this failed, there was always a satisfaction in open- ing and shutting a knife that had a powerful spring at the back of it, added to which was the pleasurable danger of cutting his fingers. They were discussing the Fenian question, which at that time was occupying the minds of Canadians to some extent. Yates was telling them what he knew of the brotherhood in New York, and the strength of it, which his auditors seemed inclined to underestimate. Nobody believed that the Fenians would be so fool- hardy as to attempt an invasion of Canada; 143 !■ '■ ') m r. . >, lilli illii ^ I ^ rlliflH ! i ' '1 144 '« I : I '1*1 ( i »n tbe /B(60t Of alarms. "Oh, we'll turrolc T'V''*" *^» expecfert come over here. Thev?i hi 'f T "'«"'. 'f they' "^.^'''f^ tackles S.!! ''^ S'^d enough .o/el s.dera,io„ for theTes, of us ■■ "* ^'' "" ~n Who ? Me ? ■• aslcell ,k J°"''5«'f- concerned. -. i have „oth^ ''''""'^'■- ^"i'e un- cspecally when the old man"," '" "''-" P^"°"'"i" schoolhouse. The oumI T^'"S from ,he open, and as the fch, ., ''°°" were wide bepn to stream in?!" ^'^^^'"ed out the pe:;,| „ Where's Macdonald.?" asked V„ ^". I ffuess hf^'c f^i **^Kea Yates. "■ashes hit face and ,h'" '? "'^ woods. He the fence and stretc ;nc."^^^^"^"S^ ^^^^^n from It s about time." ^^^^' " ^^ re going in fencrth'i^^;X"shtt';„^°l"°r" f--"- 'he' reuc,a„, snap, and pu ^f f^""' with a With evident reeret Tt, ^ " '" '' s pocket « was, was filled?o-i,sIf!,f ^o'^ouse, la'^ge at on one side of the room ZirP^'="y-^°>"en d!tiofairfh''e ""^ "-■■ "he'?/rs"ir''"H' being ;;;/„"a'„^^ "boyT "^^ of .^e b:?k"b°en?re ^ • ^ "e congregation was ; ¥V 19. ' would givj js expected fiem, if thei ough to get young I hope any of ' did t? in't "*e'd never as no con- you have Mf." quite un- l quarter, from the ere wide »e people ds. He He has ? knows m back n from 5ve his >'"g in, >ni the vith a 3ocket ''geas 'omen 5th er; such iches was f n tbe ifbitfet ot Blarma. 145 standing, singing a hymn, when Yates and his comrades entered, so their quiet incoming was not noticed. The teacher's desk had been moved from the platform on which it usually stood, and now occupied a corner on the men's side of the house. It was used as a seat by two or three, who wished to be near the front, and at the same time keep an eye on the rest of the assemblage. The local preacher stood on the edge of the platform, beating time gently with his hymn book, but not singing, as he had neither voice nor ear for music, and happily recognized the fact. The singing was led by a man in the middle of the room. At the back of the platform, near the wall, were two chairs, on one of which sat the Rev. Mr. Benderson, who was to conduct the revival. He was a stout, powerful-looking man, but Yates could not see his face, for it was buried in his hands, his head being bowed in silent prayer. It was generally understood that he had spent a youth of fearful wickedness, and he always referred to himself as a brand snatched from the burning. It was even hinted that at one time he had been a card player, but no one knew this for a fact. Many of the local preachers had not the power of exhorta- tion, therefore a man like the Rev. Mr. Bender- son, who had that gift abnormally developed, was too valuable to be localized ; so he spent the year going from place to place, sweeping, driving, coaxing, or frightening into the fold those stray sheep that hovered on the outskirts; once they were within the religious ring-fence the local minister was supposed to keep them there. The latter, who had given out the hymn, was a man of very different caliber. He was tall, pale, and thin, and his long black coat hung on him as if it were on a post. When the hymn was finished, and everyone sat down, I!'. 146 it .! * *" tbe mtbet or aiarma. ;|;!yco2rcf.VS;t';-^. found sea,sas bes. yielded mos, ru t Tf^ht'° "?« Po«.on'wh^^^,f be a ,^^ ^'U -f ^he re„va. hap.enl'J' J full, and noticing- two em„, ' f ^'"^ "le place so front asl'- ^'osing the don fuelled fheir n e Lent' V'^^'"^ '-k VS .^^v^e the " old man "^ ) ?^ ''"'''s not goinp- tn ^^y; and they an^ad r^s'pec ? "'"^ ^''^ ^"^^^^^ f.^t not to run the Hsk Sf ' '"°''^^ for Sandy's tne meeting was ovJ ?i ^"countering it nffe, '"ore to be^dr^'d^ Mn .1'^ °?'^^ ^^>mself'/v^'s were that for the nevf /? ^^ '. ''"* ^'^^ chances revival were a success h '''' '^''^ ^^'^eks. f tl^ ^'■on^ that qumlr stVuT^^^^ "I'-^nentlyamon^fL. ''>'' ^^^vever. was ner to be fea'red. X^^:^:^^!^'^^^^ ^^^J^r^ ^or h.s employer, eithe vvfrh '^- '° '^^"^^ "P The unexpected nciden. Vl ^'°'^^ or blow --nra-«?Ve-.-:-^^^^ than Macclonal 1 tml'JX- ^""^ "°"^ "^re that, he revivalist had a if, ' J'""'^'? '° '"■-"'■ ^r e^Trnl-r-^ ,'h^s^t,;^^^ - -everte SaiVtoterT^aT^ Al S"- He had ■as going on taken una- ^ cJoor. had No retreat th haggard sp'-ee. and, 5se on the ■her a little vn on the n his con- /^J'ow, and iience. A ml would ' the door oJ^ which • going to s extreni- r Sandy's S" it after iself was chances 'et Of Blarma. sion that one of ^,r. speaking of"s'om ZuZ^'l ^ ^'^ ^as season of the year I^h ?' '^^"' ""^ this busy speaking had asked f/h 7'^°"^ ^'^'^ man u t s a.ul the answer it '• No ^Z'^ ""''' ^^^^ '^eV^ to calJ his own.' The nh A /'^' "°t a minute snice I heard it Jess f^vf '^''''^s haunted me > sat before vou f .1,1 ' i ' '"ought of it •,<, address yo..^ "-.hLk'ofi'" °' " ^' ' ^^e lo nj".ute to call his own/"' rr )^''° '"'^ ^ .*he preachers voirp hi i ■ ^"^ soft tones of -S-. cry that Vcho:/t8,'7" Place to a^n^^f tlieir heads. «. Have von ? L^ '"'^^ ^'^^vn on ^'"ff. any prince. any^presid."f ' ^ " "^^ any '"en. a minute or 7m' ''^" ' ^"X ruler over- °r •' Not one No °'"'"^. ^'^ ^'-^^ call his "^''[ions on this ear^h tL'^ '" ^'^^ ^^^'"4 past are yours. VVhai us^L""""'^^ ^^^t arf them ? All your efforts .11 "^ ^'°" "^^^'e of not change t4 deeds 1;,^'- y^"*" ^'-''^yers. wU ^/""tes that are past an r^h" ''"^ P"^ °^ tho e The chiseled stone is nn ^^°'^2"'y are yours the deeds of the minutes th'^r' ^"^^ ^^an are record is for you or alafn^^ '''" ^'^''' ^^''^' »ow are those minute! of .f'^"'. ^"t where Pi'nutes that, from th iff ^''^ ^"ture-those f ^^^^hle to call your owVwTen^r "''>-" -" They are in the hand of r^T ''^>' ''^''^ spent = ^■ve or to withhold Ami w5'" '''"^''^"^' to '". the hand of God P Not . '^" "^""t then? Wisest man upon the earfh ^m' "°^ ^' "^t the the m.les frorii here to'he farfh'"."^-''^; ""'"her but he cannot tell you J?l ^'l^f'^ .^''^ible star ; neighbor. I mean 1, l^Z' ^^'°"t mean your whether your minufTsC' 1^""°^ tell YOU ^^ons;£te,;:r i 'o- ran°^-re- '"°™^"''-''-^^eto.^„i;,l^r4''heT;ea? fl9. V man was '\ this busy i"ie to ^ret s man was I were here, Ota minute aunted nie ^So. ' Not rht of it as s I rose to ^ho has a t tones of to a ring. f'ovvn on Has any ruler over I call his teeming- that are made of yers, will of those '■e yours, han are Their t where those will spent ? i^d to them lot the umber star ; n ^'our YOU thou- >u are me a year Ifn tbe /iMddt of Blarms. 151 ou hence, — when the hand of God will close, and you will have had your sum. Then time will end for you, and eternity begin. Are you pre- pared for that awful moment — that moment w'len the last is given you, and the next with- held ? What if it came now ? Are you pre- pared for it.'' Are you ready to welcome it, as did our brother who died at this hour one short week ago .^ His was not the only deathbed I have attended. Some scenes have been so seared into my brain that I can never forget them. A year ago I was called to the bedside of a dying man, old in years and old in sin. Often had he been called, but he put Christ away from him, saying: ' At a more convenient season.' He knew the path, but he walked not therein. And when at last God's patience ended, and this man was stricken down, he, foolish to the last, called for me, the servant, instead of to God, the Master. When I reached his side, the stamp of death was on his face. The biting finger of agony had drawn lines upon his haggard brow. A great fear was upon him, and he gripped my hand with the cold grasp of death itself. In that darkened room it seemed to me I saw the angel of peace standing by the bed, but it stood aloof, as one often offended. It seemed to me at the head of the oed the demon of eternal darkness bent over, whispering to him : ' It is too late ! it is too late ! ' The dying man looked at me — oh, such a look ! May you never be called upon to witness its like. He gasped : ' I have lived — I have lived a sinful life. Is it too late.^ ' * No,' I said, trembling. ' Say you believe.' His lips moved, but no sound came. He died as he had lived. The one necessary minute was withheld. Do you hear.? // — was — withheld! He had not the minute to call his own. Not that minute in which to turn from everlasting dam- .. I u\ YA ':fi 152 '" ^bc mtm Of alarms. nation. He— vv^m 1 as^e l,a,'rT,ent. .So ,s ., H ''^" '"'"'' "le day «very„.„,o,;',™„--' d groans were hear J ,„ he cned. •• M„,v ," V Cotne— now~,w,,, /•' '!'<= 'lay of salS, " CoTe""""' '""^' »°" - "se pray God that in'hi, ml T" = ""'' ^s you ^"-enKth an' '<"''' V™ Suddenly ,he preacher '^^""^".' "'^""^'^ • Stretching out his hand, he ^T'', '■•'" "s spirited mar^hfnff ^i^e : ™"""^' ''^™''- Come, ye Jc • sus s»n • ners, read « y poor stands and need . y, 10 save J^-^ ajd . ,. ^^^^ P" - y- love. and ^' ^"^ an relief to the ne„f Zc ^^-^ ^""^- ^t of the voice ^Thl^ J^^^'"^^ ^^ sing march : ^^^ ^'^°''"s rose like! sore; power. Everyone seemed a at the top triumphal ^«™ »o the Lord. and seek sal . va - tion. «0""d the praise ^i His dear Name; If ns. Ifn tbc /ftiOdt of Blarms. 159 -he^l, dying 't sounded 5ne, and his 'lis theme, could utter, the day of e heard in nv — H07U/" ime, now is ind as you y spare you >t bench." ' talkin^;^. forth, with '>"g hymn, need . y, save yo^^ everyone emed a the top 'umphal - tion. a ame; ^^ iife 5-?if-r^=E Glo ry, hon - our, and sal va tion, m t> a Christ . the Lord has come to reitn>. As the con"-'-' '■kely >hat he w£ siccess/nl V'", '"'^J<^«. i, ,3 With the sex were hr^! ' V '"^ "^ experiences was certainly attrlCef owa JI^T'' ^'"K'''^" deep scholarshio even I f J ""•■"'^•"'x^e Precation could nolenii L """.^ =«"-'"' ''e. siasm over a pupil who ,0. ''"f"^'-' enthu- vancemen. in%'novv^d« ^"u^fl '^T'^'^ ad- h's feelings to Yates ^^m u ' ''^ ''escribed many matters, he wonW . '''^ ?" expert in 'hat he was in love ; l"u S'''.'""'^ '^'"-"e. cent man, not much ^In e^, ■"■'' "■■'" '•* «•«- l.on or to being lav^h " ifh k' '° "'"ospec As to Margaret, Vio An n,'' *"' confidences. of a younggirl's reg° refund "/"'t' ""^ ''ep,h some mdicalion .> All ,hn L '^•''^'■'^'f &''« cord is thit she w-,, t L ' °"^ '« able to re- had been .t the h'ginn",!"' '° ""'''' "^-" ^''e f.n'fr.{^SSra'^d?:'',V™fn°'have ce.ted young man fron ZVvf 'V'''^ '=''"■ Ml mto the error of thi linrir V. Renmark lous young person. Xrefs^ '^'">' '•' '"'"- giH.who had an ZxhZru''!'''''^ '"eiely a sp-nts. an- i me. competitiot), inipion of her '^ut wlietlier -tter for lij^ ersed in the hope of will. 5is of Vates" L»')ject. it is 5 experiences • Mar^i^'-aret mariv, whose ive self-de- ■^^ ." and he, ter's enthu- desired ad- - described 1 expert in ive learned ^vas a reti- ' introspec- onfidences, the depth 'self gives ible to re- than she not have r the con- Ren mark r a frivo- merely a of high epiorable Even lier on an even- ni from of every a farm- 1in tbc Ifbi^et of Blarmd. 157 In describing the incident afterward to Ren- mark (for Yates had nothing of his comrade's reserve in these matters) he said : " She left a diagram of her four fingers on my cheek that felt like one of those raised maps of Switzerland. I have before now felt ihe tap of a lady's fan in admonition, but never 11 my life have I met a gentle reproof that felt so much like a censure from the paw of our friend Tom Sayers." Renmark said with some severity that he hoped Yates would not forget that he was, in a measure, a guest of his neighbors. " Oh, //la/'s all right," said Yates. " If you have any spare sympathy to bestow, keep it for me. My neighbors are amply able, and more than willing, to take care of themselves." And now as to Richard Yates himself. One would imagine that here, at least, a conscien- tious relater of events would have a' easy task. Alas ! such is far from being the fact. The case of Yates was by all odds the most complex and bewildering of the four. He was deeply and truly in love with both of the girls. Instances of this kind are not so rare as a young man newly engaged to an innocent girl tries to make her believe. Cases have been known wh-ere a chance meeting with one girl, and not with another, has settled who was to be a young man's companion during a long life. Yates felt that in multitude of counsel therein wisdom, and made no secret of his perplexity to his friend. He complained sometimes that he got little help toward the solution of the problem, but generally he was quite content to sit under the trees with Renmark and weigh the different advantages of each of the girls. He sometimes appealed to his friend, as a man with a mathe- matical turn of mind, possessing an education that extended far into conic sections and alge- ff't 1 1 1 ^1 '( •;■ \ vm I- »! Ii ' I IS It.) il !■! '.,i' ' »«l i^ t 158 ITn tbc /BSfDdt ot Blarma. braic formulcne, to balance up the lists, and give him a candid and statistical opinion as to wliich of the two he should favor with serious pro- posals. When these appeals for help were coldly received, he accused his friend of lack of sympathy with his dilemma, said that he was a soulless man, and that if he had a heart it had become incrusted with the useless debris of a higher education, and swore to confide in him no more. He would search for a friend, he said, who had something human about him. The search for the sympatlietic friend, however, seemed to be unsuccessful ; for Yates always re- turned to Renmark, to have, as he remarked, ice water dashed upon his duplex-L urning passion. It was a lovely afternoon in the latter part of May, 1866, and Yates was swinging idly in the hammock, with his hands clasped under his head. gazing dreamily up at the patches of blue sky seen through the green branches of the trees overhead, while his industrious friend was un- romantically peeling potatoes near the door of the tent. " The human heart, Renny," said the man in the hammock reflectively, " is a remarkable organ, when you come to think of it. I pre- sume, from yoi>r lack of interest, that you haven't given the subject much study, except, perhaps, in a physiological way. At the present moment it is to me the only theme worthy of a man's entire attention. Perhaps that is the result of spring, as the poet says ; but, anyhow, it pre- sents new aspects to me each hour. Now, I have made this important discovery : that the girl I am with last seems to me the most desirable. That is contrary to the observation of philoso- phers of bygone days. Absence makes the heart grow fonder, they say. I don't find it so. Presence is what plays the very deuce with me. Now, how do you account for it, Stilly.^ " I:"^li 'ts, and give as to which ierious pro- lielp were (1 of lack' of bat he was a heart it :less tf^/fr/s confide in '!■ a friend, about him. I, however, always re- narked, ice ig passion, ter part of icily in the r his head. f blue sky the trees I was un- e door of the man markable I p re- hat you except, present thy of a le result it pre- ^, I have le girl I sirable. )hiloso- :es the d it so. th me. 1Fn tbc ^iDst of Blarms. 159 The professor did not attempt to account for it,i)ut silently attended to the business in hand, Yates withdrew his eyes from the sky, and fixed them on the professor, waiting for the answer that did not come. " Mr. Renmark," he drawled at last, " I am convinced that your treatment of the potato is a mistake. I think potatoes should not be peeled the day before, and left to soak in cold water until to-morrow's dinner. Of course I admire the industry that gets work well over before its results are called for. Nothing is more annoying than work left untouched until the last moment, and then hurriedly done. Still, virtue may be carried to excess, and a man may be too previous." "Well, I am quite willing to relinquish the work into your hands. You may periiaps re- member that for two days I have been doing your share as well as my own." " Oh, I am not complaining about //m/. at all," said the hammock magnanimously. " You are acquiring practical knowledge, Renny, that will be of more use to you than all the learning taught at the schools. My only desire is that your education should be as complete as pos- sible, and to this end I am willing to sub- ordinate my own yearning desire for scullery work. I should suggest that, instead of going to the trouble of entirely removing the covering of the potato in that laborious way, you should merely peel a belt around its greatest circum- ference. Then, rather than cook the potatoes in the slow and soggy manner that seems to delight you, you should boil them quickly, with some salt placed in the water. The remaining coat would then curl outward and the resulting potato would be white and dry and mealy, in- stead of being in the condition of a wet sponge." " The beauty of a precept, Yates, is the illus- 1i U 1-1, r: t )H 1^ IV 1^ m :' -1*1 !U 1 6c *" tbe rtj(£,0t Of aiarma. ii trating- of it jf ^■•■.y of boiling nmato« "'" ''"'''^"' "i'h mv object lesson/ P°'^'°«. S've me a practical '"■'y''^ """ '■" '"^ "—k Sighed reproaC- Ren°ark:^:.:,^:;,";'-f 'native P-'-n liK-e you '"S that a man as dee. Iv \ , """"y "' ^"Bges"' de'»ean hi„,self I y ^' [ '" '°^'^ '"* ' a-., shou ■ jletads of househo I aS'"^,'" "'^ l'™.saic ove. an.l much more ,h r ' •'"' ''°"''ly in '^°r« Euclid used ,0 ; '''Y.^f"'-^' as that ol ""kmd a,ul uncalle<| /or ■^' " y""' suggestion . ■•vel:&ta"-;:rir-^'''^^^^-'' ■n your curt suggestfon a""^' '''^asonableness or unwilling, to worlc°n'th^T''" "'j" '" ""able find fault with the pickers "'^f'' ''"""'' no fo<- the hundre on like you, of su^'^gest- am shoui'' 'le prosaic doubly in s that ojci suggestion 5nableness »s unable, >JiouI(| not ^v, Renny. ^id to the d tell me. ^vould do of those Js would smg his I should a knife." finger, ot to be Jiim, it /earing. certain U him- onients rdinary iiigher there " Is Richard Yates there ? " hailed the voice. " Yes. Who wants him ? " cried Yates, springing out of the hammock. " I do," said a young fellow on horsel)ack. He threw himself off a tired horse, tied the animal to a sapling, — which, judging by the horse's condition, was an entirely unneces- sary operation, — jumped over the rail fence, and approached through the woods. The young men saw, coming toward them, a tall lad in the uniform of the telegraph service. "I'm Yates. What is it? " " Well," said the lad, *' I've had a hunt and a half for you. Here's a telegram." •• How in the world did you find out where I was ? Nobody has my addre_ " " That's just the trouble. It would have saved somebody in New York a pile of money if you had left it. No man ought to go to the woods without leaving his address at a tele- graph office, anyhow." The young man looked at the world from a telegraph point of view. People were good or bad according to the trouble they gave a telegraph messenger. Yates took the yellow envelope, addressed in lead pencil, but, without opening it, repeated his question : " But how on earth did you find me ? " "Well, it wasn't easy," said the boy. •' My horse is about done out. I'm from Buffalo. They telegraphed from New York that we were to spare no expense ; and we haven't. There are seven other fellows scouring the country on horseback with duplicates of that dispatch, and some more have gone along the lake shore on the American side. Say, no other messenger has been here before me, has he ? " asked the boy with a touch of anxiety in his voice. " No ; you are the first." "I'm glad of that. I've been 'most all over ii llj I62 *..' w. Wf »" tbc Ajoat Of aiatmg. Canada. J fmf r^n ^ffo. and tlfe^^fo'LT'ilI'-^'^-^'^rt two hours below said you were „n , ^''^nnhouse down answer?" ^ ''^'^^ "P here. Js there any wa^ Ir ^"""^ ""P^" the envelonp tu ,. was lon^. and he renr ;. ^ V ^^^ fi'spatch ^^-^vn. It was to this effect:''''^ " ^^^^p'"'"^' nerr';retot''S"?; '"'° ^-"-cla at Buffalo V fivearriv'e ^t^e?:" you tell him'who";ou"are^''S.r" ^ith Canadian-' oop/'T. ^^ >'°"- ^^iace'one oTt^^'" expense." '°' ^^^h you need; and don't spa7e '=hed Renmark. and .Ireu f^";^ f''*' «'«"- adm,ra„on of ,l,e BuVo ^letinh'^ '='"''<'"' Heavens and earth an/i .i?^P" '"'y- J m here on my vacating '.'j^ '°"«'- regions < ("•"P into work /or an he oai *" ""'. ^oinff o Why couldn't those fr,„1 ^T^^ '" New York ^°T- The iZTsdi„°\°' ^^"'■■•'"^ stay at well off. The FenLn, h k''"°'^ ^^^en they're " Guess ih;.,C ? "e hanged ! " ' ^ 'elegraph\oy?'l\tf '''^y-lll be." sa/d the " No Tell Vm '^ answer, sir ? " '"^ " Don't expect thTh"""'''"'' «"" "'e." ' but not that one. No 'J ^f^^^'^^'^ the boy, rouble finding- you r "' ^ ^^ ^ad too much J'ni no good. ^J^tai-ted o, ?°/ ^^'"^ ^o pretend ^S«''"-'""5?""° '"»«"' tie. 't two hours ouse down s there any he dispatch deepening Jo. You are ble. Five of eral O'Neill •IJ give you are. When ■ one or two 'le telegraph will carry. Jon't spare >^ this, he lat aston- - envious regions ! ?oing to w York. stay at they're 5aid the aid the he boy, 5 much •retend >u,and e, Mr lulous enced •ffn tbc rtM^st ot Blarms. 163 himself wlien he was a younj; reporter, and he at once admitted the injustice of attempting to deprive him of the fruits of his enterprise. '* No," he said, *' that won't do. No ; you have found me, and you're a young fellow who will be president of the telegraph company some day, or perhaps hold the less important office of the United States presidency. Who knows ? Have you a telegraph blank ? " " Of course," said the boy, fishing out a bun- dle from the leathern wallet by his side. Yates took the paper, and flung himself down under the tree. " Here's a pencil," said the messenger. " A newspaper man is never without a pencil, thank you," replied Yates, taking one out of his inside pocket. " Now, Renmark, I'm not going to tell a lie on this occasion," he con- tinued. " I think the truth is better on all occa- sions." " Right you are. So here goes for the solid truth." Yates, as he lay on the ground, wrote rapidly on the telegraph blank. Suddenly he looked up and said to the professor: *' Say, Renmark, are you a doctor,^ " '• Of laws," replied his friend. "Oh, that will do just as well." And he finished his writing. *' How is this } " he cried, holding the paper at arm's length : " L. F. Spencer, " Managing Editor ^ Argus ^^ New York : *' I'm flat on my back. Haven't done a hand's turn for a week. Am under the constant care, night and day, of one of the most eminent doctors in Canada, who even prepares my food for me. Since leaving New York trouble of the heart has complicated matters, and at present baffles the doctor. Consultations daily. r % I t f t. • 1 1 164 :i u : f, I »n tbe moet or aiarma. absence. ^« ^ ^ooa man to take charge in mv "Yates. ^ " Ther " • i Yates. ^f course it's tm^f" • . "^- York. I would mark it • ru^h ! ."S"? 'o New wallet! """^ '°°'' "•= paper, and put it ,„ his tinuid Va°es.' "'"' '°' '' '^e other end," con- ' Oh, that's all riu-hf " senger with a certain i; answered the mes- were giving erecm'r bX ro7';f"' ^^ '' '>« We I, so long," he n,i,V. ."'* <^o'npany. soon be better, Mr. Yates ••• ' '"'P^ yo"'" fol!ow?dh?:=";?,tt/eet with a laugh, and yo" get back. WblTtT ''"''"■°" yo" when " Oh, Ml tell V,;*' '7'" yo" say ? " " fi-jd you, andttT^tn'^ a '"[" J°'' ' had to a' done it, and III s^v vo^)^ "°''°''>' "^'^^ could '"°'^'lH^''y^ra°r{~-«^^^-"' Here's five dollars allTn"? • rf^^ ?« along -•V o.her of the n;t'"n--'':-,,'{ yo„u ,t| me, re until present s charge in my " Yates. ^ ■ ofsatisfac- ^c reading. fiot answer. ^^ but not ates, inclig- 's a great a of. Ask ^v, my boy, ack to the h to New mat never e operator it in his nd,"con- t^ie mes- as if he ompany. >e you'JJ ^^h, and ff. I can u when had to ■ could i^man. along. I meet back In tbe /ISiddt ot Blarmd. 