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Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la mdthode. i by errata Imed to ment , une pelure, } fagon d le. 1 2 3 32X 1 2 3 4 5 6 iaiii THIxS NUMBER CONTAINS iK^ IN THE MBSTIF jy Author of "In • 8tMm«t* CW^" «FPOt» Wao»« Boura," ^ oo:M::px4isyXTSi /- j ->-7^-'- AUGUST, 1S93 MONTHLY MAGAZf?^^ '^ CONTENTS "ram MBIT #AUffiiir . . . ««»«rtB(wv t*«^i9 Zaohary Taymwi. bis Hqmk ako Family. (IHuftrrted) -.<«««* JMitUfm Watsim , 220 The Natiouai, Game. (Athletic Series.) (lllurtnued) . fftrtan B. YmiHg . . . 2ig Frkedom. (Poem) Clara /essup Moore 234 Jane's Houday. (lippancatt's Notabkt Stories.— No. VI.) (Illustiated) VaUrie Btft JBtrry . . 23$ The Drbam^Ship. (Poem) M, H. G 339 The Lady B];j>ritA ScuuToft. (Illusttated) . > . E. LesUe GUiHms 249 SopESMUKnANB Fiction W.Jff. Bc^hcock ... t'A Men op the Oay . . . . . • • ■ ^- Crafim . . . , 255 PRICE TWENTY-FIVE CENTS 'JsB: LlPPlNCOTT:C2: PHILADELPHIA : f LONOOH: WAaO, LOCK, BOWPEH ft CO. — ^■. ... ____ — ---mmmttm « ^ lAa You need wait n o longer i ' ' - i. yjr 'i i i'»i (i mat TROKONETS. The very best and most reliable hand-cameras ever made. No faulty film, no glass plates to break; itm, glass plates can be used. FILM LIES PLAT, DEVELOPMENT A PLBASUStlB. SLIGHTLY TOUCH THE LEVER AND A PICTURE Sft TAKEN. The loading of a Trokonet with $$ flln»« i» but the work o% a moment. Take a TRQKONBT with you te the WORLD'S PAIR. All Photographic Diiders seU them. Ti'okonet catalogue free on.^>pUcatioc. THE PHOTO MATilRlALS CO./ Manrjactuixsrs, ROCI1E5TBR. N. Y. Bright^ Disease •nd all otiMr ttahbOiRi oooh {daitito of tiw ta&uty, lAnt, ■nd Stomwi^, oaa be ctued bgr tbe great uinenl iqiccific, Bedford Waier. Bottled jwt n it flows fkom ^ spriag, Bbaohitdy {mhMuid «B> sdolterated. Pxn«ribed|g^EiiNj eminent physicians of^itte tt(»i and nx aqwat iom to bftra It put np at a dru2 okmt I \ ; < V:' '5. ras ever made, {lasa plate* can k PICTURE IS >ut the work c^ PAIR. f^acturers. "IN THE MIDST OF ilfflS." BY ROBERT BARR, (LUKE SHASP,) AUTHOR OF "IN A STBAMEK CHAIR," "FROM WHOSE BOURK," ETC. I a rea4y made Ooughf, Bron- «r dlneaww of I Iiungi. Like ffttent Medi- LdvertiMd^aiid haasttftii^A rthe name of Coiununptioii. Iisoxb rt littt it w*a OMf. •rer CO floored vestibule of the Metropolitan Grand Hotel in Buffalo, ProfesBor Stillson Benmark 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 paused half-way between the door and the marble counter, because he b^an to fear that he had arrived at an Inopportune time, — that something unusual was going on. The hurry and bustle uewilder^ him. A man with a stentorian but monotonous and mournful voice was filling the air with the information that a train was about to depart for Albany, Saratoga, Troy, Boston, New York, and the East. When be came to the words " The East" his voice dropped to a sad minor key, as if the man despaired of the fate of those who took tl^ir departure in that direction. Every now and then a bnusen goag sounded snarply, and one of the negroes who sat in a row on a bench along the marble- 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 fdl with his satchelin his hand. As he timidly edged up to the a)unter and tried to accumulate courage enoueb to address the clerk, a young man came forward, flung his grip on the polished top of the counter, metaphori- cally brushed the professor aside, pulled the bulky roister towards him, and inscribed his name on the page with a rapidity equalled only by the illegibilil^ of the result. "Hello, Sam," he said to the clerk. "How's things? Get my tel^iam?" ' "Yes," answered the clerk; '' but I can't give you 27. Ifs been 181 1 JT- 18S "IN THE MIDST OF ALARMS.' taken for a week. I rwiervwl 85 for you, and had to hold on with my teeth to do tliat." The reply of the young man wan merely a brief mention of the plaoe of torment. " It M 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 cock-sure I'd take that room ?" was cock-sure you'd have to. It ' either that or the fiftii We're full. Couldn't give a better room to the President if he "I floor, came." ♦' Oh, well, what's good enough for the President 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 j'rip. " Eighty-five," said the olerk ; and the drummer and the negro disappeared. " Is there any place where I could leave ray 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, Havp a room, sir?" And the clerk's hand hovered over the bell. " No. At least, not just yet. Y- j see, I'm " *• All right. The baggage-man tbere to the left will check it for you." " Any letters for Bond ?" said a man, pushine h'mself in front of the professor. The clerk pulled out a fat buncn 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 bunch a push towards the clerk, who placed them where they were before Although the profesoor was to