165 with you. There's no use of their wasting valuable time in this little neck of the woods." The boy stuffed the bill into his vest pocket as carelessly as if it represented cents insteail of dollars, mounted his tired horse, and waved his hand in farewell to the newspaper man. Yates turned and walked slowly back to the tent. He threw himself once more into the hammock. As he expected, the professor was more taci- turn than ever, and, although he had been pre- pared for silence, the silence irritated him. He felt ill used at having so unsympathetic a com- panion. " Look here, Renmark ; why don't you say something? " " There is nothing to say." " Oh, yes, there is. You don't approve of me, do you ? " " I don't suppose it makes any difference whether I approve or not." "Oh, yes, it does. A man likes to have the approval of even the humblest of his fellow- creatures. Say, what will you take in cash to approve of me? People talk of the tortures of conscience, but you are more uncomfortable than the most cast-iron conscience any man ever had. One's own conscience one can deal with, but a conscience in the person of another man is beyond one's control. Now, it is like this : I am here for quiet and rest. I have earned both, and I think I am justified in " *' Now, Mr. Yates, please spare me any cheap philosophy on the question. I am tired of it." " And of me, too, I suppose ? " " Well, yes, rather — if you want to know." Yates sprang out of the hammock. For the first time since the encounter with Bartlett on the road Renmark saw that he was thoroughly angry. The reporter stood with clenched fists ' ii' ill f r r ff 166 ml p i. >i '" tbc mm Of mam,. heavy hrowshira v'; \l^T'">^- T'"-' othrr h„ i"^^"! ■"" S"".! fo; once o t'"^' " "''•" " ^voul,|,|„ "nl>,,,se""'-felf. Vou ^|,, 'j years of sclioolmasteiin„ • "' >'°"' A few -^^'■/•"Jrel. Now ?S^-„;»";'jrh to spoilt .hefe„ce..'^"""'-""erruptedbyacryf.o„, narnefl^Y^lrer-Jitf/J-'-en ,v loouirZZ; 'cZi^yP^^^ 'o his side A Renmark!" ' '""'" "™ 'o the stern h^s""? manthotcl^^ceived;" '"^ '^^— -< like a those cursed leWranh '' "« another of a good fellow. ^Xf,'^ ,ZThTr'- ^°' "l-e 't. Dr. Renmark fm p v* '''spatch. Si.r„ f ^e .t a sort of offic ^1 n..V*?i TLat wll" I w,sh I ha^"""^^ ^'-^^-tlett ^'s pocket and p s|l ''^""^' '^«°' a man quera '^''"''y- % don t want to shp.it, , '' 'nnocent and I ^P^lled during his awfur."'^ '"°°^ 'ha. W,| 'L , "°«-'ongthevhidh. '"P,'"S"-" know, as tL ghos?4or?es "h'"" '^'y "id not ^"eresuddenlv awaken.,! f '""''' "• but both ^"le. It was m en,e"v ,H''.if ?<"""><>'ion out- b"' .as the two ^Tli ,f "^ '""'^^ 'he ten "°;-'ng blur of Ight LJ^h*' "°.""'' a faint visible through the canvas ^ '"^''' "^^" J"s' R4 "Mtt 10. ^v the news- will be the newspaper 3f the fray, n press, j to-morrow, I hunt out 3n the field es. I will ^1 speak of >wing out fiff- I will ^--acles. and rate fight- whatever to a man ^iS^e mas- fit to say s partner. >ail, as he '^X* pocket led, butt- knowing instinc- devasta- another know I y. My and f will be lid not both n out- tent, faint just Ifn tbc ^fD0t ot Blarms. 171 " It's another of those fiendish messengers," whisj)ere(l Yates. " Gi' me that revolver." " Hush ! " said the other below his breath. " There's about a dozen men out there, judging by the footfalls. I heard them coming." " Let's fire into the tent and be done with it," said a voice outside. "No, no," cried another; "no man shoot. It makes too much noise, and there must be others about. Have ye all got yer bayonets fixed .'* " There was a murmur, apparently in the affirmative. "Very well, then. Murphy and O'Rourick, come round to this side. You three stay where you are. Tim, you go to that end; and, Doolin, come with me." " The Fenian army, by all the gods ! " whis- pered Yates, groping for his clothes. " Renny, give me that revolver, and I'll show you more fun than a funeral." " No, no. They're at least three to our one. We're in a trap here, and helpless." " Oh, just let me jump out among 'em and begin the fireworks. Those I didn't shoot would die of fright. Imagine scouts scouring the woods with a lantern — with a lantern, Renny ! Think of that ! Oh, this is pie 1 Let me at 'em." " Hush ! Keep quiet ! They'll hear you." " Tim, bring the lantern round to this side." The blur of light moved along the canvas. " There's a man with his back against the wall of the tent. Just touch him up with your bayo- net. Murphy, and let him know we're here." " There may be twenty in the tent," said Murphy cautiously. " Do what I tell you," answered the man in command. Murphy progged his bayonet through the I I Hi 1 ' ' {\ 'J K«m.aia>»fp*n»Mi^MJIt '. v^^,.. 172 '" f''^ ^'J>8t Of ararma. Mf f canvas, and sunk th^ w«. n a Temor 'of fetTh'""'".'-" ==•-"■'' M"rphy ,vi,h The vo ce of Vnt^^ ' "^ "''^ff. of the , en, r ^"'' ""? ""t f'om the interior by a nervous s',Sr";'fV'!^-"^1' 'j^'^^" only ofgun-locl°" '< V"" are mand""" °"' "^ "V one,- was the next con,. -e^-:«inr,sh:;'.si:;:ve'*'°i"-: -■" va.es, Thl'^ifn^lf^r cerni,r !rr"' -"^ '^- coa, on The lantern on U e ^^ '^' ,7' '°°k invitin,? fflow on the severe f.-Tce " ',1- '"' "" " '''■"'''' he footlights „,i^H,t illun^inlr :^,°""!'an the i..i|,orta ce -.n rd""'*^''"'l">- "•'Pressed Yates glanced a louf „ ""f^' "^ ''" ""^"'on. recent dejection gone n^w I ,\""''^' ''" ^is niKlst of a row "^ "'^' he was in the Dorr\i:,L',"?,^V.;h^ said •■ and which is eyes rested on one f,m ""^ ""^''' « ^'^ man who held his lAv'oner'''"1^' ■"'''^-''aired -" a fierce deter^lS Tilfs 7act^S IH M Ifn tbe £Ksil>0t of Blarme. 173 might have made an opponent quail. " When (lid yoa leave New York ? and wiio's running the city now that you're gone ? " The men had evidently a sense of humor, in spite of their bloodthirsty business, for a smile Hickered on their faces in tiic laniern light, and several bayonets were unconsciously lowered. But the hard faceof ihecomnianderdid not relax. " You are doing yourself no good by your talk," he said solemnly. " What you say will be used against you." " Yes, and what you do will be used against you ; and don't forget that fact. It's you who are in danger — not I. You are, at this moment, making about the biggest ass of yourself there is in Canada." " Pinion these men ! " cried the captain gruffly. "Pinion nothing!" shouted Yates, shaking off the grasp of a man who had sprung to his side. But both Yates and Renmark were speedily overpowered ; and then an unseen (litliculty presented itself. Murphy pathetically remarked that they had no rope. The captain was a man of resource. *' Cut enough rope from the tent to tie them." " And when you're at it. Murphy," said Yates, ** cut off enough more to hang yourself with. You'll need it l)efore long. And remem- ber that any damage you do to that tent you'll have to pay for. It's hired." Yates gave them all the trouble he could while they tied his elbows and wrists together, offering sardonic suggestions and cursing their clumsiness. Renmark submitted quietly. When the operation \ as finished, the professor said with the calm conhdence of one who has an emp're behind him and knows it : " I warn you, sir, ihat this outrage is com- mitted on British soil ; and that I, on whom it is committed, am a British subject." 174 tn tbe /Ibidst of Blarme. li 1 1 m I- " Heavens and earth, Renmark, if you find it impossible to keep your mouth shut, do not use the word ' subject,' but ' citizen.' " " I am satisfied with the word, and with the protection given to those who use it." " Look here, Renmark ; you had better let me do the talking. You will only put your fool in it. I know the kind of men I have to deal with ; you evidently don't." In tying the professor they came upon tlie pistol in his coat pocket. Murphy held it up to the light. " I thought you said you were unarmed ? " remarked the captain severely, taking the revolver in his hand. •' I was unarmed. The revolver is mine, but the professor would not let me use it. If he had, all of ycu would be running for dear life through the woods." " You admit that you are a British subject ? " said the captain to Renmark, ignoring Yates. " He doesn't admit it, he brags of it," said the latter before Renmark could speak. ** You can't scare him ; so quit this fooling, and let us know how long we are to stand here trussed up like this." " I propose, captain," said the red-headed man, *' that we shoot these men where they stanH, and report to the general. They are spies. They are armed, and they denied it. It's according to the rules of war, captain." " Rules of war ? What do you know of the rules of war, you red-headed Senegambian ? Rules of Hoyle ! Your line is digging sewers, I imagine. Come, captain, undo these ropes, and make up your mind quickly. Trot us along to General O'Neill just as fast as you can. The sooner you get us there the more timt' you will have for being sorry over what you have done." tl0» f n tbc Kbi^et ot Blarme. 175 if you find it t, do not use md with the t." setter let me your fool in o deal with ; le upon the leld it up to Jnarmed ? " taking the s mine, but s «t. If he or dear life subject ? " ig Yates. t,"said the k. " You and let us trussed up pd-headed here they They are denied it. im. ow of the ambian ? sewers, ■se ropes. Trot us you can. \n\v you ou have The captain still hesitated, and looked from one to the other of his men, as if to make up his mind whether they would obey him if he went to extremities. Yates' quick eye noted that the two prisoners had nothing to hope for, even from the men who smiled. The shooting of two unarmed and bound men seemed to them about the correct way of beginning a great struggle for freedom. " Well," said the captain at length, " we must do it in proper form, so I suppose we should have a court-martial. Are you agreed ? " They were unanimously agreed. •* Look here," cried Yates, and there was a certain impressiveness in his voice in spite of his former levity ; " this farce has gone just as far as it is going. Go inside the tent, there, and in my coat pocket you will find a telegram, the first of a dozen or two received by me within the last twtnty-four hours. Then you will see whom you propose to shoot." The telegram was found, and the captain read it, while Tim held the lantern. He looked from under his knitted brows at the newspaper man. *' Then you are one of the Afi^^us staff." •* I am chief of the Ar^us staff. As you see, five of my men will be with General O'ls^eill to- morrow. The first question they will ask him will be: 'Where is Yates.''' The next thing that will happen will be that you will be hanged for your stupidity, not by Canada nor by the State of New York, but by your general, who will curse your memory ever after. You are fooling not with a subject this time, but with a citizen ; and your general is not such an idiot as to monkey with the United States Government ; and, what is a blamed sight worse, with the great American press. Come, captain, we've had enough of 'HI' I. ■:; i \ 1" 176 »n tbe mtt>et of aiarma. calf; and'ukrus","'',,!"'' "' ''"'^'''y ''s you Soing to see him in h '„ Se''<^ral We were :: «"' this man sa« h^r'?-*^' «"y''ow." ''' "Thafs all n>;, vr ? ? Canadian." 'ouch him, you tol.rh '' '"^"'' '' '«'• H vo„ climb clown'from "ot,'"^- ^ow, hurn? ^ onough 'rouble ?,ow^^i»ir!;f- ' ^h^" Vve g'}'l all the blunder ™"u^ "'^ ^^n^ral to fZ. your nen to untie us -.n,i ,u '" . '"JUT- Tell into the tent ft ■.,-m' ' ""■°"' 'he roiies h\l\ ■■•"I let us be off7"'°°" ''^dayligh.°PHus'fe . " Untie them " m,vi .u s,gh. •"■ said the captain, with a ".f.r1reet°:^ '"""'' -''- •>- arms regained " Now, Tim " h*a . • I and bring out my coaf' it'l'Tll'^L" "^'^ '«"' -, Tim did instantlv p, ri„ '^'"">' 'i^''^-" Ya'e^ on^with the coa? ""''^'"''' ^"'l helped ^I'hough he'Tas hiddtT '°i"^'' P~f^"o" d'ver, suspicion from himself "t' T ''"I '<> r'fe':nt^;.„'«fB'^tff:'',''- The"^t„^T^'^-Kre'••^''™^"- '-'•pa.iof 'td ReTm^,Trin"i '^^'^ "P= '" an- him the vessel The I J '""o^ently offered ickly as you We were lyhow." Jian." fne. If you , hurry up. shall have leral to for- le to-nijrht. Jury. Tell ropes back t. Hustle, n, with a s regained • that tent ?re." nd helped ou've evi- "that if Tim, you rofessor, bed to h it out iv was, rofessor In tbc /IStD0t ot Blarms. 177 1 will." The jar passed down along the line, until Tim finished its contents. '• Now, then, for the camp of the Fenian army." cried Yates, taking Renmark's arm ; and they began their march through the woods. '•Great Caesar! Stilly," he continued to his friend, " this is rest and quiet with a vengeance, isn't it ? •• ^ ■ I' l-ii:' : ^^ S 1; < I «4| ij i;"' Is in an- Ished to it, pro- offered >ok his llf. " And ork as i " CHAPTER XVI. woods. Tl4y''3o^^ founT^'"^ 'hrough he fis a .lift,. „1. el,°l ,„ " '• 'T""'-- "'«' 'his are no; as irimly ken, L r, .^f"'-"'''-"" fores ■ walkeree <^ ^appeared su°"-Please hght than with it In? 'j ' P?'^^'^ "''hoit h| yet four o'clock CvhrA "''"''""B'i '' "as nm through the trees and ,f ''"'' ■''''■^ady filferin ' "hly lighter. '• "'"' ""^ "-oods weJe percep*^ '''f|ii--^^"'''''''''"^"^^^''-«"'P.%aid are doing." •^^'=«""»-3.t. Kee'p ^n as you 1 ney were npoi-^^ ♦! pected. As thev hi , "^^"^P 'han thev si..= crackling unci eh^u,*;'";'' ^f ' on amo^^ X f n tbc /ibiDdt ot Blarme. 179 to put their e of their something rough the that this an forests rks. Tim hut three ction, and ^i'^g male- le was a smashed 3n failed, ^u-please hout the was not filtering^ percep- 3, aaid as you "v sus- ig: the sharp it, and Mike rnized "Oh, it's you, is it?" said the sentry, stop- ping in his Might. The captain strode angrily toward him. " What do you mean by firing like that ? Don't you know enough to ask for the counter- sign before shooting.'' " '* Sure, I forgot about it, captain, entirely. Hut, then, ye see, I never can hit anything; so it's little difference it makes." The shot had roused tiie camp, and there was now wild commotion, everybody thinking the Canadians were upon them. A stranfje sight met the eye of Yates and Renmark. Both were astonished to see the numl)er of men that O'Neill had under his com- mand. They found a motley crowd. Some tattered United States uniforms were among them, but the greater number were dressed as ordinary individuals, although a few had trim- mings of green braid on their clothes. Sleep- ing out for a couple of nights had given the gathering the unkempt appearance of a great company of tramps. The officers were indis- tinguishable from the men at first, but after- ward Yates noticed that they, mostly in plain clothes and slouch hats, had sword belts buckled around them ; and one or two had swords that had evidently seen service in the United States cavalry. *• It's all right, boys," cried the captain to the excited mob. " It was only that fool Lynch who fired at us. There's nobody hurt. Wliere'sthe general ? " " Here he comes," said half a dozen voices at once, and the crowd made way for him. General O'Neill was dressed in ordinary citizen's costume, and did not wear even a sword belt. On his head of light hair was a black soft felt hat. His face was pale, and covered with freckles. He looked more like 41* Mi IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) ^O ^ <*^!^* z <° 1.0 I.I ■21 1 2.5 1^ 12.2 10 1.8 lis ■ 30 ML u WUU 1.25 1.4 1 1.6 -1 6" ► y] .^"^ "-^ 9^ 'V ^J^ Mif^ J>- >' /^ 4V^ '/ Photographic Sdences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WF9STER,N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4503 r O i8o »n the asioet ot aiarms. // a clerk from a CTowr,, .. mander of an armv I?. "'^ '^^^" ">« com- ^%/;"" •^^'y"vra:rji;'r;%i£ you back'?'' Tny „'e Js '' " ^' '^''^- " Why are repl| :"P'^"' -""ed, „,im,,y f,^,.^^^ ^_^^ encamped°n\,7m,.P'?f""s. sir. They were ^ays h*; is a^ American '::?,•'''• 0"«°fS said tl,e general wfth a wf '",""' '^"t. 'oo," be an imp^veme^t on sK,vT'''- . " " ^°" d olVe^-.^ .he prisonerstTd^' .^ It^,^!^ I claTtd^f '^pt'^a^es a .s^^^^^^ m saying that general. What I said « 't"*^* ^th you recognize somewhat lictoth^"' ^"li ^°"'d I was, and the desiraSn hV <• "*" ''« did, who reasonable decency u^lh"'^"'!^ ">« '^''h tha telegram you took"^ f?L ""^ "'^ g«"eral captam." ' '""^ 'r<"n my coat pocket ove?o?c:''o;t::|cV'°''"^^''' -^^ O-NeiH read it ,, •• te rm"e eT/t^ed' u'r^T^'r "-'' ? " make som" a°Svl° ce'alt at ^'.il'' y°" -""St you will come with m^ r , n'™* ''"^e 'his. If which will prevrn a^„ ;-^ ?" ""■'«« yo" a pass ing in the fSture " ^i^L'^'lar mistake hapLn! a smoldering camo fir. ^l""""' '*d the wayTo hetookwritif/^'^PriaTsa'^/'''''""' ?'^ vaLe! ^desk,bega„^o„:jlf^ltZ^^7Si f n tbe Aidst of Blatms. i8i •' Headquarters of the Grand Army of the Irish Republic " he looked up, and asked Yates his Christian name. Being answered, he inquired the name of his friend. " I want nothing from you," interposed Ren- mark. " Don't put my name on the paper." " Oh, that's all right," said Yates. " Never mind him, general. He's a learned man who doesn't know when to talk and when not to. As you march up to our tent, general, you will see an empty jug, which will explain everything. Renmark's drunk, not to put too fine a point upon it ; and he imagines himself a British subject." The Fenian general looked up at the professor. ** Are you a Canadian } " he asked. " Certainly I am." " Well, in that case, if I let you leave camp, you must give me your word that, should you fall in with the enemy, you will give no informa- tion to them of our position, numbers, or of anything else you may have seen while with us." " I shall not give my word. On the contrary, if I should fall in with the Canadian troops, I will tell them where you are, that you are from eight hundred to one thousand strong, and the worst looking set of vagabonds I have ever seen out of jail." General O'Neill frowned, and looked from one to the other. " Do you realize that you confess to being a spy, and that it becomes my duty to have you taken out and shot ? " " In real war, yes. But this is mere idiotic fooling. All of you that don't escape will be either in jail or shot before twenty-four hours." " Well, by the gods, it won't help you any. I'll have you shot inside of ten minutes, instead of twenty-four hours." " Hold on, general, hold on ! " cried Yates, as { 1 11 I': l82 Kn tbe jfR^idst ot Blarms. y^l the angry man rose and confronted the two. " I admit that he richly deserves shooting, if you were the fool killer, which you are not. But it won't do, I will be responsible for him. Just finish that pass for me, and I will take care of the professor. Shoot me if you like, but don't touch him. He hasn't any sense, as you can see ; but I am not to blame for that, nor are you. If you take to shooting everybody who is an ass, general, you won't have any am- munition left with which to conquer Canada. The general smiled in spite of himself, and resumed the writing of the pass. " There," he said, handing the paper to Yates. " You see, we always like to oblige the press. I will risk your belligerent friend, and I hope you will exercise more control over him, if you meet the Canadians, than you were able to exert here. Don't you think, on the whole, you had better stay with us? We are going to march in a couple of hours, when the men have had a little rest." He added in a lower voice, so that the professor could not hear : " You didn't see any- thing of the Canadians, I suppose } " " Not a sign. No, I don't think I'll stay. There will be five of our fellows here some time to-day, I expect, and that will be more than enough. I'm really here on a vacation. Been ordered rest and quiet. I'm beginning to think I have made a mistake in location." Yates bade good-by to the commander, and walked with his friend out of the camp. They threaded their way among sleeping men and groups of stacked guns. On the top of one of the bayonets was hung a tall silk hat, which looked most incongruous in such a place. " I think," said Yates, " that we will make for the Ridge Road, which must lie somewhere in this direction. It will be easier walking than through the woods ; and, besides, I want to i 'ji I ^ ited the two. s shooting, if yo" are not. sible for him. will take care you hke, but sense, as you for that, nor ig everybody Jave any am- ir Canada, himself, and " There," he " You see. I will risk 'Pe you will ou meet the exert here. 1 had better march in a bad a little so that the I't see any- ril stay, some time Tiore than on. Been g to think nder, and p. They men and of one of at, which ce. make for where in ng than want to •ffn tbe /IRlOst ot Blarmg. 183 stop at one of the farmhouses and get some breakfast. I'm as hungry as a bear after tramping so long." " Very well," answered the professor shortly. The two stumbled along until they reached the edge of the wood ; then, crossing some open fields, they came presently upon the road, near the spot where the fist fight had taken place between Yates and Bartlett. The com- rades, now with greater comfort, walked silently along the road toward the west, with the red- dening east behind them. The whole scene was strangely quiet and peaceful, and the recol- lection of the weird camp they had left in the woods seemed merely a bad dream. The morning air was sweet, and the birds were beginning to sing. Yates had intended to give the professor a piece of his mind regarding the lack of tact and common sense displayed by Renmark in the camp, but, somehow, the scarcely awakened day did not lend itself to controversy, and the serene stillness soothed his spirit. He began to whistle softly that popular war song, " Tramp, tramp, tramp, the boys are marching," and then broke in with the question : " Say, Renny, did you noiice that plug hat on the bayonet ? " " Yes," answered the professor ; " and I saw five others scattered around the camp." " Jingo ! you were observant. I can imagine nothing quite so ridiculous as a man going to war in a tall silk hat." The professor made no reply, and Yates changed his whistling to " Rally round the flag." '• I presume," he said at length, " there is little use in attempting to improve the morning hour by trying to show you, Renmark, what a fool you made of yourself in the camp ? Your 1 .'hi 4 '1 I 1 III i 'iifj I I ir 184 »n tbe mm Of alarms. m ii na.u^ra;,dip,o„acy seemed .0 be slightly off ,he th;eJesa„d"vagabond's'?'°'"^"= '•^'^'-"^ with that m'SerVh'ev'^'"'°",<'= ' ^"' =° am I for m'staken men • brnT^i"''" ''^ "ell-meaninr thieves." ' ^"' ' ''o "ot think they are' gene^t'L^e^a^rca^?;:;^^^"' '"^e so-called hat had been s^o'e^fro J ,h '""'I''''' ''°'-^« farmers, and another nartv.,,^^ neighboring some more." ^ "^ started out to eet [equiWioning/'vL'^i^u^^^^ Renm-^rk ; that's successful; for here are .h" P""'/^ ^^^ been mounted." ^ ^^^ ^^^-ee of them all s.eId:at''frestMSTh:twr' '° ^"'PP^d «>^eir he bend of thefoad andlw^iri^™"""? ™"nd L'ke so many of the otheTf th"^'^"'^PP''°ach. form, but twi of them lf?l "^^^ '^°'e no uni- hands ready for action ''^J'^/^^°'vers in the r ;wo_^aking positio^'i ^^^^^'^^ and whe°re a're^yo/gobsT..^°. "P^-^on^e from, horseman, as the two Lit'' "'e foremost talking distance. "^^"'"^ <^ame within iaunJnl .?a„d"fh''eSo'p°M°';^'" '^''^ Yates Weare hungry pedestrians w™?™'"«^ '° >">"• from the camp, and w" a?; ^^''ave just come thmg to eat." ^ ^"^^ S°'ns: to get some- ^^ •;! must have a more satisfactory answer than " Well, here you have k then " "I, men, answered trn tbe IVsi^st ot Blarms. 185 Yates, pulling out his folded pass, and handing it up to the horseman. The man read it care- fully. " You find that all right, I expect ? " " Right enough to cause your immediate arrest." " But the general said we were not to be molested further. That is in his own hand- writing." *' I presume it is, and all the worse for you. His handwriting does not run quite as far as the queen's writ in this country yet. I arrest you in the name of the queen. Cover these men with your revolvers, and shoot them down if they make any resistance." So saying, the rider slipped from his horse, whipped out of his pocket a pair of handcuffs joined by a short, stout steel chain, and, leaving his horse standing, grasped Ren mark's wrist. " I'm a Canadian," said the professor, wrench- ing his wrist away. " You mustn't put hand- cuffs on me." " You are in very bad company, then. I am a constable of this county ; if you are what you say, you will not resist arrest." " I will go with you, but you mustn't hand- cuff me." *' Oh, mustn't I ? " And, with a quick move- ment indicative of long practice with resisting criminals, the constable deftly slipped on one of the clasps, which closed with a sharp click and stuck like a burr. Renmark became deadly pale, and there was a dangerous glitter in his eyes. He drew back his clinched fist, in spite of the fact that the cocked revolver was edging closer and closer to him, and the constable held his struggling manacled hand with grim deter- mination. " Hold on ! " cried Yates, preventing the professor from striking the representative of ..