a certain extent bewildered by the condition of things, there was still in his nature a certain dogg^ 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 tin'e before he caught -the speaker's eye, ais it were, but when he did so he said, — " I was alx)ut to say to you that I am waiting for a friend from New York >'ho may not yet have arrived. His name is Mr. Richard Yates, of the " "Oh! Dick Yates. Certainly. He's here." Turning to the n^o, he said, — " Go down to the billiard-room and see if Mr. Yates is there. If he is not, lc»ok for him at the bar." The clerk evidently knew Mr. Dick Yates. Apparently not no- ticing the look of amazement that had stolen over the professor's face, the clerk said, — " If you wait in the readiug-room I'll send Yates to you when he / IN THE MIDST OF ALARMS.' Itt lold on with intion of the iland?" , or the fifth resident if he can put up negro sprang eric ; and the for a while?" ?" And the 11 check it for jlf in front of tters from the ) the inquirer, } be addressed o placed them ildered by the in dogged per- ind which had brilliant men. he clerk. He ould arrest his kef's eye, as it a friend from a Mr. Richard timing to the s is there. If irently not no- )rofessor's face, you when he comefi. The Iray will And him if he's in the house; but he may be up-town." The professor, disliking to trouble the obliging clerk further, aid not ask nint wlicre the reading-room was. Ho inquired instead of a hurrying porter, and received the curt but comprehensive answer,— " Dining-room next floor. Keading-, smoking-, and writiog-roomiB up the hall, fiilliard-room, bar, and lavatory down-stairs." The professor, ai'ter getting into the barber-shop and the oigar-ntore, finally found his v.ay into the reading-room. Numerous daily papers were scattered around on the table, eacii attaoheare into a general fund, wliioh waa given to some deaerving person in the crowd. " Yes," laid the profesttor, 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. " Yea, Sara g»»n- erally knows where to send for me; but be needn't have been ho darned public- almut it. Being a newspafier man, I know what ought to go in print and what Hhould have the l)lue pencil run through it. Sam is very discreet, aa a general thing ; but then he knew, of course, the moment he set eyes on you, that you wei-e an old i>al of mine.'' Again Yates langh<>d, a very bright and cheery laugh for s^ evi- dently wicked a man. " Come along," he said, taking the professor by the arm. " We must get you located." They j)aflH«l out into the hall and drew up at the clerk's counter. " I say, 8ani," crie{ mine.'' \\ for er> evl- arm. "We c's counter, better for us n ballooning. ie fifth floor an. Really, •ather. Fine ,t of the lakw lor yet at the >eautiful and lousand loco- ht of your alo is more ther place in eling of local here on this oment I saw told you, but e particulars. it I wouldn't ere." of the poesi- hen he looked ed his lips as 't more than liece of news, first I've had No, let the Argwt get scooped, if it wantn to. They'll value mv services all the more when I get heck. No 618, I think you Baid f^ The olerk lianded over the key, and the pn^fe-isor gave the boy the check for his valiHe, at Yates'N Huggvstinn. " Now get a move on you, said Yales to the elcvator-b<>y. " We're going right through with you." And so the two friends were ehot up together to tLe fifth floor. CHAPTEH IT. The sky-parlor, as Yates hud termed it, cei > ;ily commanded a very extensive view. Immediately underneath was a wilderness of roofs. Further along were th« railway-tracks that Yat«.>8 obje(!ted to, and a line of masts and proptillor-funnels market a man to go o say that you took a cooling ce Brown may be local in his credit on his ne. It would do that man good to live in New York for a year. But I'm going to get even with him. I'm — — ' •■ • • umn and a half, see if I newspaper portrait of him. wng to write him up. I'll give him a col- lon't I'll get his photograph and publish a ^ . . 1. If that doesn't make him quake he's a c&st-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 purpose. However, never mind the Principal. Tell me your plans. I am at your disposal for a oouple of weeks, or longer if necessary." « Good boy I Well, I'll tell you how it is. I want rest and Auiet and the woods for a week or two. This is how it happened. I havi been steadily at the grindstone, except for a while in the hospital, an J that, you will admit, is not much of a vacation. The work interestj 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. Thafs the way affairs have gone for years with me. The other week I w«nt over to Washington to interview a Senator on the political prospectei. I tell you what it is. Stilly, without bragging, there are some big m«n in the States whom no one but me can interview. And yet old Scrag