■i I; 'M ■ the that Will be quickly- nu'2h^" V'"'" '"'''^^<: armed and niounted men nn ' °" "^ ""•« "narme. Queen ! • in the wronrnb ""^ i ^°'' «ave "ow be satisfied tCfo.^h"'' "'''"^^ff". so rather, that she has go, lou N^ ^°* ''"'•' "'• 6t of Blarmg. question, and startled by the sudden advent of her friend. " The Fenians. They have taken all the horses that were in the fields, and your horses as well. So I ran over to tell you," '* Have they taken your own horse, too.^ " " No. I always keep Gypsy in the stable. The thieves did not come near the house. Oh, Mr. Yates! I did not see you." And Mar- garet's hand, with the unconscious vanity of a woman, sought her disheveled hair, which Yates thought too becoming ever to be put in order again. Margaret reddened as she realized, from Kitty's evident embarrassment, that she had impulsively broken in upon a conference of two. " I must tell your father about it," she said hurriedly, and before Yates could open the door she had done so for herself. Again she was taken aback to see so many sitting round the table. There was a moment's silence between the two in the kitchen, but the spell was broken. " I — I don't suppose there will be any trouble about getting back the horses," said Yates hesitatingly. " If you lose them, the Govern- ment will have to pay." " I presume so," answered Kitty coldly ; then : " Excuse me, Mr. Yates ; I mustn't stay here any longer." So saying, she followed Margaret into the other room. Yates drew a long breath of relief. All his old difficulties of preference had arisen when the outer door burst open. He felt that he had had a narrow escape, and began to wonder if he had really committed himself. Then the fear swept over him that Margaret might have noticed her friend's evident confusion, and sur- mised its cause. He wondered whether this would help him or hurt him with Margaret, if arma, Jclden advent of taken all the ind your horses u." orse, too ? " in the stable, le house. Oh, •" And Mar- )us vanity of a hair, which -r to be put in •ealized, from that she had erence of two. it," she said open the door ?ain she was ig round the between the fis broken. - any trouble said Yates the Govern- olfUy ; then : 't stay here ed Margaret ef. All his risen when that he had wonder if he -n the fear light have n, and sur- lether this fargaret, if Hn tbe ^IDst of Blarms. 195 he finally made up his mind to favor her with his serious attentions. Still, he reflected that, after all, they were both country girls, and would no doubt be only too ea^er to accept a chance to live in New York. Thus his mind gradually resumed its normal state of self-con- fidence ; and he argued that, whatever Mar- garet's suspicions were, they could not but make him more precious in her eyes. He knew of instances where the very danger of losing a man had turned a woman's wavering mind entirely in the man's favor. When he had reached this point, the door from the dining room opened, and Stoliker appeared. "We are waiting for you," said the constable. " All right. I am ready." As he entered the room he saw the two girls standing together talking earnestly. " I wish I was a constable for twenty-four hours," cried Mrs. Bartlett. " I would be hunt- ing horse thieves instead of handcuffing inno- cent men." " Come along," said the impassive Stoliker, taking the handcuffs from his pocket. " If you three men," continued Mrs. Bartlett, " cannot take those two to camp, or to jail, or anywhere else, without handcuflfing them, I'll go along with you myself and protect you, and see that they don't escape. You ought to be ashamed of yourself, Sam Stoliker, if you have any manhood about you — which I doubt." " I must do my duty." The professor rose from his chair. " Mr. Stoliker," he said with determination, " my friend and myself will go with you quietly. We will make no attempt to escape, as we have done nothing to make us fear investigation. But I give you fair warning that if you attempt to put a handcuff on my wrist again I will smash you." V.' ,-t ■'. 196 f n tbe /Ibi2)6t ot Blarms. I I i r A cry of terror from one of the girls, at the prospect of a fight, caused the professor to reaUze where he was. He turned to them and said in a contrite voice : " Oh ! I forgot you were here. I sincerely beg your pardon." Margaret, with blazing eyes, cried : " Don't beg my pardon, but— smash him." Then a consciousness of what she had said overcame her, and the excited girl hid her blushing face on her friend's shoulder, while Kitty lovingly stroked her dark, tangled hair. Renmark took a step toward them, and stopped. Yates, with his usual quickness, came to the rescue, and his cheery voice re- lieved the tension of the situation. " Come, come, Stoliker, don't be an idiot. I do not object in the least to the handcuffs ; and, if you are dying to handcuff somebody, hand- cuff me. It hasn't struck your luminous mind that you have not the first tittle of evidence against my friend, and that, even if I were the greatest criminal in America, the fact of his being with me is no crime. The truth is, Stoliker, that I wouldn't be in your shoes for a good many dollars. You talk a great deal about doing your duty, but you have exceeded it in the case of the professor. I hope you have Ro property ; for the professor can, if he likes, make you pay sweetly for putting the handcuffs on him without a warrant, or even without one jot of evidence. What is the penalty for false arrest, Hiram ? " continued Yates, suddenly appealing to the old man. *' I think it is a thousand dollars." Hiram said gloomily that he didn't know. Stoliker was hit on a tender spot, for he owned a farm. •' Better apologize to the professor and let us In tbe AbiDdt of Blarms. 197 get along. Good-by, all. Mrs. Bartlett, that breakfast was the very best I ever tasted." The good woman smiled and shook hands with him. •• Good-by, Mr. Yates ; and I hope you will soon come back to have another." Stoliker slipped the handcuffs into his pocket again, and mounted his horse. The girls, from the veranda, watched the procession move up the dusty road. They were silent, and had even forgotten the exciting event of the stealing of the horses. "hi i It: (••IIP ' 'I I iii'i I ■ 1 -■ i| r. , J, I 1 ' U n 5 1 I I r t: ill r 1! ^'1% CHAPTER XVII. ;m When the two prisoners, with their three captors, came in sight of the Canadian volun- teers, they beheld a scene which was much more military than the Fenian camp. They were promptly halted and questioned by a picket before coming to the main body ; the sentry knew enough not to shoot until he had asked for the countersign. Passing the picket, they came in full view of the Canadian force, the men of which looked very spick and span in uniforms which seemed painfully new in the clear light of the fair June morning. The guns, topped by a bristle of bayonets which glittered as the rising sun shone on them, were stacked with neat precision here and there. The men were preparing their- breakfast, and a tempo- rary halt had been called for that purpose. The volunteers were scattered by the side of the road and in the fields. Renmark recog- nized the colors of the regiment from his own city, and noticed that there was with it a com- pany that was strange to him. Although led to them a prisoner, he felt a glowing pride in the regiment and their trim appearance — a pride that was both national and civic. He instinctively held himself more erect as he approached. " Renmark," said Yates, looking at him with a smile, " you are making a thoroughly British mistake." " What do you mean ? I haven't spoken." " No, but I see it in your eye. You are f n tbe UKsi^et of Blatma. their three Jian volun- was much mp. They oned by a l^ody; the itil he had the picket, Jian force, and span lew in the The guns, 1 gh'ttered re staclced The men a tempo- purpose, le side of rk recog- I his own it a com- ough led r pride in ranee — a vie. He Jt as he lim with r British )ken." i^^ou are 199 underestimating the enemy. You think this pretty company is going to walk over that body of unkempt tramps we saw in the woods this morning." " I do indeed, if the tramps wait to be walked over — which I very much doubt." " That's just where you make a mistake. Most of these are raw boys, who know all that can be learned of war on a cricket field. Tliev will be the worst whipped set of young fellows before night that this part of the country has ever seen. Wait till they see one of their com- rades fall, with the blood gushing out of a wound in his breast. If they don't turn and run, then I'm a Dutchman. I've seen raw recruits before. They should have a company of older men here who have seen service to steady them. The fellows we saw this morning were sleeping like logs, in the damp woods, as we stepped over them. They are veterans. What will be but a mere skirmish to them will seem to these boys the most awful tragedy that ever happened. Why, many of them look as if they might be university lads." " They are," said Renmark, with a pang of anguish. " Well, I can't see what your stupid govern- ment means by sending them here alone. They should have at least one company of regulars with them." " Probably the regulars are on the way." " Perhaps ; but they will have to put in an appearance mighty sudden, or the fight will be over. If these boys are not in a hurry with their meal, the Fenians will be upon them before they know it. If there is to be a fight, it will be before a very few hours — before one hour passes, perhaps ; and you are going to see a miniature Bull Run." Some of the volunteers crowded around the A 4 4 i')! '. > * '■■ 11 11^ k i 200 f n tbe A^iddt ot Blacms. ' I fm incomers, eagerly inquiring for news of the enemy. The Fenians had taken the precaution to cut all the telegraph wires leading out of Fort Erie, and hence those in command of the companies did not even know that the enemy had left that locality. They were now on their way to a point where they were to meet Colonel Peacocke's force of regulars — a point which they were destined never to reach. Stoliker sought an officer and delivered up his prisoners, together with the incriminating paper that Yates had handed to him. The officer's deci- sion was short and sharp, as military decisions are generally supposed to be. He ordered the constable to take both the prisoners and put them in jail at Port Colborne. There was no time now for an inquiry into the case, — that could come afterward, — and, so long as the men were safe in jail, everything would be all right. To this the constable mildly interposed two objections. In the first place, he said, he was with the volunteers not in his capacity as con- stable, but in the position of guide and man who knew the country. In the second place, there was no jail at Port Colborne. " Where is the nearest jail ? " " The jail of the county is at Welland, the county town," replied the constable. " Very well ; take them there." " But I am here as guide," repeated Stoliker. The officer hesitated for a moment. *' You haven't handcuffs with you, I presume.'* " " Yes, I have," said Stoliker, producing the implements. " Well, then, handcuff them together, and I will send one of the company over to Welland with them. How far is it across country ? " Stoliker told him. The officer called one of the volunteers, and said to him : f n tbe AbiDdt of Blacmd* 201 " You are to make your way across country to Welland, and deliver these men up to the jailer there. They will be handcuffed together, but you take a revolver with you, and if they give you any trouble, shoot them." The volunteer reddened, and drew himself up. " I am not a policeman," he said. " I am a soldier." " Very well, then, your first duty as a soldier is to obey orders. I order you to take these men to Welland." The volunteers had crowded around as this discussion went on, and a murmur rose among them at the order of the officer. They evi- dently sympathized with their comrade's objec- tion to the duties of a policeman. One of them made his way through the crowd, and cried : "Hello! this is the professor. This is Mr. Renmark. He's no Fenian." Two or three more of the university students recognized Renmark, and, pushing up to him, greeted him warmly. He was evidently a favorite with his class. Among others young Howard pressed forward. " It is nonsense," he cried, " talking about sending Professor Renmark to jail ! He is no more a Fenian than Governor-General Monck. We'll all go bail for the professor." The officer wavered. " If you know him," he said, " that is a different matter. But this other man has a letter from the commander of the Fenians, recommending him to the con- sideration of all friends of the Fenian cause. I can't let him go free." " Are you the chief in command here ? " asked Renmark. " No, I am not." '* Mr. Yates is a friend of mine who is here with me on his vacation. He is a New York journalist, and has nothing in common with the - >• r, IJi ,i! 1 ! ;. 11: !' I 1 ■•'.v: 1 202 Hn tbc /IbiDat ot Blarme. I I- 1. ' ; ! irUi:: ''11>:i invaders. If you insist on sending him to Weliand, I must demand that we be taken before the officer in command. In any case, he and I stand or fall together. I am exactly as guilty or innocent as he is." " We can't bother the colonel about every triviality." " A man's liberty is no triviality. What, in the name of common sense, are you fighting for but liberty ? " " Thanks, Renmark, thanks," said Yates ; " but I don't care to see the colonel, and I shall welcome Weliand jail. I am tired of all this bother. I came here for rest and quiet, and I am going to have them, if I have to go to jail for them. I'm coming reluctantly to the belief that jail's the most comfortable place in Canada, anyhow." " But this is an outrage," cried the professor indignantly. " Of course :t is," replied Yates wearily ; "but the woods are full of them. There's always outrages going on, especially in so-called free countries ; therefore one more or less won't make much difference. Come, officer, who's going to take me to Weliand ? or shall I have to go by myself.^ I'm a Fenian from 'way back, and came here especially to overturn the throne and take it home with me. P'or Heaven's sake, know your own mind one way or other, and let us end this conference." The officer was wroth. He speedily gave the order to Stoliker to handcuff the prisoner to him- self, and deliver him to the jailer at Weliand. " But I want assistance," objected Stoliker. " The prisoner is a bigger man than I am." The volunteers laughed as Stoliker mentioned this self-evident fact. " If anyone likes to go with you, he can go. I shall give no orders." so wai \'. I 'm0. iding him to we be taken 1 any case, he m exactly as Hn tbe ^i^0t of Blarms. y. What, in you fighting said Yates ; j1, and I shall ed of all this quiet, and I to go to jail to the belief le place in he professor tes wearily ; m. There's V in so-called or less won't Ificer, who's shall I have I from 'way overturn the or Heaven's ly or other, lily gave the mer to him- Welland. id Stoliker. lan I am." mentioned he can go. 203 No one volunteered to accompany the constable. " Take this revolver with you," continued the officer, " and if he attempts to escape, shoot him. Besides, you know the way to Welland, aDout every ■ so I can't send anybody in your place, even if I wanted to. " Howard knows the way," persisted Stoliker. That young man spoke up wiiii great indigna- tion : " Yes, but Howard isn't constable, and Stoliker is. I'm not going." Renmark went up to his friend. " Who's acting foolishly now, Yates ? " he said. " Why don't you insist on seeing the colonel ? The chances are ten to one that you would be allowed off." " Don't make any mistake. The colonel will very likely be some fussy individual who mag- nifies his own importance, and who will send a squad of volunteers to escort me, and I want to avoid that. These officers always stick by each other ; they're bound to. I want to go alone with Stoliker. I have a score to settle with him." " Now, don't do anything rash. You've done nothing so far; but if you assault an officer of the law, that will be a different matter." " Satan reproving sin. Who prevented you from hitting Stoliker a short time since } " " Well, I was wrong then. You are wrong now." '• See here, Renny," whispered Yates ; " you get back to the tent, and see that everything's all right. I'll be with you in an hour or so. Don't look so frightened. I wont hurt Stoliker. But I want to see this fight, and I won't get there if the colonel sends an escort. I'm going to use Stoliker as a shield when the bullets be- gin flying." The bugles sounded for the troops to fall in, •1 1 ¥ « 1! ' i ' 'I 204 f n tbe Iti^et of Blarme. ■^j k' ! .»• ji ; ! and Stoliker very reluctantly attached one clasp of the handcuff around his own left wrist, while he snapped theotiieron the right wrist of Yates, who embarrassed him with kindly assistance. The two manacled men disap|)eared down the road, while the volunteers rapidly fell in to con- tinue their morning's march. Young Howard beckoned to the professor from his place in the ranks. " I say, professor, how did you happen to be down this way ? " *' I have been camping out here for a week or more with Yates, who is an old schoolfellow of mine." " What a shame to have him led off in that way ! But he seemed to rather like the idea. Tolly fellow, I should say. How I wish I had known you were in this neighborhood. My folks live near here. They would only 'ave been too glad to be of assistance to you." " They have been of assistance to me, and exceedingly kind as well." "What.? You know them? All of them? Have you met Margaret ? " " Yes," said the professor slowly, but his glance fell as it encountered the eager eyes of the youth. It was evident that Margaret was the brother's favorite. " Fall back, there I " cried the officer to Ren- mark. " May I march along with them ? or can you give me a gun, and let me take part ? " " No," said the officer with some hauteur ; " this is no place for civilians." Again the pro- fessor smiled as he reflected that the wnole company, as far as martial experience went, were merely civilians dressed in uniform ; but he became grave again when he remembered Yates' ominous prediction regarding them. " I say, Mr. Renmark," cried young Howard, as the company moved off, " if you see any of I ._ :m0. hed one clasp ft wrist, while ^rist of Yates, ly assistance, red down the fell in to con- the professor ay, professor, his way ? " for a week or ;hoolfellow of :d off in that like the idea. I wish I Drhood. Id only you." to me, had My ave and dl of them ? N\y, but his :ager eyes of [argaret was ficer to Ren- ? or can you t ? " ne hauteur ; jain the pro- the wnole rience went, niform ; but remembered g them, ng Howard, see any of In tbe Obi^st ot Blarm0. 205 them, don't tell them I'm here — especially Margaret. It might make them uneasy. I'll get leave when this is over, and drop in on them." The boy spoke with the hopeful confidence of youth, and had evidently no premonition of how his appointment would be kepf Renni.aik left the road, and struck across country in the direction of the tent. Meanwhile, two men were tramping steadily along the dusty road toward VVelland : the captor moody and silent, the prisoner talkative and entertaining — indeed, Yates' conversation often went beyond entertainment, and became, at times, instructive. He discussed the affairs of both countries, showed a way out of all political difficulties, gave reasons for the practical use of corr'mon sense in every emergency, parsed opinions on the methods of agriculture adopted in various parts of the country, told stories of the war, gave instances of men in captivity murdering those who were in charge of them, deduced from these anecdotes the foolishness of resisting lawful authority lawfully exercised, and, in general, showed that he was a man who respected power and the exercise thereof. Suddenly branching to more practical matters, he exclaimed : " Say, Stoliker, how many taverns are there between here and Welland } " Stoliker had never counted them. •• Well, that's encouraging, anyhow. If there are so many that it requires an effort of the memory to enumerate them, we will likely have something to drink before long." *' I never drink while on duty," said Stoliker curtly. " Oh, well, don't apologize for it. Every man has his failings. I'll be only too happy to give you some instructions. I have acquired the useful practice of being able to drink both ^'i ^^ ^h I.: I! ii i. 4} 206 ITn tbe as{t>6t ot Blarme. ; I i' 'I ' ii f'! It.'. I '.i nil- ff^ N'J| on and off duty. Anything can be done, Stoliker, if you give your mind to it. I don't believe in the word 'can't,' either with or without the mark of elision." Stoliker did not answer, and Yates yawned wearily. " I wish you would hire a rig, constable. I'm tired of walking. I've been on my feet ever since three this morning." " I have no authority to hire a buggy." " But what do you do when a prisoner refuses to move ? " " I make him move," said Stoliker shortly. " Ah, I see. That's a good plan, and saves bills at the livery stable." They came to a tempting bank by the road- side, when Yates cried : " Let's sit down and have a rest. I'm done out. The sun is hot, and the road dusty. You can let me have half an hour : the day's young yet." " I'll let you have fifteen minutes." They sat down together. " I wish a team would come along," said Yates with a sigh. " No chance of a team, with most of the horses in the neighborhood stolen, and the troops on the roads." " That's so," assented Yates sleepily. He was evidently tired out, for his chin dropped on his breast, and his eyes closed. His breathing came soft and regular, and his body leaned toward the constable, who sat bolt upright. Yate's left arm fell across the knees of Stoliker, and he leaned more and more heavily against him. The constable did not know whether he was shamming or not, but he took no risks. He kept his grasp firm on the butt of the revolver. Yet, he reflected, Yates could surely not meditate an attempt on his weapon, for he had, a few minutes before, told rm0. done, Stollker, on't believe in r without the Yates yawned )nstable. I'm my feet ever isoner refuses cer shortly, an, and saves by the road- >t. I'm done dusty. You I day's young , »» >. wish a team h a sigh. most of the en, and the pily. or his chin eyes closed. Liiar, and his who sat bolt js the knees and more ible did not r not, but he firm on the ected, Yates :mpt on his before, told tn tbe /l^fDdt ot Blarms. 2u7 him a story about a prisoner who escaped in exactly that way. Stoliker was suspicious of the good intentions of the man he had in charge ; he was altogether too polite and good- natured ; and, besides, the constable dumbly felt that the prisoner was a much cleverer man than he. " Here, sit up," he said gruffly. " I'm not paid to carry you, you know." " What's that ? What's that ? What's that? "cried Yates rapidly, blinking his eyes and straightening up. "Oh, it's only you, Stoliker. I thought it was my friend Renmark. Have I been asleep ? " " Either that or pretending — I don't know which, and I don't care." " Oh ! I must have been pretending," an- wered Yates drowsily ; " I can't have dropped asleep. How long have we been here ? " " About five minutes." "All right." And Yates' head began to droop again. This time the constable felt no doubt about it. No man could imitate sleep so well. Several times Yates nearly fell forward, and each time saved himself, with the usual luck of a sleeper or a drunkard. Nevertheless, Stoliker never took his hand from his revolver. Sud- denly, with a greater lurch than usual, Yates pitched head first down the bank, carrying the constable with him. The steel band of the hand- cuff nipped the wrist of Stoliker, who, with an oath and a cry of pain, instinctively grasped the links between with his right hand, to save his wrist. Like a cat, Yates was upon him, show- ing marvelous agility for a man who had just tumbled in a heap. The next instant he held aloft the revolver, crying triumphantly : " How's that, umpire ? Out, I expect." The constable, with set teeth, still rubbed his ;! it 4, n i- I' « ■! M i ; ii ^1 till iii 208 fn tbe Aidet of Blarme. '^ I I, [ If' wounded wrist, realizing the helplessness of a struggle. •• Now, Stoliker," said Yates, pointing the pistol at him, " what have you to say before I fire ? " " Nothing," answered the constable, " except that you will be hanged at Welland, instead of staying a few days in jail." Yates laughed. " That's not bad, Stoliker ; and I really believe there's some grit in you, if you a7'e a man-catcher. Still, you were not in very much danger, as perhaps you knew. Now, if you should want this pistol again, just watch where it alights." And Yates, taking the weapon by the muzzle, tossed it as far as he could into the field. Stoliker watched its flight intently, then, put- ting his hand into his pocket, he took out some small object and flung it as nearly as he could to the spot where the revolver fell. "Is that how you mark the place?" asked Yates ; " or is it some spell that will enable you to find the pistol ? " *• Neither," answered the constable quietly. " It is the key of the handcuffs. The duplicate is at Welland." Yates whistled a prolonged note, and looked with admiration at the little man. He saw the hopelessness of the situation. If he attempted to search for the key in the long grass, the chances were ten to one that Stoliker would stumble on the pistol before Yates found the key, in which case the reporter would be once more at the mercy of the law. " Stoliker, you're evidently fonder of my company than I am of yours. That wasn't a bad strategic move on your part, but it may cause you some personal inconvenience before I get these handcuffs filed off. I'm not going to Welland this trip, as you may be disappointed rm0. fn tbe ltsi^6t of Blacms. 209 'elplessness of pointing the o say before I table, " except nd, instead of bad, Stoliker; grit in you, if u were not in knew. Now, in, just watcli taking the as far as he tly, then, put- 00k out some y as he could ace?" asked II enable you ah\e quietly, rhe duplicate % and looked He saw the le attempted g grass, the ^liker would 5 found the uld be once der of my lat wasn't a but it may ence before I not going isappointed to learn. I have gone with you as far as I intend to. You will now come with me." " I shall not move," replied the constable firmly. " Very well, stay there," said Yates, twisting his hand around so as to grasp the chain that joined the cuffs. Getting a firm grip, he walked up the road, down which they had tramped a few minutes before. Stoliker set his teeth and tried to hold his ground, but was forced to follow. Nothing was said by either until several hundred yards were thus traversed. Then Yates stopped. " Having now demonstrated to you the fact that you must accompany me, I hope you will show yourself a sensible man, Stoliker, and come with me quietly. It will be less exhausting for both of us, and all the same in the end. You can do nothing until you get help. I am going to see the fight, which I feel sure will be a brief one, so I don't want to lose any more time in getting back. In order to avoid meeting people, and having m.e explain to them that you are my prisoner, I propose we go through the fields." One difference between a fool and a wise man is that the wise man always accepts the inevi- table. The constable was wise. The two crossed the rail fence into the fields, and walked along peaceably together — Stoliker silent, as usual, with the grim confidence of a man who is certain of ultimate success, who has the nation behind him, with all its machinery work- ing in his favor ; Yates talkative, argumentative, and instructive by turns, occasionally breaking forth into song when the unresponsiveness of the other rendered conversation difficult. " Stoliker, how supremely lovely and quiet and restful are the silent, scented, spreading fields ! How soothing to a spirit tired of the city's din is this solitude, broken only by the • m 1 ( 'S I • te ■' 111. ii ■ vv t\ Jl 1- - 'r 1 1 >fi 2IO ITn tbe Ablest oX Blarme. singing of the birds and the drowsy droning of the bee, erroneously termed ' bumble ' ! The green fields, the shady trees, the sweet fresh- ness of the summer air, untainted by city smoke, and over all the eternal serenity of the blue un- clouded sky — how can human spite and human passion exist in such a paradise? Does it all not make you feel as if you were an innocent child again, with motives pure and conscience white?" If Stoliker felt like an innocent child, he did not look it. With clouded brow he eagerly scanned the empty fields, hoping for help. But, although the constable made no reply, there was an answer that electrified Yates, and put all thought of the beauty of the country out of his mind. The dull report of a musket, far in front of them, suddenly broke the silence, fol- lowed by several scattering shots, and then the roar of a volley. This was sharply answered by the ring of rifles to the right. With an oath, Yates broke into a run. " They're at it ! " he cried, " and all on ac- count of your confounded obstinacy I shall miss the whole show. The Fenians have opened fire, and the Canadians have not been long in replying." The din of the firing now became incessant. The veteran in Yates was aroused. He was like an old war horse who again feels the in- toxicating smell of battle smoke. The lunacy of gunpower shone in his gleaming eye. " Come on, you loitering idiot ! " he cried to the constable, who had difficulty in keeping pace with him ; " come on, or, by the gods ! I'll break your wrist across a fence rail and tear this brutM iron from it." The savage face of the prisoner was trans- formed with the passion of war, and, for the first time that day, Stoliker quailed before the rm0. sy droning of imble'! The J sweet fresh- by city smoke, f the blue un- e and human * Does it all "' an innocent »d conscience child, he did f he eagerly >r help. But, reply, there ites, and put •untry out of lusket, far in silence, fol- md then the ly answered i^ith an oath, id all on ac- acy I shall snians have ve not been e incessant. J. He was eels the in- The lunacy iye. he cried to in keeping e gods ! I'll il and tear was trans- id, for the before the Ifn tbe AbiDet ot Blarma. 211 insane glare of his eyes. But if he was afraid, he did not show his fear to Yates. "Come on, you/" he shouted, springing ahead, and giving a twist to the handcuffs well known to those who have to deal with refrac- tory criminals. " I am as eager to see the fight as you are." The sharp pain brought Yates to his senses again. He laughed, and said : " That's the ticket. I'm with you. Perhaps you would not be in such a hurry if you knew that I am going into the thick of the fight, and intend to use you as a shield from the bullets." " That's all right," answered the little con- stable, panting. "Two sides are firing. I'll shield you on one side, and you'll have to shield me on the other." Again Yates laughed, and they ran silently together. Avoiding the houses, they came out at the Ridge Road. The smoke rolled up above the trees, showing where the battle was going on some distance beyond. Yates made the constable cross the fence and the road, and take to the fields again, bringing him around behind Bartlett's house and barn. No one was visible near the house except Kitty Bartlett, who stood at the back watching, with pale and anxious face, the rolling smoke, now and then covering her ears with her hands as the sound of an extra loud volley assailed them. Stoliker lifted up his voice and shouted for help. " If you do that again," cried Yates, clutch- ing him by the throat, " I'll choke you ! " But he did not need to do it again. The girl heard the cry, turned with a frightened look, and was about to fly into the house when she recognized the two. Then she came toward them. Yates took his hand away from the con- stable's throat. '■ !: ,;l ■J '", ; i •1 ?l|« , : I is t 3;.,' 4^' 1 J ;j! 5:i^ ! i.\ i- 1. If £1 212 f n tbe ASid6t ot Blarms, i^' i ' <«i \l .1 r '! 1, " Where is your father or your brother ? " de- manded the constable. " I don't know." " Where is your mother ? " " She is over with Mrs. Howard, who is ill." " Are you all alone ? " " Yes." " Then I command you, in the name of the Queen, to give no assistance to this prisoner, but to do as I tell you." '* And I command you, in the name of the President," cried Yates, " to keep your mouth shut, and not to address a lady like that. Kitty," he continued in a milder tone, " could you tell me where to get a file, so that I may cut these wrist ornaments ? Don't you get it. You are to do nothing. Just indicate where the file is. The law mustn't have any hold on you, as it seems to have on me." " Why don't you make him unlock them ? " asked Kitty. " Because the villain threw away the key in the fields." " He couldn't have done that." The constable caught his breath. " But he did. I saw him." *' And I saw him unlock them at breakfast. The key was on the end of his watch chain. He hasn't thrown that away." She made a move to take out his watch chain but Yates stopped her. " Don't touch him. I'm playing a lone hand here." He jerked out the chain, and the real key dangled from it. " Well, Stoliker," he said, " I don't know which to admire most — your cleverness and pluck, my stupidity, or Miss Bartlett's acuteness of observation. Can we get into the barn, Kitty ? " " Yes ; but you mustn't hurt him." me. >rother?"de- . who is ill." name of the prisoner, but name of the your mouth 'at. Kitty," >uld you tell lycut these t. You are 2 the file is. 1 you, as it ck them ? " ' the key in breakfast. Itch chain. atch chain lone hand d the real >n't know *ness and acuteness he barn. f n tbe AbiDst ot Blarms. 213 " No fear. I think too much of him. Don't you come in. I'll be out in a moment, like the medium from a spiritualistic dark cabinet." Entering the barn, Yates forced the constable up against the square oaken post which was part of the framework of the building, and which formed one side of the perpendicular ladder that led to the top of the hay mow. " Now, Stoliker," he said solemnly, " you realize, of course, that I don't want to hurt you ; yet you also realize that I mus/ hurt you if you attempt any tricks. I can't take any risks, please remember that ; and recollect that, by the time you are free again, I shall be in the State of New York. So don't compel me to smash your head against this post." He, with some trouble, unlocked the clasp on his own wrist; then, drawing Stoliker's right hand around the post, he snapped the same clasp on the constable's hitherto free wrist. The unfor- tunate man, with his cheek against the oak, was in the comical position of lovingly embracing the post. " I'll get you a chair from the kitchen, so that you will be more comfortable — unless, like Samson, you can pull down the supports. Then I must bid you good-by." Yates went out to the girl, who was waiting for him. " I want to borrow a kitchen chair, Kitty," he said, " so that poor Stoliker will get a rest." They walked toward the house. Yates noticed that the firing had ceased, except a desultory shot here and there across the country. " I shall have to retreat over the border as quickly as I can," he continued. " This country is getting too hot for me." " You are much safer here," said the girl, with downcast eyes. " A man has brought the news 1; r ■ ■ !; ^'^ \ 'I \ -i il' ■1 3 ■1 • I 4'- ^v;:! ...1 ;, "I M '8 • • '>t ■ "I is -IM I J .li "'ii 'til I A! it' hi W *-*" P 214 Tn tbe /ISidat ot Blarm0. ■ I .] I. that the United States gunboats are saih'ng up and down the river, making prisoners of all who attempt to cross from this side." " You don't say ! Well, I might have known that. Then what am I to do with Stoliker? I can't keep him tied up here. Yet the moment he gets loose I'm done for." " Perhaps mother could persuade him not to do anything more. Shall I go for her?" " I don't think it would be any use. Stoli- ker's a stubborn animal. He has suffered too much at my hands to be in a forgiving mood. We'll bring him a chair, anyhow, and see the effect of kindness on him." When the chair was placed at Stoliker's dis- posal, he sat down upon it, still hugging the post with an enforced fervency that, in spite of the solemnity of the occasion, nearly made Kitty laugh, and lit up her eyes with the mischievousness that had always delighted Yates. " How long am I to be kept here ? " asked the constable. " Oh, not long," answered Yates cheerily ; " not a moment longer than is necessary. I'll telegraph when I'm safe in New York State ; so you won't be here more than a day or two." This assurance did not appear to bring much comfort to Stoliker. " Look here," he said ; " I guess I know as well as the next man when I'm beaten. I have been thinking all this over. I am under the sheriff's orders, and not under the orders of that officer. I don't believe you've done any- thing, anyhow, or you wouldn't have acted quite the way you did. If the sheriff had sent me, it would have been different. As it is, if you unlock those cuffs, I'll give you my word I'll do nothing more unless I'm ordered to. Like as not they've forgotten all about you by 110. 'e sailing up :rsofallwho have known Stoliker? I the moment him not to \er?" use. Stoli- Juffered too ving mood, nd see the oliker s dis- H&ging the in spite of ■arly made 5 with the delighted ?" asked 1 cheerily ; ssary. r\\ 3rk State; y or two." fing much know as 1- I have Jnder the orders of Jone any- ve acted had sent s it is, if my word lered to. It you by f n tbe Amidst ot Blacmd. 215 this time; and there's nothing on record, anyhow." •' Do you mean it ? Will you act square ? " "Certainly I'll act square. I don't suppose you doubt that. I didn't ask any favors before, and I did what I could to hold you." "Enough said," cried Yates. " I'll risk it." Stoliker stretched his arms wearily above his head when he was released. " I wonder," he said, now that Kitty was gone, •' if there is anything to eat in the house ? " '• Shake !" cried Yates, holding out his hand to him. " Another great and mutual sentiment unites us, Stoliker. Let us go and see." |!!.^i li '1 i:. i: - i' ^ ■ ■ ■iM , ■} 'I i i' ^li i 1 CHAPTER XVIII. The man who wanted to see the fight did not see it, and the man who did not want to see it saw it. Yates arrived on the field of conflict when all was over ; Renmark found the battle raging around him before he realized that things had reached a crisis. When Yates reached the tent, he found it empty and torn by bullets. The fortunes of war had smashed the jar, and the fragments were strewn before the entrance, probably by some disappointed man who had tried to sample the contents and had found nothing. •• Hang it all ! " said Yates to himself, " 1 wonder what the five assistants that the Argus sent me have done with themselves ? If they are with the Fenians, beating a retreat, or, worse, if they are captured by the Canadians, they won't be able to get an account of this scrimmage through to the paper. Now, this is evidently the biggest item of the year — it's in- ternational, by George ! It may involve Eng- land and the United States in a war, if both sides are not extra mild and cautious. I can't run the chance of the paper being left in the lurch. Let me think a minute. Is it my tip to follow the Canadians or the Fenians } I wonder which is running the faster ? My men are evi- dently with the Fenians, if they were on the ground at all. If I go after the Irish Republic, I shall run the risk of duplicating things ; but if I follow the Canadians, they may put me under arrest. Then we have more Fenian sympa- H ii ^\ f n tbe asibet of Blarms. 217 le fight did »ot want to he field of c found the le realized e found it ortunes of fragments obably hy tried to othing. mself, " I he Argus ^ If they etreat, or, anadians, It of this >vv, this is —it's in- ive Eng- % if both I can't ft in the ny tip to \ wonder I are evi- on the epublic, 5; but if e under sympa- thizers among our readers than Canadians, so the account from the invasion side of the fence will be the more popular. Yet a Canadian ver- sion would be a good thing, if I were sure the rest of the boys got in their work, and the chances a'-e that the other papers won't have any reporters among the Canucks. Heavens ! What is a man to do.^ I'll toss up for it. Heads, the Fenians." He spun the coin in the air, and caught it. " Heads it is ! The Fenians are my victims. I'm camping on their trail, anyhow. Besides, it's safer than following the Canadians, even though Stoliker has got my pass." Tired as he was, he stepped briskly through the forest. The scent of a big item was in his nostrils, and it stimulated him like champagne. What was temporary loss of sleep compared to the joy of defeating the opposition press } A blind man might have followed the trail of the retreating army. They had thrown away, as they passed through the woods, every article that impeded their progress. Once he came on a man lying with his face in the dead leaves. He turned him over. " His troubles are past, poor devil," said Yates, as he pushed on. " Halt ! Throw up your hands ! " came a cry from in front of him. Yates saw no one, but he promptly threw up his hands, being an adaptable man. " What's the trouble } " he shouted. " I'm retreating, too." " Then retreat five steps farther. I'll count the steps. One." Yates strode one step forward, and then saw that a man behind a tree was covering him with a gun. The next step revealed a second captor, with a huge upraised hammer, like a Hercules with his club. Both men had 1 f\i 1 '^ I ? T'' n I tw - ' ' 1, w- f- ■ % ' a; y ,1 \ « J- hi ; ii ^ I ! I M ' ■ 2l8 ITn tbe Amidst of Blarms. 1i idi > li' blackened faces, and resembled thoroughly dis- reputable fiends of the forest. Seated on the ground, in a semicircle, were half a dozen dejected prisoners. The man with the gun swore fearfully, but his comrade with the ham- mer was silent. *' Come," said the marksman, '• you blank scoundrel, and take a seat with your fellow- scoundrels. If you attempt to run, blank blank you, I'll till you full of buckshot ! " " Oh, I'm not going to run, Sandy," cried Yates, recognizing him. " Why should I ? I've always enjoyed your company, and Mac- donald's. How are you, Mac ? Is this a little private raid of your own ? For which side are you fighting ? And I say, Sandy, what's the weight of that old-fashioned bar of iron you have in your hands? I'd like to decide a bet. Let me heft it, as you said in the shop." •' Oh, it's you, is it ? " said Sandy in a dis- appointed tone, lowering his gun. " I thought we had raked in another of them. The old man and I want to make it an even dozen." " Well, I don't think you'll capture any more. I saw nobody as I came through the woods. What are you going to do with this crowd ?" "Brain 'em," said Macdonald laconically, speaking for the first time. Then he added reluctantly : " If any of 'em tries to escape." The prisoners were all evidently too tired and despondent to make any attempt at regaining their liberty. Sandy winked over Macdonald's shoulder at Yates, and by a slight side move- ment of his head he seemed to indicate that he would like to have some private conversation with the newspaper man. " I'm not your prisoner, am I ? " asked Yates. " No," said Macdonald. " You may go if you like, but not in the direction the Fenians have gone." 1)10. ^roughly (lis- iatecl on the alf a dozen 'ith the gun ith the ham- "you blank ^our fellow- blank blank ndy," cried should I ? ', and Mac- this a little ich side are what's the ( iron you :cide a bet. )p. ' in a dis- • I thought The old ozen." any more, he woods, rowd ? " iconically, he added cape." tired and regaining cdonald's ie move- e that he versation :d Yates. ay go if Fenians f n tbc Aiddt ot BUirmd. 219 "I guess I won't need to go any farther, if you will give nie permission to interview your prisoners. I merely want to get some points about the fight." " That's all right," said the blacksmith, " as long as yc'i don't try to help them. If you do, I warn you there will be trouble." Yates followed Sandy into the depths of the forest, out of heariii-:;^ of the others, leaving Mac- donald and his sledge-hammer on guard. When at a safe distance, Sandy stopped and rested his arms on his gun, in a pathfinder attitude. " Say," he began anxiously, " you haven't got some powder and shot on you by any chance ? " " Not an ounce. Haven't you any ammuni- tion ? " " No, and haven't had all through the fight. You see, we left the shop in such a hurry we never thought about powder and ball. As soon as a man on horseback came by shouting that there was a fight on, the old man he grabbed his sledge, and I took this gun that had been left at the shop for repairs, and off we started. I'm not sure that it would shoot if I had ammunition, but I'd like to try. I've scared some of them Fee-neens nigh to death with it, but I was always afraid one of them would pull a real gun on me, and then I don't know just what I'd 'a' done." Sandy sighed, and added, with the air of a man v/ho saw his mistake, but was somewhat loath to acknowledge it : " Next battle there is you won't find me in it with a lame gun and no powder. I'd sooner have the old man's sledge. It don't miss fire." His eye brightened as he thought of Macdonald. " Say," he continued, with a jerk of his head back over his shoulder, " the boss is on the warpath in great style, aint he } " J! i M / 3'i i\ I V '\l 220 In tbe AiOst of Blatms. I.I t' ^ f " He is," said Yates, " but, for that matter, so are you. You can swear nearly as well as Macdonald himself. When did you take to it?" " Oh, well, you see," said Sandy apoloc^el-- ically, " it don't come as natural to me as chew- ing, but, then, somebody's got to swear. The old man's converted, you know." " Ah, hasn't he backslid yet ? " " No, he hasn't. I was afraid this scrimmage was going to do for him, but it didn't ; and now I think that if somebody near by does a little cussing, — not that anyone can cuss like the boss, — he'll pull through. I think he'll stick this time. You'd ought to have seen him wading into them d — d Fee-neens, swinging his sledge, and singing ' Onward, Christian soldiers.' Then, with me to chip in a cuss word now and again when things got hot, he pulled through the day without ripping an oath. I tell you, it was a sight. He bowled 'em over like nine- pins. You ought to 'a' been there." " Yes," said Yates regretfully, " I missed it, all on account of that accursed Stoliker. Well, there's no use crying over spilled milk, but I'll tell you one thing, Sandy : although I have no ammunition, I'll let you know what I have got. I have, in my pocket, one of the best plugs of tobacco that you ever put your teeth into." Sandy's eyes glittered. "Bless you!" was all he could say, as he bit off a corner of the offered plug. " You see, Sandy, there are compensations in this life, after all ; I thought you were out." " I haven't had a bite all day. That's the trouble with leaving in a hurry." " Well, you may keep that plug, with my regards. Now, I want to get back and inter- view those fellows. There's no time to be lost." irnid. )r that matter, arly as well as J you take to ndy apologet.. o me as chew- 3 swear. The his scrimmage t didn't ; and -ar by does a 1 cuss like the he'll stick this 1 him wading ng his sledge, an soldiers.' ^•ord now and died through I tell you, it >'er like nine- " I missed it, liker. Well, nilk, but I'll I have no t I have got. est plugs of h into." you ! " was orner of the ensations in :re out." That's the ?, vvith my '■ and inter- ime to be t n tbe AiDdt of Blarms. 