says I'm no credit to his class I Why, last year my political predictions were telegraphed all over this country, end have since appeared in the European press. No credit I By Jove, I would like to have old Scrag in a twenty-four-foot ring with thin gloves on for about ten minutes I" " I doubt if he would shine under those circumstances. But never mind him. He spoke, for once, without due reflection, and with per- haps an exaggerated remembrance of your school-day offences. What happened when you went to Washington ?" "A strange thing happened. When I was admitted to the Sen- ator's library I saw another fellow, whom I thought I knew, sitting there. I said i,o the Senator, *I will oume 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 W not offending the» 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 wi» 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 compromised, and half the time put iu what he su^ested 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 hem interfered with, and he looked none the less alarmed when I had finished. He sent at once for a doctor. The dotiUit metaphor' "n^ ■ mm «p-*-^.. 140 "IN THE MIDST OF ALARMS.' ft'^a ically took me apart, and then eaid to my ohief, ' 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 ao to pieces, and that with a suddenness that will surprise everybody? The chief, to my astonishment, consented without a murmur, and even upbraided me for not going away sooner. Then the doctor said to me, ' You get some companion, — some man with no brains, if possible, who will not discuss politics, who has no opinion on anything that any stne man would care to talk about, and who couldn't say a bright thing if he tried for a year. Qet such a man to go off to the woods somewhere. Up in Maine or in Canada. As far away from post-oflBces and tele- graph-offices as possible. And, by the way, don't leave your address at the Argvs 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 fiumilo ?" " You bet I haven't. I'm in for uii ' )rest primeval, the murmur- ing pines and the hemlock, bearded with moss and green in the some- thmg 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 shore 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 tlie 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 somewhere into the woods, fifteen or twenty miles away. We shall have to be near a farm-house, so that we can get fresh butter, milk, and eggs. This, of course, is a disadvantage ; but I shall try to get near some one 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 naif 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 whiskey. Besides, the empty jug will save trouble at the custom-house. I don't suppose Canadian rye is as good as the Kentucky article, but you and 1 will have to scrub along on it for a while. And talking of jugs, just press the button once again." The professor did so, saying,' — I II in III '*■ man is simply real one, with ieces, and that 5 chief, to my upbraided me me, ' You get , who will not any stne man ht thing if he ds somewhere. Gees and tele- vour address described this ssor, with the I a connection, [ take it, then, , the murmur- a in the some- on paper and I'm going to and go in for hore." nd me of the ranch when it oods. I have take that tent a man with a ty miles away. i fresh butter, It I shall try York." of intelligence are those who er the remark Tell, I've laid ve bought an ;he Canadians lave trouble at 8 good as the >ng on it for a igain." "IN THE MIDST OF ALARMS." 141 " 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 vxu some conver- sation in that direction. Don't remember at the moment just what it amounted to ; but all physicians have tb comfortable travelling for you, but it would be all right for ihe tent, if it's a big one." " That will suit us exactly. We don't care a cent about the com- fort. Roughing it is what we came for. Where will I find him ?" "Oh, he'll be along here soon. That's his team tied there on the side-street. If he happens to be in good humor he'll take your I want to get dear back into the forest, — if there you couldn't tote out some of his belongings. He's going out your way." Bartlett was a somewhf^t uncouth and wiry specimen of the Cana- dian farmer, who evidently paid little attention to the subject of dress. He said nothing, but looked in a lowering way at Yates with some- thing of contempt and suspicion in his glance. Yates had one receipt for making the acquaintance of all mankind. " Come in, Mr. Bartlett," he said, cheerily, " and try one of my friend's excellent cocktails." ill the vacancy ?" If yoa are sure noe. He merely 8 answer, — hand acsroBB the here I am where sly otie cocktail." 