231 When they reached the group, Macdonald said : " Here's a man says he knows you, Mr. Yates. He claims he is a reporter, and that you will vouch for him." Yates strode forward, and looked anxiously at the prisoners, hoping, yet fearing, to tind one of his own men there. He was a selfish man, and wanted the glory of the day to be all his own. He soon recognized one of the prisoners as Jimmy Hawkins of the staff of a rival daily, the New York Blade. This was even worse than he had anticipated. " Hello, Jimmy ! " he said, " how did you get here } " " I was raked in by that adjective fool with the unwashed face." " Whose a — fool ? " cried Macdonald in wrath, and grasping his hammer. He boggled slightly as he came to the " adjective," but got over it safely. It was evidently a close call, but Sandy sprang to the rescue, and cursed Hawkins until even the prisoners turned pale at the torrent of profanity. Macdonald looked with sad approbation at his pupil, not knowing that he was under the stimulus of newly acquired tobacco, wondering how he had attained such proficiency in malediction ; for, like all true artists, he was quite unconscious of his own merit in that direction. " Tell this hammer wielder that I'm no anvil. Tell him that I'm a newspaper man, and didn't come here to fight. He says that if you guarantee that I'm no Fenian he'll let me go." Yates sat down on a fallen log, with a frown on his brow. He liked to do a favor to a fellow- creature when the act did not inconvenience himself, but he never forgot the fact that busi- ness was business. " I can't conscientiously tell him that, Jimmy," •I' 'II ' • 4 i I 'I ■ , . . . 1 1 1 r A hi ti h ■ 222 ITn tbe /bidet of Blarma. c! *' hi said Yates soothingly. " How am I to know you are not a Fenian ? " " Bosh ! " cried Hawkins angrily. " Con- scientiously ? A lot you think of conscience when there is an item to be had." •' We none of us live up to our better nature, Jimmy," continued Yates feelingly. " We can but do our best, which is not much. For reasons that you might fail to understand, I do not wish to run the risk of telling a lie. You appreciate my hesitation, don't you, Mr. Mac- donald ? You would not advise me to assert a thing I was not sure of, would you ? " "Certainly not," said the blacksmith ear- nestly. " You want to keep me here because you are afraid of me," cried the indignant Blade man. " You know very well I'm not a Fenian." " Excuse me, Jimmy, but I know nothing of the kind. I even suspect myself of Fenian leanings. How, then, can I be sure of you } " " What's your game.^" asked Hawkins more calmly, for he realized that he himself would not be slow to take advantage of a rival's dilemma. " My game is to get a neat little account of this historical episode sent over the wires to the Argus. You see, Jimmy, this is my busy day. When the task is over, I will devote myself to your service, and will save you from being hanged, if I can ; although I shall do so with- out prejudice, as the lawyers say, for I have always held that that will be the ultimate end of all the Blade staff." " Look here, Yates; play fair. Don't run in any conscientious guff on a prisoner. You see, I have known you these many years." " Yes, and little have you profited by a noble example. It is your knowledge of me that makes me wonder at your expecting me to let til SI I a! rm0. ni I to know rrily. " Con- of conscience better nature, /■ " We can much. For erstand, I do ? a lie. You )u, Mr. Mac- le to assert a } " ksmith ear- because you i^nant Blac/e )t a Fenian." f nothing of of Fenian i of you } " Lwkins more nself would of a rival's account of wires to the ' busy day. i myself to rom being io so with- for I have timate end on't run in You see, )y a noble me that me to let ITn tbe Abidst ot Blarme* 223 you out of your hole without due considera- tion." " Are you willing to make a bargain ? " " Always — when the balance of trade is on my side." "Wei!, if you give me a fair start, I'll give you some exclusive information that you can't get otherwise." " What is it } " "Oh, I wasn't born yesterday, Dick." " That is interesting information, Jimmy, but I knew it before. Haven't you something more attractive to offer.'' " " Yes, I have. I have the whole account of the expedition and the fight written out, all ready to send, if I could get my clutches on a telegraph wire. I'll hand it over to you, and allow you to read it, if you will get me out of this hole, as you call it. I'll give you permis- sion to use the information in any way you choose, if you will extricate me, and all I ask is a fair start in the race for a telegraph office." Yates pondered over the proposition for some moments. " I'll tell you what I'll do, Jimmy," he finally said. " I'll buy that account from you, and give you more money than the Blade will. And when I get back to New /ork I'll place you on the staff of the Argus at a higher salary than the Blade gives you — taking your own word for the amount." " What ! And leave my paper in the lurch ? Not likely." " Your paper is going to be left in the lurch, anyhow." " Perhaps. But it won't be sold by me. I'll burn my copy before I will let you have a glimpse of it. That don't need to interfere with your making me an offer of a better position when • I M \i 1 i|' ' ill 'i i » ^ '■• ' t .1^ 1 i ■ '5! I -f , ^ Hi •i*; 1} 1 ii>i I ■■', i , .1 I ;. U - I I ' I II ,»H»i4-('U'*.*'. j»(if<*L*»*«*(«;-fe»f««f6t ot Blarms. 1 m we get back to New York ; but while my paper depends on me, I won't go back on it." •• Just as you please, Jimmy. Perhaps I would do the same myself. I always was weak where the interests of the Argus were concerned. You haven't any blank paper you could lend me, Jimmy?" " I have, but I won't lend it." Yates took out his pencil, and pulled down his cuff. " Now, Mac," he said, " tell me all you saw of this fight." The blacksmith talked, and Yates listened, putting now and then a mark on his cuff. Sandy spoke occasionally, but it was mostly to tell of sledge-hammer feats or to corroborate something the boss said. One after another Yates interviewed the prisoners, and gathered together all the materials for that excellent full- page account " by an eyewitness " that after- ward appeared in the columns of the Argus. He had a wonderful memory, and simply jotted down figures with which he did rot care to burden his mind. Hawkins laughed derisively now and then at the facts they were giving Yates, but the Argus man said nothing, merely setting down in shorthand some notes of the information Hawkins sneered at, which Yates considered was more than likely accurate and important. When he had got all he wanted, he rose. " Shall I send you help, Mac } " he asked. " No," said the smith ; " I think I'll take these fellows to the shop, and hold them there till called for. You can't vouch for Hawkins, then, Mr. Yates ? " " Good Heavens, no ! I look on him as the most dangerous of the lot. These half-educated criminals, who have no conscientious scruples, always seem to me a greater menace to society rms. ^hile my paper m it." Perhaps I ays was vveak -re concerned :oulcl lend me, pulled down all yon saw ites listened, on his cuff, ^as mostly to corroborate fter another nd gathered xcellent full- ' that after- the Ar^^iis. imply jotted not care to -d derisively ^ere giving ling, merely otes of the 'hich Yates :curate and ■ wanted, he 2 asked, k I'll take them there ■ Hawkins, liim as the f-educated > scruples, to society Ifn tbe asi^et ot Blarms, 225 than their more ignorant co-conspirators. Well, good-by, Jimmy. I think youll enjoy life down at Mac's shop. It's the best place I've struck since I've been in the district. Give my love to all the boys, when they come to gaze at you. I'll make careful inquiries into your opinions, and as soon as I am convinced that you can be set free with safety to the community I'll drop in on you and do all I can. Meanwhile, so long." Yates' one desire now was to reach a tele- graph office, and write his article as it was being clicked off on the machine. He had his fears about the speed of a country operator, but he dared not risk trying to get through to Buffalo in the then excited state of the country. He quickly made up his mind to go to the Bartlett place, borrow a horse, if the Fenians had not permanently made off with them all, and ride as rapidly as he could for the nearest telegraph office. He soon reached the edge of the woods, and made his way across the fields to the house. He found young Bartlett at the barn. " Any news of the horses yet ? " was the first question he asked. " No," said young Bartlett gloomily ; " guess they've rode away with them." " Well, I must get a horse from somewhere to ride to the telegraph office. Where is the likeliest place to find one ? " " I don't know where you can get one, unless you steal the telegraph boy's nag ; it's in the stable now, having a feed." " What telegraph boy ? " " Oh, didn't you see him } He went out to the tent to look for you, and I thought he had found you." " No, I haven't been at the tent for ever so long. Perhaps he has some news for me. I'm Hi I' '■<: \ 'ii' « :iii ,. .. >' 'I t'A ■' 'I 1 ! \ 226 Ifn tbe Iftsi^et ot Blaim^. It ., going to the house to write, so send him in as soon as he gets back. Be sure you don't let him get away before I see him." •' I'll lock the stable," said young Bartlett, " and then he won't get the horse, at any rate." Yates found Kitty in the kitchen, and he looked so flurried that the girl cried anxiously : " Are they after you again, Mr. Yates.'' " " No, Kitty ; I'm after them. Say, I want all the blank paper you have in the house. Anything" will do, so long as it will hold a lead- pencil mark." " A copy book — such as the children use in school ? " "Just the thing." In less than a minute the energetic girl had all the materials he required ready for him in the front room. Yates threw off his coat, and went to work as if he were in his own den in the Argus building. " This is a of a vacation," he muttered to himself, as he drove his pencil at lightning speed over the surface of the paper. He took no note of the time until he had finished ; then he roused himself and sprang to his feet. " What in thunder has become of that tele- graph boy ? " he cried. " Well, it doesn't mat- ter ; I'll take the horse without his permission." He gathered up his sheets, and rushed for the kitchen. He was somewhat surprised to see the boy sitting there, gorging himself with the good things which that kitchen always afforded. " Hello, youngster ! how long have you been here ? " " I wouldn't let him go in to disturb you while you were writing," said Kitty, the boy's mouth being too full to permit of a reply. " Ah, that w^s right. Now, sonny, gulp that ill' '' i=«3*i^=--«- • send him in as you don't Jet oung Bartlett tiorse, at any ciien, and he ied anxiously • Yates ? " Say, I vvant n the house. 1 iiold a Jead- Hn tbc /B^iddt of Blarma. 227 ildren use in ■etic girl had y for him in lis coat, and own den in he muttered ^t hghtning r. He took Jshed ; then feet. >f that tele- oesn't mat- ermission." rushed for Jrprised to niself with en always e you been isturb you . the boy's -ply. > gulp that down and come in here ; I want to talk to you for a minute." The boy followed him into the front room. *' Well, my son, I want to borrow your horse for the rest of the day." " You can't have it," said the boy promptly. "Can't have it? I must have it. Why, I'll take it. You don't imagine you can stop me, do you .'' " The boy drew himself up, and folded his arms across his breast. " What do you want with the horse, Mr. Yates ? " he asked. " I want to get to the nearest telegraph office, I'll pay you well for it." '• And what am 1 here for ? " "Why, to eat, of course. They'll feed you high while you wait." " Canadian telegraph office ? " "Certainly." " It's no good, Mr. Yates. Them Canadians couldn't telegraph all you've written in two weeks. I know 'em," said the boy with infinite scorn. " Besides, the Government has got hold of all the wires, and you can't get a private message through till it gets over its fright." " By George ! " cried Yates, taken aback, " I hadn't thought of that. Are you sure, boy.^'* " Dead certain." " Then what's to be done ? I must get through to Buffalo." " You can't. United States troops won't let you. They're stopping everybody — except me," he added, drawing himself up, as if he were the one individual who stood in with the United States Government. " Can you get this dispatch through ? " " You bet ! That's why I came back. I knew, as soon as I lool.ed at you, that you would write two or three column^ of telegraph ; and your 1^? ^1 '! 'i -u ilM -\ h M U 1 J 11? ii il < » 'I 1 ; 228 tn tbe AMddt ot Blarme. :2: . p^ ■. I • H t 4 paper said ' Spare no expense,' you remember. So says I to myself : 'I'll help Mr. Yates to spare no expense. I'll get fifty dollars from that young man, seeing I'm the only person who can get across in time.' " " You were mighty sure of it, weren't you ? " " You just bet I was. Now, the horse is fed and ready, I'm fed and ready, and we're losing valuable time waiting for that fifty dollars." " Suppose you meet another newspaper man who wants to get his dispatch through to another paper, what will you do ? " " Charge him the same as I do you. If I meet two other newspaper men, that will be one hundred and fifty dollars ; but if you want to make sure that I won't meet any more news- paper men, let us call it one hundred dollars, and I'll take the risk of the odd fifty for the ready cash ; then if I meet a dozen newspaper men, I'll tell them I'm a telegraph boy on a vacation." " Quite so. I think you will be able to take care of yourself in a cold and callous world. Now, look here, young man ; I'll trust you if you'll trust me. I'm not a traveling mint, you know. Besides, I pay by results. If you don't get this dispatch through, you don't get any- thing. I'll give you an order for a hundred dol- lars, and as soon as I get to Buffalo I'll pay you the cash. I'll have to draw on the Argus when I get to Buffalo ; if my article has ap- peared, you get your cash ; if it hasn't, you're out. See ? " " Yes, I see. It won't do, Mr. Yates." " Why won't it do } " *' Because I say it won't. This is a cash transaction. Monty down, or you don't get the goods. I'll get it through all right, but if I just miss, I'm not going to lose the money." <^^Xi-M^M mm* ri- 110. u remember. ates to spare s from that person who ren't you ? " horse is fed and we're " that fifty spaper man through to • you. If I hat will be if you want more news- red dollars, ifty for the newspaper I boy on a ble to take ous world, ust you if mint, you f you don't t get any- ndred dol- '11 pay you he Arg-tts le has ap- n't, you're iS." irn tbe AfD0t ot Blarme. 229 " Very well, I'll take it to the Canadian tele- graph office." "All right, Mr. Yates. I'm disappointed in you. I thought you were some good. You aint got no sense, but I wish you luck. When I was at your tent, there was a man with a hammer taking a lot of men out of the woods. When one of them sees my uniform, he sings out he'd give me twenty-five dollars to take his stuff. I said I'd see him later, and I will. Good-by, Mr. Yates." " Hold on, there ! You're a young villain. You'll end in state's prison yet, but here's your money. Now, you ride like a house a-fire." After watching the departing boy until he was out of sight Yates, with a feeling of relief, started back to the tent. He was worried about the interview the boy had had with Haw- kins, and he wondered, now that it was too late, whether, after all, he had not Hawkins' manu- script in his pocket. He wished he had searched him. That trouble, however, did not prevent him from sleeping like the dead the moment he lay down in the tent. ¥ IK Ml ill" .1 H I ii ■ ' is a cash I't get the It if I just .1 CHAPTER XIX. 'i' I I'Mc a The result of the struggle was similar in effect to an American railway accident of the first class. One ofificer and five privates were killed on the Canadian side, one man was miss- ing, and many were wounded. The number of the Fenians killed will probably never be known. Several were buried on the field of battle, others were taken back by O'Neill's brigade when they retreated. Although the engagement ended as Yates had predicted, yet he was wrong in his estimate of the Canadians. Volunteers are invariably underrated by men of experience in military matters. The boys fought well, even when they saw their ensign fall dead before them. If the affair had been left entirely in their hands, the result might have been different — as was shown afterward, when the volunteers, unimpeded by regulars, quickly put down a much more for- midable rising in the Northwest. But in the present case they were hampered by their dependence on the British troops, whose com- mander moved them with all the ponderous slowness of real war, and approached O'Neill as if he had been approaching Napoleon. He thus managed to get in a day after the fair on every occasion, being too late for the fight at Ridgeway, and too late to capture any con- sider:ible number of the flying Fenians at Fort Erie. The campaign, on the Canadian side, was magnificently planned and wretchedly carried out. The volunteers and regulars were K«M*4BnA»^4*^.4yM •M* f-^- f n tbe /IbiDdt o( Blarmd. 231 s similar in i(lent of tlie 'ivates were n was miss- s number of r be known, attle, others when they d as Yates lis estimate invariably in military ^ when they ;ni. If the hands, the was shown Tipeded by more for- But in the by their hose corn- ponderous id O'Neill leon. He he fair on e fight at any con- ns at Fort dian side, Tetchedly liars were to meet at a point close to where the fight took place, but the British commander delayed two hours in starting, which fact the Canadian colonel did not learn until too late. These blunders culminated in a ghastly mistake on the field. The Canadian colonel ordered his men to charge across an open field, and attack the Fenian force in the woods — a brilliant but foolish move. To the command the volunteers gallantly responded, but against stupidity the gods are powerless. In the field they were appalled to hear the order given to form square and receive cavalry. Even the schoolboys knew the Fenians could have no cavalry. Having formed their square, the Canadians found themselves the helpless targets of the Fenians in the woods. If O'Neill's forces had shot with reasonable precision, they must have cut the volunteers to pieces. The latter were victorious, if they had only known it ; but, in this hopeless square, panic seized them, and it was every man for himself ; at the same time, the Fenians were also retreating as fast as they could. This farce is known as the battle of Ridgeway, and would have been comical had it not been that death hovered over it. The comedy, without the tragedy, was enacted a day or two before at a bloodless skirmish which took place near a hamlet called Waterloo, which affray is dignified in Canadian annals as the second battle of that name. When the Canadian forces retreated, Ren- mark, who had watched the contest with all the helpless anxiety of a noncombatant, sharing the danger, but having no influence upon the result, followed them, making a wide detour to avoid the chance shots which were still flying. He expected to come up with the volunteers on the road, but was not successful. Through various miscalculations he did not JK ■I i ^1 ^'i .1 ' a !i : li J rl 232 f n tbc Ai^0t of Blarme. .( , . \ succeed in finding them until toward evening. At first they told him that young Howard was with the company, and unhurt, but further inquiry soon disclosed the fact that he had not been seen since the fight. He was not among those who were killed or wounded, and it was nightfall before Renmark realized that opposite his name on the roll would be placed the ominous word " missing." Renmark remem- bered that the boy had said he would visit his home if he got leave ; but no leave had been asked for. At last Renmark was convinced that young Howard was either badly wounded or dead. The possibility of his desertion the professor did not consider for a moment, although he admitted to himself that it was hard to tell what panic of fear might come over a boy who, for the first time in his life, found bullets flying about his ears. With a heavy heart Renmark turned back and made his way to the fatal field. He found nothing on the Canadian side. Going over to liie woods, he came across several bodies lying where they fell ; but they were all those of strangers. Even in the darkness he would have had no difficulty in recognizing the volun- teer uniform which he knew so well. He walked down to the Howard homestead, hoping, yet fearing, to hear the boy's voice — the voice of a deserter. Everything was silent about the house, although a light shone through an upper window, and also through one below. He paused at the gate, not knowing what to do. It was evident the boy was not here, yet how to find the father or brother, without alarming Margaret or her mother, puzzled him. As he stood there the door opened, and he recognized Mrs. Bartlett and Margaret standing in the light. He moved away from the gate, and heard the older woman say : n( \wi isl hcl Gl ifi r f-^ me. In tbe ASiddt of Blarms. 233 '•nrd evening. Howard was ^nn further t he had not s not among I, and it was that opposite placed the ark remeni- )uld visit his ^'c had been s convinced lly wounded esertion the a moment, that it was night come : in his life, urned back He found »ing over to todies lying 1 those of he would the volun- well. He ad, hoping, —the voice t about the b an upper ;Iow. He lat to do. here, yet r, without zzled him. d, and he t standing the gate, '• Oh, she will be all right in the morning, now that she has fallen into a nice sleep. [ wouldn't disturb her to-night, if I were you. It is nothing but nervousness and fright at that horrible firing. It's all over now, thank God. Good-night, Margaret." The good woman came through the gate, and then ran, with all the speed of sixteen, toward her own home. Margaret stood in the door- way, listening to the retreating footsteps. She was pale and anxious, but Renmark thought he had never seen anyone so lovely ; ai>d he was startled to find that he had a most un-professor- like longing to take her in his arms and com- fort her. Instead of bringing her consolation, he feared it would be his fate to add to her anxiety; and it was not until he saw she was about to close the door that he found courage to speak. " Margaret," he said. The girl had never heard her name pro- nounced in that tone before, and the cadence of it went direct to her heart, frightening her with an unknown joy. She seemed unable to move or respond, and stood there, wiih wide eyes and suspended breath, gazing into the darkness. Renmark stepped into the light, and she saw his face was haggard with fatigue and anxiety. '• Margaret," he said again, " I want to speak with you a moment. Where is your brother.'