1 the compound- y life. You are lared enough for lentially. " I've he custom-houae )d8 whe' e I can m have absolute ! ? Perhaps you cious little about Falls, but never y the lake or the forest, — if there ear Ridgeway, I raid be just the rer) comfortable tent, if it's a big t about the com- I find him?" ta tied there oa r he'll take your ip in his woods, d Nick himselfl u wondering if ) going out your ten of the Cana- subject of dress, ["ates with some- of all mankind, ae of my friend's IN THE MIDST OF ALARMS." 143 "I take mine straight," growled Burtlett, gruffly, although he stepped inside the open door. ** I don't want no Yankee mixture in mine. Plain whiskey's good enough for any man, if he is a man. I don't take no water, neither. I've got trouble enough." The bar-tender winked at Yates as he shoved the decanter over to the new-comer. " Right you are," assented Yates, cordially. The farmer did not thaw out in the least because of this prompt agreement with him, but sipped his whiskey gloomily, as if it were a most dist^eeable medicine. " What did you want me to take out ?" he said at last. " A friend and a tent, a jug of whiskey, and a lot of jolly good tobaooo." " How much are you willing to pay ?" " Oh, I don't know. I'm always willing to do what's right. How would five dollars strike you ?" The farmer scowled and shook his head. " Too much," he said, as Yates was about to offer more. " 'Tain't worth it. Two-and-a-half would be about tlie right figure. Don'no but that's too much. I'll think on it going home and charge you what it's worth. I'll be ready to leave in about ac hour, if that suits you. That's my team on the other side of the road. If it's gone when you come back I'm gone, an' you'll have to get somebody else." With this Bartlett drew his ooat-sleeve across his mouth and de- parted. " That's him exactly," said the bar-keeper. " He's the most can- tankerous crank in the township. And say, let me give you a pointer. If the subject of 1812 oomes up, — the war, you know, — ^you'a better admit that we got thrashed out of our boots ; that b, if you want to get along with Hiram. He hates Yankees like poison." "And did we get thrashed in 1812?'' asked Yates, who was more familiar with current topics than with the history of the past. " Blest if I know. Hiram says we did. I told him once that we got what we wanted from old England, and he nearly hauled me over the bar. So I give you the warning, if you want to get along with him." " Thank you. I'll remember it. So long." This friendly hint from the man in the tavern offers a key to the solution-of the problem of Yates's success on the New York press. He could get news when no other man could. Flippant and shallow as he undoubtedly wasj he somehow got into the inner confidences of all sorts of men in a way that made them give him an inkling of anything that was going on for the mere love of him, atfd Yates onen got valu- able assistance from his acquaintances which other reporters could not get for money. The New-Yorker found th> professor sitting on a bench by the custom-house^ chatting with the officer, and gazing at the rapidly- flowing broad blue river in front of them. ^ I have got a man," said Yates, " who will take us out into the SBEni ■f »'- MMM ^ II / 1 "m THE MIDST OF AT "I MS." wildernesa in about an hour's time. Suppose we explore the town. I expect 'lobody will run away with the tent till we come bavk." " I'll look after that/' said the officer; and, thanking him, the two friends strolled up the street. Thev were a trifle late in getting baok, and when they reached the tavern they found Bartlett just on the point of driving home. He gruffly consented to take them if they did not keep him more than five minutes loading up. The tent and appurte- nances were s|)eedily loaded on the hay-rack, and then BartleU drove up to the tavera and waited, saying nothing, although 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. Afler a while Yates said, as mildly an he could, — " Are yon waiting for any one, 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 thi counter." " By Jove I" cried Yates, sprinjring ofiP, " I had forgotten all about it, which shows the extraordinary effect this country has on me already." The professor frowned, but Yates came out merrily with the jug in his hand, and Bartlett swrted his team. They drove out of the village and up a slight hill, going for a mile or two along a straight and some- what sandy road. Tnen th y turned to what &rtlett said in answer to a question by the professes was the Bidge Road, and there was no need to ask why it was so termed. It was a good highway, but rather fltony, the road being, in places, on the bare rock. It paid not the lightest attention to Euclid's definition of a straight line, and in this respect was rather a welcome change from the average American road. Sometimes they passed along avenues of overbranching trees, which were evidently relics of the forest that once covered