* " " He has gone with Mr. Bartlett to see if he can find the horses. There is something wrong," she continued, stepping down beside him. " I can see it in your face. What is it ? " " Is your father in the house ? " " Yes, but he is worried about mother. Tell me wha . it is. It is better to tell me." Renmark hesitated. " Don't keep me in suspense like this," cried M ■11 ) IM I' 'i I I '\\ : ;« a; ," said Ren- had to come ightening of clumsily he e volunteers them now. Jo one saw and that he all over the came here eers were," happened. our head ? " n, pausing, ve get out wiftly that jping pace road, and : where the " He could not have been hit in the field," she cried breathlessly, " for then he might have reached the house at the corner without climb- ing a fence. If he was badly hurt, he would have been here. Did you search this field ? " " Every bit of it. He is not here." "Then it must have happened after he* crossed the road and the second fence. Did you see the battle ? " " Yes." " Did the Fenians cross the field after the volunteers ?" " No ; they did not leave the woods." " Then, if he was struck, it could not have been far from the other side of the second fence. He would be the last to retreat ; and that is why the others did not see him," said the girl, with confident pride in her brother's courage. They crossed the first fence, the road, and the second fence, the girl walking ahead for a few paces. She stopped, and leaned for a mo- ment against a tree. " It must have been about here," she said in a voice hardly audible. " Have you searched on this side ? " " Yes, for half a mile farther into the fields and woods." " No, no, not there • but down along the fence. He knew every inch of this ground. If he were wounded here, he would at once try to reach our house. Search down along the fence. I — I cannot go." Renmark walked along the fence, peering into the dark corners made by the zigzag of the rails; and he knew, without looking back, that Margaret, with feminine inconsistency, was fol- lowing him. Suddenly she darted past him, and flung herself down in the long grass, wailing out a cry that cut Renmark like a knife. '•Phi 236 Hn tbe /l^lDdt of Blarma. >•: 1 The boy lay with his face in the grass, and his outstretched hand grasping the lower rail of the fence. He had dragged himself this far, and reached an insurmountable obstacle. Renmark drew the weeping girl gently away, and rapidly ran his hand over the prostrate lad. He quickly opened his tunic, and a thrill of joy passed over him as he felt the faint beating of the heart." " He is alive ! " he cried. " He will get well, Margaret." A statement somewhat premature to make on so ^asty an examination. He rose, expecting a look of gratitude from the girl he loved. He was amazed to see her eyes almost luminous in the darkness, blazing with wrath. " When did you know he was with the volun- teers ? " " This morning — early," said the professor, taken aback. " Why didn't you tell me? " " He asked me not to do so." " He is a mere boy. You are a man, and ought to have a man's sense. You had no right to mind what a boy said. It was my right to know, and your duty to tell me. Through your negligence and stupidity my brother has lain here all day — perhaps dying," she added with a break in her angry voice. " If you had known — I didn't know anything was wrong until I saw the volunteers. I have not lost a moment since." " I should have known he was missing, with- out going to the volunteers." Renmark was so amazed at the unjust ac- cusation, from a girl whom he had made the mistake of believing to be without a temper of her own, that he knew not what to say. He was, however, to have one more example of in- consistency. th bel wil no) thj th -■i: \ ff! rm6. the grass, and the lower rail mself this far. bstacle. 1 gently away, prostrate lad. a thrill of joy int beating of will get well, lat premature on. -atitude from d to see her :ness, blazing ith the volun- le professor, a man, and had no right niy right to -• Through brother has she added )w anything •rs. I have ssing, with- unjust ac- d made the temper of 5 say. He mple of in- ITn tbc itbi^et ot Blarme. 23: " Why do you stand there doing nothing, now that I have found him ? " she demanded. It was on his tongue to say : " I stand here because you stand there unjustly quarreling with me," but he did not say it. Renmark was not a ready man, yet he did, for once, the right thing. " Margaret," he said sternly, " throw down that fence." This curt command, delivered in his most schoolmastery manner, was instantly obeyed. Such a task may seem a formidable one to set to a young woman, but it is a feat easily accom- plished in some parts of America. A rail fence lends itself readily to demolition. Margaret tossed a rail to the right, one to the left, and one to the right again, until an open gap took the place of that part of the fence. The pro- fessor examined the young soldier in the mean- time, and found his leg had been broken by a musket ball. He raised him up tenderly iri his arms, and war- pleased to hear a groan escape his lips. He w. ''^rl through the open gap and along the roao . . d the house, bearing the unconscious fc. ..i of his pupil. Margaret silently kept close to his side, her fingers every now and then unconsciously caressing the damp, curly locks of her brother. "We shall have to get a doctor.?" Her assertion was half an inquiry. "Certainly." " We must not disturb anyone in the house. It is better that I should tell you what to do now, so that we need not talk when we reach there." " We cannot help disturbing someone." " I do not think it will be necessary. If you will stay with Arthur, I will go for the doctor, and no one need know." " I will go for the doctor." 41! ■i.'' i f < I ■ 'I u 1 J =1 t ■: i ■ ■:| 233 Tn tbe /lftf&0t ot Blarms, ■^ )'! ■If ' n !•! , •' You do not know the way. It is five or six miles. I will ride Gypsy, and will soon be back." " But there are prowlers and stragglers all along the roads. It is not safe for you to go alone." •' It is perfectly safe. No horse that the stragglers have stolen can overtake Gypsy. Now, don't say anything more. It is best that I should go. I will run on ahead, and enter the house quietly. I will take the lamp to the room at the side, where the window opens to the floor. Carry him around there. I will be waiting for you at the gate, and will show you the way." With that the girl was off, and Renmark carried his burden alone. She was waiting for him at the gate, and silently led the way round the house, to where the door-window opened upon the bit of lawn under an apple tree. The light streamed out upon the grass. He placed the boy gently upon the dainty bed. It needed no second glance to tell Renmark whose room he was in. It was decorated with those pretty little knickknacks so dear to the heart of a girl in a snuggery she can call her own. " It is not likely you will be disturbed here," she whispered, " until I come back. I will tap at the window when I come with the doctor." " Don't you think it would be better and safer for me to go ? I don't like the thought of your going alone." " No, no. Please do just what I tell you. You do not know the way. I shall be very much quicker. If Arthur should— should — wake, he will know you, and will not be alarmed, as he might be if you were a stranger." Margaret was gone before he could say any- thing more, and Renmark sat down, devoutly hoping no one would rap at the door of the room while he was there. rms. t is five or six soon be back." stragglers ail for you to go arse that the rtake Gypsy. It is best that a(i, and enter lamp to the ow opens to re. I will be k'ill show you fid Renmark s waiting for »e way round idow opened e tree. The He placed • It needed whose room those pretty eart of a girl irbed here," I will tap le doctor." better and he thought I tell you. all be very I— should— ■ill not be I stranger." Id say any- n, devoutly loorof the CHAPTER XX. Margaret spoke caressingly to her horse, when she opened the stable door, and Gypsy replied with that affectionate, low guttural whinny which the Scotch graphically term " nickering." She patted the little animal ; and if Gypsy was surprised at being saddled and bridled at that hour of tiie night, no protest was made, the horse merely rui)bing its nose lovingly up and down Margaret's sleeve as she buckled the different straps. There was evidently a good understanding between the two. " No, Gyp," she whispered, " I have nothing for you to-night — nothing but hard work and quick work. Now, you mustn't make a noise till we get past the house." On her wrist she slipped the loop of a riding whip, which she always carried, but never used. Gyp had never felt the indignity of the lash, and was always willing to do what was required merely for a word. Margaret opened the big gate before she saddled her horse, and there was therefore no delay in getting out upon the main road» although the passing of the house was an anxious moment. She feared that if her father heard the steps or the neighing of the horse he might come out to investigate. Halfway be- tween her own home and Bartlett's house she .sprang lightly into the saddle. •' Now, then, Gyp ! " No second wgrd was required. Away they 11 1 i *: )| 111 ■1 >ii i .« i'j i pr m 1 < 1 t\ 1 " h 1 1, i '1 ill f . t 240 trn tbe ^idat of Blacms. sped down the road toward the east, the mild June air coming sweet and cool and fresh from the distant lake, laden with the odors of the woods and the tieids. The stillness was intense, broken only by the plaintive cry of the whip- poorwill, America's one-phrased nightingale, or the still more weird and eerie note of a distant loon. The houses along the road seemed deserted ; no lights were shown anywhere. The wildest rumors were abroad concerning the slaughter of the day ; and the population, scattered as it was, appeared to have retired into its shell. A spell of silence and darkness was over the land, and the rapid hoof beats of the horse sounded with startling distinctness on the harder portions of the road, emphasized by intervals of complete stillness, when the fetlocks sank in the sand and progress was more difficult for the plucky little animal. The only thrill of fear that Margaret felt on her night journey was when she entered the dark arch of an avenue of old forest trees that bordered the road, like a great, gloomy cathedral aisle, in the shadow of which any- thing might be hidden. Once the horse, with a jump of fear, started sideways and plunged ahead : Margaret caught her breath as she saw, or fancied she saw, several men stretched on the roadside, asleep or dead. Once in the open again she breathed more freely, and if it had not been for the jump of the horse, she would have accused her imagination of playing her a trick. Just as she had completely reassured herself a shadow moved from the fence to the middle of the road, and a sharp voice cried ; " Halt ! " The little horse, as if it knew the meaning of the word, planted its two front hoofs together, and slid along the ground for a moment, com- ing so quickly to a standstill that it was with ,1 If' rms. fin tbe HKSi^et ot Blarntd. 241 east, the mild nd fresh from odors of the is was intense, of the wiiip- lightingale, or te of a distant led deserted ; The wildest the slaughter cattered as it its shell. A )ver the land, )rse sounded rder portions 5 of complete the sand and plucky little lat Margaret I she entered forest trees eat, gloomy which any- lorse, with a nd plunged I as she saw, tretched on in the open ^d if it had , she would aying her a reassured ence to the e cried : neaning of s together, Tient, corn- it was with some difficulty Margaret kept her seat. She saw in front of her a man holding a gun, evi- dently ready to fire if she attempted to disobey his command. " Who are you, and where are you going? " he demanded. " Oh, please let me pass ! " pleaded Margaret with a tremor of fear in her voice. " I am go- ing for a doctor — for my brother ; he is badly wounded, and will perhaps die if I am delayed." The man laughed. " Oho ! " he cried, coming closer ; " a woman, is it ? and a young one, too, or I'm a heathen. Now, miss or missus, you get down I'll have to investigate this. The brother business won't work with an old soldier. It's your lover you're riding for at this time of the night, or I'm no judge of the sex. Just slip down, my lady, and see if you don't like me better than him ; re- member that all cats are black in the dark. Get down, I tell you." " If you are a soldier, you will let me go. My brother is badly wounded. I must get to the doctor." " There's no ' must ' with a bayonet in front of you. If he has been wounded, there's plenty of better men killed to-day. Come down, my dear." Margaret gathered up the bridle rein, but, even in the darkness, the man saw her inten- tion. " You can't escape, my pretty. If you try it, you'll not be hurt, but I'll kill your horse. If you move, I'll put a bullet through him." " Kill my horse ? " breathed Margaret in horror, a fear coming over her that she had not felt at the thought of darger to herself. ** Yes, missy," said the man, approaching nearer, and laying his hand on Gypsy's bridle. " But there will be no need of that. Besides, it I. J'/ •H 'I hi q * 'I ^ HI ;t .;''. I. 242 Ifn tbc /B^iDdt of Blarmd. •. { f m-. r h \l would make too much noise, and might bring us company, which would be inconvenient. So come down quietly, like the nice little girl you are. " If you will let me go and tell the doctor, I will come back here and be your prisoner." The man laughed again in low, tantalizing tones. This was a good joke. " Oh, no, sweetheart. I wasn't born so re- cently as all that. A girl in the hand is worth a dozen a mile up the road. Now, come off that horse, or I'll take you off. This is war time, and I'm not going to waste any more pretty talk on you." The man, who, she now saw, was hatless, leered up at her, and something in his sinister eyes made the girl quail. She had been so quiet that he apparently was not prepared for any sudden movement. Her right hand, hanging down at her side, had grasped the short riding whip, and, with a swiftness that gave him no chance to ward off the blow, she struck him one stinging, blinding cut across the eyes, and then brought down the lash on the flank of her horse, drawing the animal round with her left over her enemy. With a wild snort of aston- ishment, the horse sprang forward, bringing man and gun down to the ground with a clatter that woke the echoes ; then, with an indignant toss of the head. Gyp sped along the road like the wind. It was the first time he had ever felt the cut of a whip, and the blow was not forgiven. Margaret, fearing further obstruction on the road, turned her horse's head toward the rail fence, and went over it like a bird. In the field, where fast going in the dark had dangers, Margaret tried to slacken the pace, but the little horse would not have it so. He shook his head angrily whenever he thought of the indignity of that blow, while Margaret leaned over and tried miRlU bring ivenient. So little girl you the doctor, I risoiier." ', tantalizing born so re- in d is worth w, come off This is war e any more vas hatless, his sinister sen so quiet red for any d, hanging ihort riding ve him no ck him one s, and then ink of her ith her left '■ of aston- bringing h a clatter indignant road like had ever was not 3struction )ward the . In the dangers, tthe little his head iignity of and tried \-S ii.'f "ONE STINGING, BLINDING CUT."— /'a^v ^A'- ill um le fel th at VV( sii U] wi an ph he ho he tea ful wh pre be; so nil to: di( m( th de I th hi so tn tbe AbiDet of Blarntd. 243 to explain and beg pardon for her offense. The second fence was crossed with a clean-cut leap, and only once in the next field did the horse stumble, but quickly recovered and went on at the same breakneck gait. The next fence, gallantly vaulted over, brought them to the side road, half a mile up which stood the doctor's house. Margaret saw the futility of attempting a reconciliation until the goal was won. There, with difficulty, the horse was stopped, and the girl struck the panes of the upper window, through which a light shone, with her riding whip. The window was raised, and the situation speedily explained to the physician. " I will be with you in a moment," he said. Then Margaret slid from the saddle, and put her arms around the neck of the trembling horse. Gypsy would have nothing to do with her, and sniffed the air with offended dignity. " It was a shame, Gyp," she cried, almost tearfully, stroking the glossy neck of her resent- ful friend ; " it was, it was, and I know it ; but what was I to do. Gyp ? You were the only protector I had, and you dzW bowl him over beautifully ; no other horse could have done it so well. It's wicked, but I do hope you hurt him, just because I had to strike you." Gypsy was still wrathful, and indicated by a toss of the head that the wheedling of a woman did not make up for a blow. It was the insult more than the pain ; and from her — there was the sting of it. " I know — I know just how you feel, Gypsy dear ; and I don't blame you for being angry. I might have spoken to you, of course, but there was no time to think, and it was really him I was striking. That's why it came down so hard. If I had said a word, he would have got out of the way, coward that he was, and I .1 i ur^ •i; t < Ii ! l;l h. 244 Hn Cbe /IbiDdt ot Blarmd. t ,i h then would have shot you— you, Gypsy I Think of it ! " If a man can be molded in any shape that pleases a clever woman, how can a horse ex- pect to be exempt from her influence. Gypsy showed signs of melting, whinnying softly and forgivingly. " And it will never happen again, Gypsy — never, never. As soon as we are safe home again I will burn that whip. You little pet, 1 knew you wouldn't " Gypsy's head rested on Margaret's shoulder, and we must draw a veil over the reconciliation. Some things are too sacred for a mere man to meddle with. The friends were friends once more, and on the altar of friendship the unof- fending whip was doubtless offered as a burn- ing sacrifice. When the doctor came out, Margaret ex- plained the danger of the road, and proposed that they should return by the longer and northern way — the Concession, as it was called. They met no one on the silent road, and soon they saw the light in the window. The doctor and the girl left their horses tied some distance from the house, and walked to- gether to the window with the stealthy steps of a pair of housebreakers. Margaret listened breathlessly at the closed window, and thought she heard the low murmur of conversation. She tapped lightly on the pane, and the pro- fessor threw back the door-window. " We were getting very anxious about you," he whispered. " Hello, Peggy ! " said the boy, with a wan smile, raising his head slightly from the pillow and dropping it back again. Margaret stooped over and kissed him. " My poor boy ! what a fright you have given me ! " to I bl( T\\ be wl rma. ypsyl Think jy shape that a horse ex- ence. Gypsy ig softly and ain, Gypsy — e safe home » httle pet, 1 it's shoulder, ^conciliation, nere man to friends once >P the unof- J as a burn- largaret ex- 'd proposed longer and ■ was called, t road, and )W. horses tied walked to- althy steps ^et listened nc\ thought •nversation. d the pro- 30ut you," 'ith a wan the pillow lim. Iiave given f n tbe yiSfddt ot Blarmd. 245 " Ah, Margery, think what a fright I got my- self. I thought I was going to die within sight of the house." The doctor gently pushed Margaret from the room. Renmark waited until the examination was over, and then went out to find her. She sprang forward to meet him. " It is all right," he said. " There is nothing to fear. He has been exhausted by loss of blood, but a few days' quiet will set that right. Then all you will have to contend against will be his impatience at being kept to his room, which may be necessary for some weeks." " Oh, I am so glad ! and — and I am so much obliged to you, Mr. Renmark ! " " I have done nothing — except make blun- ders," replied the professor with a bilterne-i:: that surprised and hurt her. •' How can you say that ? You have done everything. We owe his life to you." Renmark said nothing for a moment. Hm unjust accusation in the earlier part of the nig^ftt had deeply pained him, and he hoped for some hint of disclaimer from her. Belonging f.o the stupider sex, he did not realize that the words were spoken in a state of intense excitement and fear, that another woman would probably have expressed her condition of mind by faint- ing instead of talking, and that the whole .episode had left absolutely no trace on the recollection of Margaret. At last Renmark spoke : " I must be getting back to the tent, if it still exists. I think I had an appointment ther?? with Yates some twelve hours ago, but up to this moment I had forgotten it. Good-nigh t„" Margaret stood for a few moments alone, aad wondered what she had done to offend h'ui. He stumbled along the dark road, not fjeeding much the direction he took, but au vmaticaily 'f ' ,' '11 «4^ ITn tbc ^t^0t oX Blarme. U -A .'«t goinj; the nearest way to the tent. Fatigue and the want of sleep were heavy ujxjn him, and his feet were as lead. Although dazed, he was con- scious of a dull ache where his heart was suj)- posed to be, and he vaguely hoi)e(l he had not made a fool of himself. He entered the tent, and was startled by the voice of Vates : •• Hello ! hello ! Is that you, StoliUer ? " " No ; it is Renmark. Are you asleep ? " *' I guess I have been. Hunger is the one sensation of the moment. Have you provided anything to eat within the last twenty-four hours ? " " There's a bag full of potatoes here, I believe. I haven't been near the tent since early morning." " All right ; only don't expect a recommen- dation from me as cook. I'm not yet hungry enough for raw potatoes. What time has it got to be ? " " I'm sure I don't know." " Seems as if I had been asleep for weeks. I'm the latest edition of Rip Van Winkle, and expect to find my mustache gray in the morn- ing. I was dreaming sweetly of Stoliker when you fell over the bunk." •* What have you done with him ? " " I'm not wide enough awake to remember. I ////;//' I killed him, but wouldn't be sure. So many of my good resolutions go wrong that very likely he is alive at this moment. Ask me in the morning. What have you been prowling after all night ? " There was no answer. Renmark was evi- dently asleep. " I'll ask jfou in the morning," muttered Yates drowily — after which there was silence in the tent. I irma. ■ Fatigue and '" liirii. and liis ' for weeks. Winkle, and n the morn- oliker when remember. >e sure. So wrong that t. Ask me en prowling k was evi- muttered s silence in U CHAPTER XXI. Yates had stubbornly refused to give up his search for rest and quiet in spite of the dis- comfort of living in a leaky anc battered tent. He expressed regret that he had not originally camped in the middle of Broadway, as being a quieter and less exciting spot than the place he had chosen ; but, having made the choice, he was going to see the last dog hung, he said. Renmark had become less and less of a com- rade. He was silent, and almost as gloomy as Hiram Bartlett himself. When Yates tried to cheer him up by showing him how much worse another man's position might be, Renmark generally ended the talk by taking to the wood. "Just reflect on my position," Yates would say. " Here I am dead in love with two lovely girls, both of whom are merely waiting for the word. To one of them I have nearly com- mitted myself, which fact, to a man of my tem- perament, inclines me somewhat to the other. Here I am anxious to confide in you, and yet I feel that I risk a tight every time I talk about the complication. You have no sympathy for me, Renny, when I need sympathy ; while I am bubbling over with sympathy for you, and you won't have it. Now, what would you do if you were in my fix .^ If you would take five minutes and show me clearly which of the two girls I really ought to marry, it would help me ever so much, for then I would be sure to settle M 1^ *! Ml ■ Mil ! I I:: i ' I'l ^ AflHjB , ttP; i, 248 f n tbe Aidet ot Blarma. on the other. It is the indecision that is slowly but surely sapping my vitality." By this time Renmark would have pulled his soft felt hat over his eyes, and, muttering words that would have echoed strangely in the silent halls of the university building, would plunge into the forest. Yates generally looked after his retreating figure without anger, but with mild wonder. " Well, of all cantankerous cranks he is the worst," he would say with a sigh. " It is sad to see the temple of friendship tumble down about one's ears in this way. " At their last talk of this kind Yates resolved not to discuss the problem again with the professor, unless a crisis came. The crisis came in the form of Stoliker, who dropped in on Yates as the latter lay in the hammock, smoking and enjoying a thrilling romance. The camp was strewn with these engrossing, paper-covered works, and Yates had read many of them, hoping to come across a case similar to his own, but up to the time of Stoliker's visit he had not succeeded. " Hello, Stoliker ! how's things ? Got the cuffs in your pocket ? Want to have another tour across country with me ? " " No. But I came to warn you. There will be a warrant out to-morrow or next day, and, if I were you, I would get over to the other side ; though you need never say I told you. Of course, if they give the warrant to me, I shall have to arrest you ; and although nothing may be done to you, still, the country is in a state of excitement, and you will at least be put to some inconvenience." " Stoliker," cried Yates, springing out of the hammock, " you are a white man ! You're a good fellow, Stoliker, and I'm ever so much obliged. If you ever come to New York, you call on me at the Ar^us office, — anybody will St C( 110. f n tbe AbiDdt ot Blacms. 249 hat is slowly ve pulled his tering words in the silent ould pluno^e looked after er, but with ks he is the " It is sad jmble down heir last talk discuss the iless a crisis I of Stoliker, latter lay in g a thrilling with these and Yates :ome across the time of Got the ave another There will day, and, if other side ; you. Of me, I shall )thing may a state of ut to some out of the You're a so much York, you rbody will show you where it is, — and I'll give you the liveliest time you ever had in your life. !t won't cost you a cent, either." " That's all right," said the constable. " Now, if I were you, I would light out to-morrow at the latest." " I will," said Yates. Stoliker disappeared quietly among the trres. and Yates, after a moment's thought, begin energetically to pack up his belongings. It was dark before he< had finished, and Renmark returned. " Stilly," cried the reporter cheerily, " there's a warrant out for my arrest. I shall have to go to-morrow at the latest ! " " What ! to jail ? " cried his horrified friend, his conscience now troubling him, as the part- ing came, for his lack of kindness to an old comrade. " Not if the court knows herself. But to Buffalo, which is pretty much the same -hing. Still, thank goodness, 1 don't need to stay there long. I'll be in New York before I'm many days older. I yearn to plunge into the arena once more. The still, calm peacefulness of this whole vacation has made me long for excite- ment again, and I'm glad the warrant has pushed me into the turmoil." "Well, Richard, I'm sorry you have to go under such conditions. I'm afraid I have not been as companionable a comrade as you should have had," " Oh, you're all right, Renny. The trouble with you is that you have drawn a little circle around Toronto University, and said to your- self : • This is the world.' It isn't, you know. There is something outside of all that." " Every man, doubtless, has his little circle. Yours is around the Art^us office." " Yes, but there are special wires from that \ i f| 'V ' I , I 250 f n tbe Aidet ot Blarma. :? ( little circle to all the rest of the world, and soon there will be an Atlantic cable." " I do not hold that my circle is as large as yours ; still, there is something outside of New York, even." "You bet your life there is; and, now that you are in a more sympathetic frame of mind, it is that I want to talk with you about. Those two girls are outside my little circle, and I want to bring one of them within it. Now, Renmark, which of those girls would you choose if you were me ? " The professor drew in his breath sharply, and was silent for a moment. At last he said, speaking slowly : " I am afraid, Mr. Yates, that you do not quite appreciate my point of view. As you may think I have acted in an unfriendly man- ner, I will try for the first and final time to ex- plain it. I nold that any man who marries a good woman gets more than he deserves, no matter how worthy he may be. I have a pro- found respect for all women, and I think that your light chatter about choosing between two is an insult to both of them. I think either of thtrn is infinitely too good for you — or for me either." " Oh, you do, do you ? Perhaps you think that you would make a much better husband than I. If that is the case, allow me to say you are entirely wrong. If your wife was sensi- tive, you would kill her with your gloomy fits. I wouldn't go off in the woods and sulk, anyhow." " If you are referring to me, I will further inform you that I had either to go off in the woods or knock you down. I chose the less of two evils." " Think you could do it, I suppose ? Renny, you're conceited. You're not tne first man who has made such a mistake, and found he was me. rid, and soon s as large as tside of New id, now that neof mind, it •out. Those :ircle, and I in it. Now, would you ath sharply, last he said, you do not w. As you riendly man- I time to ex- marries a deserves, no have a pro- 1 think that between two ink either of -or for me you think er husband me to say was sensi- )my fits. I , anyhow." I'ill further off in the se the less Renny, t man who id he was In tbe /ISidst of Blarma. 251 barking up the wrong tree when it was too late for anything but bandages and arnica." " I have tried to show you how I feel regard- ing this matter. I might have known I should not succeed. We will end the discussion, if you please." '* Oh, no. The discussion is just beginning. Now, Renny, I'll tell you what you need. You need a good, sensible wife worse than any man I know. It is not yet too late to save you, but it soon will be. You will, before long, grow a crust on you like a snail, or a lobster, or any other cold-blooded animal that gets a shell on itself. Then nothing can be done for you. Now, let me save you, Renny, before it is too late. Here is my proposition : You choose one of those girls and marry her. I'll take the other. I'm not as unselfish as I may seem in this, for your choice will save me the worry of making up my own mind. According to your talk, either of the girls is too good for you, and for once I entirely agree with you. But let that pass. Now, which one is it to be ? " "Good God ! man, do you think I am going to bargain with you about my future wife ? " " That's right, Renny. I ''ke to hear you swear. It shows you are not yet the prig you would have folks believe. There's still hope for you, professor. Now, I'll go further with you. Although I cannot make up my mind just what to do myself, I can tell instantly which is the girl for you, and thus we solve both problems at one stroke. You need a wife who will take you in hand. You need one who will not put up with your tantrums, who will be cheerful, and who will make a man of you. Kitty Bart- lett is the girl. She will tyranni/* over you, just as her mother does over the old man. She H'ill keep house to the queen's taste, and delight in getting you good things to eat. Why, every- • 1 ,11 i hi 1 252 f n tbe /l^iddt of Blarms. thing is as plain as a pikestaff. That shows the benefit of talking over a thing. You marry Kitty, and I'll marry Margaret. Come, let's skake hands over it." Yates held up his right hand, ready to slap it down on the open palm of the professor, but there was no response. Yates' hand came down to his side again, but he had not yet lost the enthusiasm of his pro- posal. The more he thought of it the more fitting it seemed. *' Margaret is such a sensible, quiet, level- headed girl that, if I am as flippant as you say, she will be just the wife for me. There are depths in my character, Renmark, that you have not suspected." " Oh, you're deep." " 1 admit it. Well, a good, sober-minded woman would develop the best that is in me. Now, what do you say, Renny ? " " I say nothing. I am going into the woods again, dark as it is." " Ah, well," said Yates with a sigh, "there's no doing anything with you or for you. I've tried my best ; that is one consolation. Don't go away. I'll let fate decide. Here goes for a toss-up." And Yates drew a silver half dollar from his pocket. " Heads for Margaret ! " he cried. Renmark clinched his fist, took a step forward, then checked himself, remembering that this was his last night with the man who had at least once been his friend. Yates merrily spun the coin in the air, caught it in one hand, and slapped the other over it. " Now for the turning point in the lives of two innocent beings." He raised the covering hand, and peered at the coin in the gathering gloom. " Heads it is. Margaret Howard becomes Mrs. Richard Yates. Congratulate me, professor." 10. That shows You marry Come, let's up his right ; open palm 10 response. e again, but I of his pro- it the more quiet, level- L as you say, There are bat you have Dber-minded at is in me. 3 the woods |gh, "there's you. I've ion. Don't goes for a ar from his he cried. tp forward, that this vho had at air, caught r over it. he Hves of le covering gathering Howard ngratulate f n tbe Aidet of Blarme. 253 Renmark stood motionless as a statue, an object lesson in self-control. Yates set his hat more jauntily on his head, and slipped the epoch-making coin into his trousers pocket. " Good-by, old man," he said. " I'll see you later, and tell you all the particulars." Without waiting for the answer, for which he probably knew there would have been little use in delaying, Yates walked to the fence and sprang over it, with one hand on the top rail. Renmark stood still for some minutes, fhen, quietly gathering underbrush and sticks large and small, lighted a fire, and sat down on a log, with his head in his hands. 1t w (1. I'l ! ■ i i I I ,' Ll I i ' m ^Vl i CHAPTER XXII. «" y •• t; v'* Yates walked merrily down the road, whis- tling *• Gayly the troubadour." Perhaps there is no moment in a man's life when he feels the joy of being alive more keenly than when he goes to propose to a girl of whose favorable answer he is reasonably sure — unless it be the moment he walks away an accepted lover. There is a magic about a June night, with its soft, velvety darkness and its sweet, mild air laden with the perfumes of wood and field. The enchantment of the hour threw its spell over the young man, and he resolved to live a better life, and be worthy of the girl he had chosen, or, rather, that fate had chosen for him. He paused a moment, leaning over the fence near the Howard homestead, for he had not yet settled in his own mind the details of the meeting. He would not go in, for in that case he knew he would have to talk, perhaps for hours, with everyone but the person he wished to meet. If he announced himself and asked to see Margaret alone, his doing so would embar- rass her at the very beginning. Yates was naturally too much of a diplomat to begin awkwardly. As he stood there, wishing chance would bring her out of the house, there ap- peared a light in the door-window of the room where he knew the convalescent boy lay. Mar- garet's shadow formed a silhouette on the blind. Yates caught up a handful of sand, and flunq^ it lightly against the pane. Its soft patter evidently attracted the attention of the hv f" f n t\)c AiDdt ot Blacmd. 255 girl, for, after a moment's pause, the window opened carefully, while Margaret stepped quickly out and closed it, quietly standing there. *' Margaret," whispered Yates hardly above his breath. The girl advanced toward the fence. "Is thai you?" she whispered in return, with an accent on the last word that thrilled her listener. The accent told plainly as speech that the word represented the one man on earth to her. " Yes," answered Yates, springing over the fence and approaching her. "Oh!" cried Margaret, starting back, then checking herself, with a catch in her voice. " You — you startled me — Mr. Yates." " Not Mr. Yates any more, Margaret, but Dick. Margaret, I wanted to see you alone. You know why I have come." He tried to grasp both her hands, but she put them reso- lutely behind her, seemingly wishing to retreat, yet standing her ground. " Margaret, you must have seen long ago how it is with me. I love you, Margaret, loyally and truly. It seems as if I had loved you all my life. I certainly have since the first day I saw you." "Oh, Mr. Yates, you must not talk to me like this." " My darling, how else can I talk to you ? It cannot be a surprise to you, Margaret. You must have known it long ago." " I did not, indeed I did not — if you really mean it." " Mean it } I never meant anything as I mean this. It is everything to me, and nothing else is anything. I have knocked about the world a good deal, I admit, but I never was in love before — never knew what love was until I met you. I tell you that " ,1. • 'i il J 256 f n tbc itsi^et of Blarms. t\ « " Please, please, Mr. Yates, do not say any^ thing more. If it is really true, I cannot tell you how sorry I am. I hope nothing I have said or done has made you believe that — that Oh, I do not know what to say ! I never thought you could be in earnest about anything." " You surely cannot have so misjudged me, Margaret. Others have, but I did not expect it of you. You are far and away better than I am. No one knows that so well as I. I do not pretend to be worthy of you, but I will be a devoted husband to you. Any man who gets the love of a good woman," continued Yates earnestly, plagiarizing Renmark, " gets more than he deserves ; but surely such love as mine is not given merely to be scornfully trampled underfoot." " I do not treat your — you scornfully. I am only sorry if what you say is true." " Why do you say //"it is true ? Don't you know it is true.'^ " " Then I am very sorry — very, very sorry, and I hope it is through no fault of mine. But you will soon forget me. When you return to New York " " Margaret," said the young man bitterly, " I shall never forget you. Think what you are doing before it is too late. Think how much this means to me. If you finally refuse me, you will wreck my life. I am the sort of man that a woman can make or mar. Do not, I beg of you, ruin the life of the man who loves you." •* I am not a missionary," cried Margaret with sudden anger. " If your life is to be wrecked, it will be through your own foolish- ness, and not from any act of mine. I think it cowardly of you to say that I am to be held responsible. I have no wish to influence your future one way or another." 10. f n tbe AiOdt ot Blarmd. 257 ot say any- cannot tell ling I have t— that- ver thought ing." judged me, not expect etter than I LS I. I do I will be a 1 who gets lued Yates gets more ve as mine ^ trampled illy. I am Don't you sorry, and But you rn to New itterly, " I you are low much e me, you man that ot, I beg ^ho loves Margaret is to be foolish- I think it be held lice your *• Not for good, Margaret ? " asked Yates with tender reproach. " No. A man whose good or bad conduct depends on anyone but himself is not my ideal of a man." "Tall me what your ideal is, so that I may try to attain it." Margaret was silent. " You think it will be useless for me to try .^ " " As far as I am concerned, yes." " Margaret, I want to ask you one more ques- tion. I have no right to, but I beg you to an- swer me. Are you in love with anyone else } " *' No ! " cried Margaret hotly. " How dare you ask me such a question ? " " Oh, it is not a crime — that is, being in love with someone else is not. I'll tell yoa why I dare ask. I swear, by all the gods, that I shall win you — \f. not this year, then next ; and if not next, then the year after. I was a coward to talk as I did ; but I love you more now than I did even then. All I want to know is that you are not in love with another man." •' I think you are very cruel in persisting as you do, when you have had your answer. I say no. Never! never! never! — this year nor any other year. Is not that enough ? " " Not for me. A woman's ' no ' may ulti- timately mean ' yes.' " " That is true, Mr. Yates," replied Margaret, drawing herself up as one who makes a final plunge. " You remember the question you asked me just now ? — whether I cared for any- one else? I said 'no.' That • no' meant ' yes.'" He was standing between her and the window, so she could not escape by the way she came. He saw she meditated flight, and made as though he would intercept her, but she was too quick for him. She ran around the house, and he heard a door open and shut. •'i ?: 1 258 tn tbc /l^iOdt ot Blarme. Pi %u He knew he was defeated. Dejectedly he turned to the fence, climbing slowly over where he had leaped so lightly a few minutes before, and walked down the road, cursing his fate. Although he admitted he was a coward for talking to her as he had done about his wrecked life, yet he knew now that every word he had spoken was true. What did the future hold out to him ? Not even the incentive to live. He found himself walking toward the tent, but, not wishing to meet Renmark in his present frame of mind, he turned and came out on the Ridge Road. He was tired and broken, and resolved to stay in camp until they arrested him. Then perhaps she might have some pity on him. Who was the other man she loved .'' or had she merely said that to give finality to her refusal.^ In his present mood he pictured the worst, and imagined her the wife of some neighboring farmer — perhaps even of Stoliker. These country girls, he said to himself, never believed a man was worth looking at unless he owned a farm. He would save his money, and buy up the whole neighborhood ; //len she would realize what she had missed. He climbed up on the fence beside the road, and sat on the top rail, with his heels resting on a lower one, so that he might enjoy his misery without the fatigue of walking. His vivid im- .igination pictured himself as the owner in a few years' time of a large section of that part of the country, with mortgages on a good deal of the remainder, including the farm owned by Margaret's husband. He saw her now, a farmer's faded wife, coming to him and begging for further time in which to pay the seven per cent. due. He knew he would act magnani- mously on such an occasion, and grandly give her husband all the time he required. Perhaps tiien she would realize the mistake she had m0. >jecteclly he y over \v}Rie lUtes hefore, 'ii{s' his fate. coward for : liis wrecked vord he had future hold itive to live. tie tent, hut. his present out on the broken, and ey arrested i some pity she loved ? finality to he pictured fe of some of Stohker. iself, never : unless he noney, and ^/i^n she Jsed. He road, and 'ting on a lis misery vivid im- kvner in a that part ?ood deal )wned by now, a begging even per Tiagnani- fidly give Perhaps she had tn tbe Itii^et o( Blarme. 259 made. Or perhaps fame, rather than riches, would be his line. His name would ring throughout the land. He might become a great politician, and bankrupt Canada with a rigid tariff law. The unfairness of making the whole innocent people suffer for the inconsider- ate act of one of them did not occur to him at the moment, for he was humiliated and hurt. There is no bitterness like that which assails the man who hjis been rejected by the girl he adores — wiiile it lasts. His eye wandered toward the black mass of the Howard house. It was as dark as his thoughts. He turned his head slowly around, and, like a bright star of hope, there glimmered up the road a flickering light from the Bartletts" parlor window. Al- though time had stopped as far as he was con- cerned, he was convinced it could not be very late, or the Bartletts would have gone to bed. It is always difficult to realize that the greatest of catastrophes are generally over in a few minutes. It seemed an age since he walked so hopefully away from the tent. As he looked at the light the thought struck him that perhaps Kitty was alone in the parlor. She at least would not have treated him so badly as the other girl ; and — and she was pretty, too, come to think of it. He always did like a blonde better than a brunette. A fence rail is not a comfortable seat. It is used in some parts of the country in such a manner as to impress the sitter with the fact of its extreme discomfort, and as a gentle hint that his presence is not wanted in that immedi- ate neighborhood. Yates recollected this, with a smile, as he slid off and stumbled into the ditch by the side of the road. His mind had been so preoccupied that he had forgotten about the ditch. As he walked along the road toward the star that guided him he remembered he had 26o tn tbc /l^iOst ot Blarms. li- Z'M 1 I recklessly offered Miss Kitty to the callous pro- fessor, After all, no one knew about the epi- sode of a short time before except himself and Marj^aret, and he felt convinced she was not a girl to boast of her conquests. Anyhow, it didn't matter. A man is surely master of him- self. As he neared the window he looked in. Peo- ple are not particular about lowering the blinds in the country. He was rather disappointed to see Mrs. IJartlett sitting there knitting, like the industrious woman she was. Still it was con- soling to note that none of the men-folks were present, and that Kitty, with her fluffy hair half concealing her face, sat reading a book he had lent to her. He rapped at the door, and it was opened by Mrs Bartlett, with some surprise. " For the land's sake ! is that you, Mr. Yates ? " " It -s." "C /ne right in. Why, what's the matter with ) ou ? You look as if you had lost your best friend. Ah, I see how it is," — Yates started, — *' you have run out of provisions, and are very likely as hungry as a beor." "You've hit it first time, Mrs. Bartlett. I dropped around to see if I could borrow a loaf of bread. We don't bake till to-morrow." Mrs. Bartlett laughed. " Nice baking you would do if you tried it. I'll get you a loaf in a minute. Are you sure one is enough ? " "Quite enough, thank you." Tne good woman bustled out to the other room for the loaf, and Yates made good use of her temporary absence. '* Kitty," he whispered, " I want to see you alone for a few minutes. I'll wait for you at the gate. Can you slip out ? " Kitty blushed very red and nodded. :m0. fin tbe lisi^et ot Blarms. 261 e callous pro- bout the epi- t himself and she was not Anyhow, it laster of him- ked in. Peo- ng the blinds appointed to ting, like the I it was con- ;n-folks were Liffy hair half book he had r. and it was surprise, t you, Mr. the matter )st your best ■s started,— nd are very Bartlett. I •rrow a loaf rrow." )u tried it. e you sure the other ood use of o see you for you at *' They have a warrant out for my arrest, and I'm off to-niorrovv before tliey can serve it. But I couldn't go without seeing you. You'll come, sure ? " Again Kitty nodded, after looking up at him in alarm wlien he spoke of the warrant. Before anything further could be said Mrs. Bartleft came in. and Kitty was absorbed in her !)ook. '• Won't you have something to eat now before you go back ? " " Oh, no, thank you, Mrs. Bartlett. You see, the professor is waiting for me." " Let him wait, if he didn't have sense enough to come." " He didn't. I offered him the chance." " It won't take us a moment to set the table. It is not the least trouble." " Really, Mrs. Bartlett, you are very kind. I am not in the slightest degree hungry now. I am merely taking some thought of tlie morrow. No ; I must be going, and thank you very much." " Well." said Mrs. Bartlett. seeing him to the door, " if there's anything you want, come to me, and I will let you have it if it's in the house." " You are too good to me," said the young man with giMuiine feeling, " and I don't deserve it ; but I may renjind you of your promise — to-morrow." " See that you do," she answered. "Good- night." Yates waited at tlie gate, placing the loaf on the post, where he forgot it, much to the aston- ishment of the donor in the morning. He did not have to wait long, for Kitty came around the house somewb.at shrinkinjj^ly. as one who was doing the most wicked thing that had been done since the world be^an. Yates hastened 'i\ 262 tn tbc /Ibiddt of Blarme. ;J to meet her, clasping one of her unresisting hands in his. " I must be off to-morrow," he began. " I am very sorry," answered Kitty in a whisper. '* Ah, Kitty, you are not half so sorry as I am. But I intend to come back, if you will let me. Kitty, you remember that talk we had in the kitchen, when we — when there was an interrup- tion, and when I had to go away with our friend Stoliker } " Kitty indicated that she remembered it. *' Well, of course you know what I wanted to say to you. Of course you know what I want to say to you now." It seemed, however, that in this he was mis- taken, for Kitty had not the slightest idea, and wanted to go into the house, for it was late, and her mother would miss her. " Kitty, you darling little humbug, you know that I love you. You must know that I have loved you ever since the first day I saw you, when you laughed at me. Kitty, I want you to marry me and make something of me, if that is possible. I am a worthless fellow, not half good enough for a little pet like you ; but, Kitty, if you will only say ' yes,' I will try, and try hard, to be a better man than I have ever been before." Kitty did not say '• yes," but she placed her disengaged hand, warm and soft, upon his, and Yates was not the man to have any hesitation about what to do next. To practical people it may seem an astonishing thing that, the object of the interview being hapi)ily accomplished, there should be any need of prolonging it ; yet the two lingered there, and he told her much of his past life, and of how lonely and sordid it had been because he had no one to care for him — at which her pretty eyes filled with tears. rme. f n tbe Afddt ot Blarms. 