all the district. The road followed the ridge, and on each side were frequently to he seen wide vistas of lower-lying country. All along the road were com- fortablv; farm-houses ; ana it was evident that a prosperous community flourished along the ridge. Bartlett spoke only once, and then to the profeseor, who sat next to him. "You a Canadian?" t( Yes." " Where's Ae 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, al- though neither the load nor the roads were heavy. Bartlett was mut- tering a good deal to himself, and now and then brought down his whip savagely on one or the other of the horses, but the moment the unfortunate animals quickened their pace he hauled them in roughly. Nevertheless they were going quickly enough to be overtaking a youdg woman who was walking on alone. Although she must have heard them coming over the rocky rdad, she did not turn her head, but walked along with the free and springy step of one who is not only accustomed to walking, but who likes it. Bartlett paid no attention to te ^ m imtMM i the town. I back." i; him, the two I getting back, it on the point f they did not t and appurte- Bartle^t drove le had been in ke to ask the a while Yates raiting for yon leave it on thj otten all about n me already." ith the jug in b of the village ght and some- said in answer I there was no my, but rather : paid not the ne, and in this Lmerican ixmd. es, which were district. The Uy to be seen were com- us community , who sat next cent professor, in ever, after ; very fast, al- tlett was mut- ight down his te moment the m in roughly, iking a youiig 3t have heard her head, but 10 is not only lo attention to "IS THE MID^T OF ALARMS.' the girl ; the profossor was endeavoring tr read his thin book as well M a man might who is being jolted frequently ; but Yates, as soon as he reoogniced that the pedestrian was young, rulled up his collar, adjusted |hi8 necktie with care, and placed his hat m 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 u rather uncivil," he added, forgetting the warning he had had. " You do, eh? Well, yon 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 groun " Likely thing," growled Bartlett to the professor, " that she's going to ride with the like of him." 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, gathering up the reins, " I'd whip up the hoi'ses 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." Bartlett muttered son n to the level r ami egg«" — rirled his cane xiously ahead ^htly flushed, , ** we idolize It with batter nuch rural ity s a piquancy his enjoyment seable on her rls are pretty, ean the whole i New York." bore himself rsrtaina to a fiink the men ell, spend the attend strictly women." the effect that ind — well, an K along with d to note just Before she quick clatter legant buggy, inkled in the two walking less that was ►ve. ou walked in hout looking The young in bes'de the r brother, not only on aooount of the family resemblance between them, but also be- cause he allowed her to get into the buray without oflbring the 3li<^htMt assistance, which, in(I»>ea, was not needea, and gradouuly perroiited her to place the duster that covered his knees over her own lap as well. The restive team trotted rspidlv down the rcMid for a few rods until they oame to u wide place in the highway, and then whir'.'xi around seemingly within an aoe of upsetting the buggv, but the young man evidently knew his businees and held them in with a Arm hand. The wagon was jogging along where the road was very narrow, and Bart- lett kept hiH team stolidly in the centre 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 smothered it, since otherwise he would have recognized that a heavy wagon was in no danger of being run into by a light and expensive 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 plaoea 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 !" raged Bartlett : " you just try it on." " Should think you'd had enough of it by this time." " Oh, don't, don't, Henry I" protested the girl, in distress. " There ain't no law," yelled Bartlett, " that kin make a man with a load move out fur aoy thing." " You haven't any load, unlnss it's in that jug." Yates saw with consternation that the jug had been jolted out from under its covering, but the happy consolation came tx> him that the two in the buggy would believe it belonged to Bartlett. He thought, how- ever, that this dog-in-tlie-man^ .: policy had gone far enough. He stepped briskly for'vard and said to Bartlett, — " Better drive aside a little and let them pasH." " You 'tend to your own business," cried tiie 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," cried the young man. The light and^glittering carriage rapidly disappeared up the Ridge Road. Bartlett sat there for one moment the picture of baffled rage. Then he threw the reins down on the backs of his patient hors^ and descended. " You take my horses by the head, do yoii, you good-fur- nuthin' Yank ? You do, eh ? I like your cheek. Touch my horses an' me a-holdin' the lines I Now you hear me? Your traps cornea 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." f# ■■ 148 "IN THM MtDftr OF ALARMS.** "Don't it, eh? WeU, then, ynn'il lick me fiut ; and thatV oome- Uiiiig no Yank over did, nor kin do." " I'll do it with plt«8iire." " Come, oome," oried the pmfemor, ^tting dowti on the road, " this ban fl;one f.tr onuugh. Keep quiet, Yateti. — Now, Mr. Bartlett, don't mind it. Ho mcjint no diHreH|)<>ot." " Don't ynu interfere. You're all right, an' I ain't got nothin' Off'in' you. But I'm goin' to thraah thm Yank within an inch of hi« life; see if I don't. We met 'em in 1812, an' we fit 'em, an' we licked 'em, an' we uao dc it ag'in. I'll learn ye to *ake my horsed by the head." " Teach," Buggented Yates, tantalisingly. Before he could properly defend himself, Bartlett sprang ut him and graspc.1 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 l)ecaine twiHtwl uround his witli a steel-like grip that speetlily con- vinced the younger man he would have to give way or a bone would br«ak. He gave way accordingly, and the next thing he knew he came down on his iMtck with a thud that shook the universe. " There, darn ye," cried the triumphant farmer, " that's 1812 and. Queenston Heights for ye. How do you like 'em?" Yates rose to his feet with some deliberation, and slowly took off his coat. '* Now, now, Yatee," said the professor, soothingly, " let it go at this. You're not hurt, are you V he asked, anxiously, as he noticed bow white the young man was around the lips. " Look here, Kenraark ; you're a sensible man. There is a time to interfere and a time not to. This is the time not to. A oertaiu in- ternational element seems to have crept into this dispute. Now, you stand aside, like a good tellow, for I don't want to have to thrash both of you." The professor stood aflide, for he realized that when Yates called him by his last name, matters were serious. " Now, old chuckle-head, perhaps you would like to try that again." "I kin do it a dozen times, if ye ain't satisfied. There ain't no Yank ever raised on pumpkin-pie that can stand ag'in' that grape-vine twist." " Try the grape-vine once more." Bartlett proot^ed more cautiously this time, for there was a look in the young man's face he did not quite like. He took a catoh-as- oatoh-can attitude tuul moved stealthily in a semicircle around Yates, who shifted his position ox^nstantly so as to keep facing his foe. At l&st Bartlett sprang forward, and the next instant found himself sitting on a piece of the rook of the country, with a thousand humming-birds buzzing in his head, while stars and the landscape around joined in a danoe together. The blow was sudden, well placed, and from the shoulder. " That," said Yates, standing over him, " is 1776,— the Revolu- tion, — when, to use your own phrase, we met ye, fit ye, and licked ye. J d^ittMiMaiMlflA HMMM that'n soni*> J road, " this artlett, dun't got nothin' an inch of : 'em, ail' we :e my honm rang ut him )i' a wrestler irtlett'H right ipeediiy con- bone would he knew he Be. t's 1812 and. wly took off 'let it go at s he notioecrio(i. Study up the war of the Ilevoliition a bit." Bartlctt niado no reply. Aftctr sitting there for a while until the surrounding Iand8c«|>e assumed its normal condition, be arose lei- surely, without Htiying a wonl. H<^ pi(^k«Nl the reins from the back)* of the horses and patted the nearest animal gently. Then he mounted to bis place and drove off. The professor liad taken his seat beside the ilriver, but Yaten, putting on hift coat and picking up his oine^ strode along in front, switching off the heads or Canada tbisUos with his walking-stick as he proceeded. CHAPTER IV. Bartlett was silent for a long time, but there was evidently something on his mind, for he communed with himself, the mutterings growing louder and louder until they broke the stillness ; then he jstruck the horses, pulled them in, anu began his sol'^oquy over again. At last he said abruptly to the professor, — " What's this Revolution he talked about?" " It was the war of independence, l>cginning in 1778." " Never heard of it. Did the Yanks fight us?" "The Colonies fought with England." "What Colonies V" " The country now 'tailed the United States.'' " They fit with England, eh ? Which licked r " 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 h&trd 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? Ill bet England never knew the Revolution was a-goin' on till it was over. Old Napoleon couldn't thrash 'em, and it don't stand to reason that the Yanks could. I thought there was some skullduggery. Why, it took the Yanks four yeura