263 ■r unresisting fiejran. ' Kitty in a 'orry as I am. I ^vili let nie. e had in the > an interrijp- ^'ay with our ered it. I wanted to Ah at I want he was mis- st idea, and 'as late, and r. you know that I have I saw you, ^•ant you to e. if that is not half you ; but, ill try, and have ever placed her n his, and hesitation people it fie object niplished, ig 't : yet much of sordid it > care for ith tears. She felt proud and happy to think she had won the first great love of a talented man's life, and hoped she would make him happy, and in a measure atone for the emptiness of the life that had gone before. She prayed that he might always be as fond of her as he was then, and resolved to be worthy of him if she could. Strange to say, her wishes have been amply fulfilled, and few wives are as hai)py or as proud of their husbands as Kilty Yates. The one woman who might have put the drop of bitterness in her cup of life merely kissed her tenderly when Kitty told her of the great joy that had come to her, and said she was sure she would be happy ; and thus for the second time Margaret told the thing that was not, but for once \Iargaret was wrong in her fears. Yates walked to the tent a glorified man, leav- ing his loaf on the gatepost behind him. Few realize that it is quite as pleasant to be loved as to love. The verb " to love " has many con- jugations. The earth he trod was like no other ground he had ever walked upon. The magic of the June night was never so enchant- ing before. He strode along with his head and his thoughts in the clouds, and the Providence that cares for the intoxicated looked after him, and saw that the accepted lover came to no harm. He leaped the fence without even put- ting his hand to it, and then was brought to earth again by the picture of ij man sitting with his bead in his hands beside a dying fire. M CHAPTER XXIII. >• 1 ( ;!' ■ Yates stood for a moment regarding the de- jected attitude of his friend. '* Hello, old man!" he cried, " you have the most ' hark-from-the-tombs ' appearance I ever saw. What's the matter ? " Renmark looked up. " Oh, it's you. is it ?" *' Of course it's I. Been expecting anybody else ? " " No. I have been waiting for you, and thinking of a variety of things." '* You look it. Well, Kenny, congratulate me, my boy. She's mine, and I'm hers — which are two ways of stating the same delightful fact. I'm up m a balloon, Renny. I'm engaged to the prettiest, sweetest, and most delightful girl there is from the Atlantic to the Pacific. What d'ye think of that? Say, Renmark, there's nothing on earth like it. You ought to reform and go in for being in love. It would make a man of you. Champagne isn't to be compared to it. Get up here ai.il dance, and don't sit there like a bear nursing a sore paw. Do you comprehend that I am to be married to the darlingest girl that lives ? " " God help her ! " "That's what I say. Every day of her life, bless her I But I don't say it quite in that tone, Renmark. What's the matter with you ? One would think you were in lovt- with the girl yourself, if such a thing were possible." tn tbe /IblDet ot Blarms. 265 " Why is it not possible ? " " If that is a conuiulrum, I can answer it the first time. Because you are a fossil. You are too good, Renny ; therefore dull and uninterest- ing. Now, there is nothing a woman likes so much as to reclaim a man. It always annoys a woman to know that the man she is interested in has a past with which she has had nothing to do. If he is wicked and she can sort of make him over, like an old dress, she revels in the process. She flatters herself she makes a new man of him, and thinks she owns that new man by right of manufacture. We owe it to the sex, Renny, to give 'em a chance at reform- ing us. I have known men who hated tobacco take to smoking merely to give it up joyfully for the sake of the women they loved. Now, if a man is perfect to begin with, what is a dear,, ministering angel of a woman to do with him ? Manifestly nothing. The trouble with you, Renny, is that you are too evidently ruled by a good and well-trained conscience, and naturally all women you meet intuitively see this, and have no use for you. A little wickedness would be the making of you." " You think, then, that if a man's impulse is to do what his conscience tells him is wrong, he should follow his impulse, and not his con- science ? " *' You state the case with unnecessary serious- ness. I believe that an occasional blow-out is good for a man. But if you ever have an impulse of that kind. I think you should give way to it for once, just to see how it feels. A man who is too good gets conceited about him- self." •• I half believe you are right, Mr. Yates, "^ said the professor, rising. " 1 will net on your advice, and. as you put it, see how it feels. My conscience tells me that I should con^^ratulate ii Ml fm- i\' 266 f n tbe AfO0t ot Blarms. '^'Ji M W, you, and wish you a long and happy life with the girl you have — 1 won't say chosen, but tossed up for. The natural man in me, on the other hand, urges me to break every bone in your worthless body. Throw off your coat, Yates." *• Oh, I say, Renmark, you're crazy." •* Perhaps so. Be all the more on your guard, if you believe it. A lunatic is sometimes •dangerous." ** Oh, go away. You're dreaming. You're talking in your sleep. What! F'ight.^ To- night ? Nonsense ! " •* Do you want me to strike you before you are ready ? " " No, Renny, no. My wants are always modest. I don't wish to tight at all, especially to-night. I'm a reformed man, I tell you. I have no desire to bid good-by to my best girl with a black eye to-morrow." " Then stop talking, if you can, and defend yourself." " It's impossible to fight here in the dark. Don't flatter yourself for a moment that I am afraid. You just spar with yourself and get limbered up, while I put some wood on the fire. This is too ridiculous." Yates gathered some fuel, and managed to coax the dying embers into a blaze. " There," he said. " that's better. Now, let me have a look at you. In the name of wonder, Renny, what do you want to fight me for to- night ? " ** I refuse to give my reason." " Then I refuse to fight. I'll run, and I can beat you in a foot race any day in the week. Why. you're worse than her father. He at least let me know why he fought me." "Whose father .5" " Kitty's father, of course — my future father- in-law. And that's another ordeal ahead of "ITn tbe /lR(D0t of Blarma. 267 and defend me. I haven't spoken to the old man yet, and I need all my fighting: grit for that." " What are you talking about ? " " Isn't my language plain ? it usually is." *' To whom are you engaged ? As I under- stand your talk, it is to Miss Bartlett. Am I right } " " Right as rain, Renny. This fire is dying down again. Say, can't we postpone our fracas until daylight ? I don't want to gather any more wood. Besides, one of us is sure to be knocked into the fire, and thus ruin whatever is left of our clothes. What do you say } " ** Say ? I say I am an idiot." " Hello ! reason is returning, Renny. I per- fectly agree with you." " "Thank you. Then you did not propose to Mar— to Miss Howard ? " " Now, you touch upon a sore spot, Renmark, that I am trying to forget. You remember the unfortunate toss-up ; in fact, I think you referred to it a moment ago, and you were justly indig- nant about it at the tiine. Well, I don't care to talk much about the sequel ; but, as you know the beginning, you will have to know the end, because I want to wring a sacred promise from you. You are never to mention this episode of the toss-up, or of my confession, to any living soul. The telling of it might do harm, and it couldn't possibly do any good. Will you promise ? " " Certainly. But do not tell me unless you wish to." " I don't exactly yearn to talk about it, but it is better you should understand how the land lies, so you won't make any mistake. Not on w/y account, you know, but I would not like it to come to Kitty's ears. Yes, J proposed to Margaret — first. She wouldn't look at me. Can you credit that ? " m\ :i IP 1 rh 368 fn tbe A^f^at ot Blarmd. " Well, now that you mention it, I- " Exactly. I see you can credit it. Well, I couldn't at first ; but Margaret knows her own mind, there's no question about f/ia/. Say ! she's in love with some other fellow. I found out that much." " You asked her, I presume." " Well, it's my profession to find out things ; and, naturally, if I do that for my paper, it is not likely I am going to be behindhand when it comes lo myself. She denied it at first, but admitted it afterward, and then bolted." " You must have used great tact and delicacy. " " See here, Renmark ; I'm not going to stand any of your sneering. I told you this was a sore subject with me. I'm not telling you be- cause I like to, but because I have to. Don't put me in fighting humor, Mr. Renmark. If / talk fight, I won't begin for no reason and then back out for no reason. I'll go on." " I'll be discreet, and beg to take back all I said. What else .>" " Nothing else. Isn't that enough } It was more than enough for me — at the time. I tell you, Renmark, I spent a pretty bad half hour sitting on the fence and thinking about it." "So long as that?" Yates rose from the fire indignantly. " I take that back, too," cried the professor hastily. " I didn't mean it." '• It strikes me you've become awfull) funny all of a sudden. Don't you think it's about time we took to our bunks ? It's late." Renmark agreed with him, but did not turn in. He walked to the friendly fence, laid his arms along the top rail, and gazed at the friendly stars. He had not noticed before how lovely the night was, with its impressive still- ness, as if the world had stopped, as a steamer stops in mid-ocean. After quieting his troubled me, . I — •• t it. Well. I lows her own //la/. Say ! ow. I found 1 out things ; y paper, it is hand when it at first, but ited." nd dehcacy." 3ing to stand I this was a ling you be- e to. Don't imark. If / ion and then e back all I f n tbe AiD0t ot Blarms. 269 ih? It was ime. I tell d half hour out it." iy. e professor full) funny it's about e." not turn e, laid his ed at the )efore how ssive still- a steamer is troubled spirit with the restful stars he climbed the fence and walked down the road, taking little heed of the direction. The still night was a soothing companion. He came at last to a sleeping village of wooden houses, and through the center of the town ran a single line of rails, an iron link connecting the unknown hamlet with all civilization. A red and a green light glimmered down the line, giving the only indi- cation that a train ever came that way. As he went a mile or two farther the cool breath of the great lake made itself felt, and after cross- ing a field he suddenly came upon the water, finding all further progress in that direction barred. Huge sand dunes formed the shore, covered with sighing pines. At the foot of the dunes stretched a broad beach of firm sand, dimly visible in contrast with the darker water ; and at long intervals fell the light ripple of the languid summer waves, running up the beach with a half-asleep whisper, that became softer and softer until it was merged in the silence be- yond. Far out on the dark waters a po\rJ of light, like a floating star, showed where a steamer was slowly making her way ; and so still was the night that he felt rather than heard her pulsating engines. It was the only sign of life visible from that enchanted bay — the bay of the silver beach. Renmark threw himself down on the soft sand at the foot of a dune. The point of light gradually worked its way to the west, following, doubtless unconsciously, the star of empire, and disappeared around the headland, taking with it a certain vague sense of companionship. But the world is very small, and a man is never quite as much alone as he thinks he is. Ren- mark heard the low hoot of an owl among the trees, which cry he was astonished to hear answered from the water. He sat up and 270 f n tbc /IbfDdt of Blarmd. t * < listened. Presently there grated on the sand the keel of a boat, and someone stepped ashore. From the woods there emerj;ed the shadowy forms of three men. Nolhinj^ was said, l)ut they got silently into the boat, which niigb.t have been Charon's craft for all he could see of it. The rattle of the rowlocks and the plash of oars followed, while a voice cautioned the rowers to make less noise. It was evident that some belated fugitives were eluding the authorities of l)oth countries. Kenmark thought, w.th a smile, that if Yates were in his place lie would at least give them a fright. A sharp command to an imaginary company to load and hre would travel far on such a night, and would give the rowers a few moments of great discomfort. Renmark, however, did not shout, but treated the e|iisode as part of the mystical dream, and lay down on the sand again. He noticed that the water in the east seemed to feel the approach of morning even before the sky. Gradually the day dawned, a slowly lightening gray at first, until tlie coming sun spattered a filmy cloud with gold and crimson. Kenmark watched the glory of the sunrise, took one lingering look at the curved beauty of the bay shore, shook the sand from his clothing, atul started back for the village and the cam|) beyond. The village was astir when he reached it. He was surprised to see Stoliker on hors'back in front of one of the taverns. Two assistants were with him, also seated on horses. The constable seemed disturbed by the sight of Renmark, but he was there to do his duty. " Hello ! " he cried, '* you're up early. I have a warrant for the arrest of your friend : I sup- pose you won't tell me where he is ? " "You can't expect me to give any infor- mation that will get a friend into trouble, can you ? especially as he has done nothing." on the sand ^p|)ed aslion*. the shadouv ^'»s said, hii't ^vliich mi-lit could see of tlie phish of °tl I lie rowers It that some luthoriiies of with a smile, ouhl at least iniand to an fire U7)uld il(l ^ive the tliscomfort. hut treated dream, and loticed that le approach •adually the 'TV at first, filniy cloud • atched the inij; look at shook the I hack for ■cached it. hors'back assistants ses. The ■ sight of duty. >'. J have d : I sup- Ifn the flRlDet of ainnns. !71 my infor- 5uble, can g-" " That's as may uirn out before a jury," said one of the assistants gravely. *' Yes," assented Stoiiker, winking (luictly at the professor. "That is for judge and jury to determine — not you." " Well," said Renmark, " 1 will not inform about anybody, unless 1 am compelled to do so, but I may save you some trouble by telling where I have been and what I have seen. 1 ani on my way back from the lake. If you go down there, you will still see the mark of a Innit's keel on the sand, and probably footprints. A boat came over from the other shore in the night, and a man got on board. 1 don't say who the man was, and 1 had nothing to do with the matter in any way except as a spectator. That is all the information I have to give." Stoiiker turned to his assistants, and nodded. •• What did I tell you ? " he asked. •' We were right on his track." " You said the railroad," grumbled the man who had spoken before. *' Well, we were within two miles of him. Let us go down to the lake and see the traces. Then we can return the warrant," Renmark found Yates still asleep in the tent. He prepared breakfast without disturbing him. When the meal was ready, he roused the re- porter anil told him of his nieeting with Soliker, advising him to get back to New York without delay. Yates yawned sleepily. "Yes," he said, " I've been dreaming it all out. I'll get father-in-law to tote me out to Fort Erie to-night." " Do you think it will be safe to jnit it off so long ?" " Safer than trying to get away during the day. After breakfast I'm going down to the Bartlett homestead. Must have a talk with the IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) /. ^/ % .^: ,.v^,^^ '4^ :/ L

> "V '/ S Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4503 ^% \ V n\ fv V 6^ ^ '^ '^ u. 6 e ^ 272 •ffn tbe /RfDat of Blarms. 1 1 P> I 11 ;i old folks, you know. I'll spend the rest of the day making up for that interview by talking with Kitty. Stoliker will never search for me there, and, now that he thinks I'm gone, he will likely make a visit to the tent. Stoliker is a good fellow, but his strong point is duty, you know; and if he's certain I'm gone, he'll give his country the worth of its money by search- ing. I won't be back for dinner, so you can put in your time reading my Dime Novels. I make no reflections on your cooking, Renny, now that the vacation is over ; but I have my preferences, and they incline toward a final meal with the Bartletts. If I were you, I'd have a nap. You look tired out." " I am," said the professor. Renmark intended to lie down for a few moments until Yates was clear of the camp, after which he determined to pay a visit ; but Nature, when she got him locked up in sleep, took her revenge. He did not hear Stoliker and his satellites search the premises, just as Yates had predicted they would ; and when he finally awoke, he found to his astonishment that it was nearly dark. But he was all the better for his sleep, and he attended to his personal appearance with more than ordinary care. Old Hiram Bartlett accepted the situation with the patient and grim stolidity of a man who takes a blow dealt him by a Providence known by him to be inscrutable. What he had done to deserve it was beyond his comprehen- sion. He silently hitched up his horses, and, for the first time in his life, drove into Fort Erie without any reasonable excuse for going there. He tied his team at the usual corner, after which he sat at one of the taverns and drank strong waters that had no apparent effect on him. He even went so far as to smoke two native cigars ; and a man who can le rest of the V by talking ;arch for me gone, he will Stoliker is a is duty, you ne, he'll give y by search- so you can e Novels. I ing, Renny, It I have my ^ard a final ^ou, I'd have for a few the camp, a visit ; but ip in sleep, ar Stoliker ises, just as d when he iment that the better is personal care, situation of a man Vovidence hat he had )mprehen- )rses, and, into Fort for going al corner, I'erns and apparent far as to who can f n tbe lfbit>et ot Blarms. 273 do that can do anything. To bring up a daughter who would deliberately accept a man from " the States," and to have a wife who would aid and abet such an action, giving com- fort and support to the enemy, seemed to him traitorous to all the traditions of 181 2, or any other date in the history of the two countries. At times wild ideas of getting blind full, and going home to break every breakable thing in the house, rose in his mind ; but prudence whispered that he had to live all the rest of his life with his wife, and he realized that this scheme of vengeance had its drawbacks. Finally, he untied his patient team, after paying his bill, and drove silently home, not having returned, even by a nod, any of the salutations tendered to him that day. He was somewhat relieved to find no questions were asked, and that his wife recognized the fact that he was passing through a crisis. Nevertheless, there was a steely glitter in her eye under which he uneasily quailed, for it told him a line had been reached which it would not be well for him to cross. She forgave, but it must not go any iurther. When Yates kissed Kitty good-night at the gc e, he asked her, with some trepidation, wh ♦her she had told c.nyone of their engage- ment. " No one but Margaret," said Kitty. •* And what did she say ? " asked Yates, as if, after all, her opinion was of no importance. " She said she was sure I should be happy, and she knew you would make a good hus- band." " She's rather a nice girl, is Margaret," re- marked Yates, with the air of a man willing to concede good qualities to a girl other than his own, but indicating, after all, that there was but one on earth for him. 274 ITn tbe ^i^6t ot Blarm^. ! " She is a lovely girl," said Kitty enthusiastic- ally. " I wonder, Dick, when you knew her, why you ever fell in love with me." " The idea ! I haven't a word to say against Margaret ; but, compared with my girl " And he finished his sentence with a practical illustration of his frame of mind. As he walked alone down the road he reflected that Margaret had acted very hand- somely, and he resolved to drop in and wish her good-by. But as he approached the house his courage began to fail him, and he thought it better to sit on the fence, near the place where he had sat the night before, and think it over. It took a good deal of thinking. But as he sat there it was destined that Yates should receive some information which would simplify matters. Two persons came slowly out of the gate in the gathering darkness. They strolled together up the road past him, absorbed in themselves. "When directly opposite the re- porter, Renmark put his arm around Margaret's waist, and Yates nearly fell off the fence. He held his breath until they were safely out of hearing, then slid down and crawled along in the shadow until he came to the side road, up which he walked, thoughtfully pausing every few moments to remark: "Well, I'll be " But speech seemed to have failed him ; he could get no further. He stopped at the fence and leaned against it, gazing for the last time at the tent, glimmer- ing white, like a misshapen ghost, among the somber trees. He had no energy left to climb over. " Well, I'm a chimpanzee," he muttered to himself at last. " The highest bidder can have me, with no upset price. Dick Yates, I wouldn't have believed it of you. Vou a news- paper man ? Vou a reporter from 'way back ? •ffn tbe /fttOat of Blacms. 275 Voji up to snuff? Yates, I'm ashamed to be seen in your company ! Go back to New York, and let the youngest reporter in from a country newspaper scoop the daylight out of you. To think that this thing has been going on right under your well-developed nose, and you never saw it — worse, never had the faintest suspicion of it; that it was thrust at you twenty times a day — nearly got your stupid head smashed on account of it ; yet you bleated away like the innocent little lamb that you are, and never even suspected ! Dick, you're a three-sheet- poster fool in colored ink. And to think that both of them know all about the first pro- posal ! Bo/A of them ! Well, thank Heaven, Toronto is a long vv'av from New York." THE ENBo Basket Series. t? ' '? t' %\ Delightful novelettes, attractively bound and well printed on good paper. B Wbirl BaunDer. By Gertrude Atherton, author of ** The Doomswoman," " Before the Gringo Came," etc. '^A strong book y — London Athenceum. '''Gertrude Atkerton writes striking and original romances. She puts a wonderful force into her stories.''^ — Milwaukee Journal. ^*Jt will be read with keen relish by the admirers of a fine story finely told^ and is published in a style that appeals to book-lovers and people of cultivated laste." — Philadelphia Call. Bn Biidadement. By Sir Robert Peel. A charming little love-story by one of the most promising of the younger English writers. £ach volume, 24010, basket cloth, tastefully stamped with silver, 50 cents. 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