to lick themselves. I got a book at home all about Napoleon. He was a tough cuss." The professor did not feel called upon^to defend the charaoter of Napoleon, and so silence once more descended upon them. Bartlett seemed a good deal disturbed by the news he had just heard of the Revolution, and he growled to himself, while the horses suffered more^ than usual from the whip and the hauling back that invariably fol-' lowed the stroke. Yates was some distance ahead, raid swinging along at a great rate, when the horses, apparently of their owm accord, turned in at an open gate-way and proceeaed in their . .sual leisurely fashion MMWK^MMiiil w 150 "Jjyr THE MIDST OF ALARMS.' towai'ds a large barn past a comfortable frame house with a wide veranda in front. " This ia ray place," said Bartlett, shortly. * " I wish you had told me a few minutes ago," replied the professor, springing on, "so that I might have called to my friend." "I'm not frettin' about him," said Bartlett, throwing the reina to a young man who came out of the house. Renmark ran to the road and shouted loudly to the distauc Yatra. 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 towards th'^ west he looked around and saw the professor l)eckoning 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 that bouse, Stilly, if you have no objections. By the way, how is my old friend 1812 ?" „ " He doesn't seem to harbor any harsh feelings. 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 anything 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 without any display of surplus energy, that I regretted to see such an opening thrown a-vay." " Heavens and earth. Stilly, this is the professor in a new light. What do you teach in Toronto University, anyhow? The noble art of seli'-defeuce?" " 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 earshot. " The old woman's setting out supper," said the farmer, gi'uflBy, that piece of information being apparently as near as he could get towaids inviting them to share his hospitality. Yates didn't knovr aittnil I ■ft use with a wide ied the professor, nd." dag the reir.d to be distaiic Yates. about the next standing for a iround and saw men met, Yates she lives in the ■oad. I'na going I objections. By In fact, he was J blow you gave something into nore awkwardly should this calm 5 in blows ? ive done as well, d deftly without such an opening in a new light. ' The noble art Canada in this lile to take a few will, Stilly." ;lett sitting in a lown the road, ne !" said Yates, hey came within farmer, gruffly, as he could get tes didn't kuo\r "IM THE MIDST OF ALARMS.' 161 whether it was meant for an invitation or not, but he answered, shortly, — *' iThanks, we won't stay." " Speak fur yourself, please," snarled Bartlett. " Of course I go with my friend," said Renmark ; " bnt we are obligei 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? Who won't stay? I'd like to see any- body leave my house hungry when there's a meal on the table. And, young men, if you can get a better meal anywhere 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 ap« peal 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 anybody complain of the lack of good victuals while I was able to do the cooking. Come right in and wash j'oui-selves, 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 read- iness 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, 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 aft'-r 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 voung men were shown into a bedroom of more than ordinary size oil the upper floor. Everything about the house was of the most dainty and scrupulous cleanliness, and an air of cheerful comfort per- vaded 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 predicted, was most refreshing. " I say," 6ried Yates, " it's rather cheeky to accept a man's hospi- utlity after knocking him down." " It would be for most people, but I tWnk you underestimate your cheek, as you call it." " Bravo, Stilly I You're blossoming out. That's rapartee, that is. With tje accent on the rap, too. Never you mind : I think old 1812 and I will get along 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?" / /> 162 "IN THE MIDST OF ALARMS!.' "Who? 1812?" " No : Mrs. 1812. I'm sorry I complimented you on your repartee. You'll get conceited. Remember that what in the newspaper-mau is clever, in a grave- professor is rank flippancy. Let's go down." The table was covered with a cloth as white and spotless as good, linen can well be. The bread was genuine home-made, a term w) oftoi^?A 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 lovely golden hue. The sight of the well-loaded table was most welcome to the eyes of hungry travellers. There was, as Yates afterwards re- marked, " abundance and plenty of it." " Come, father," cried Mrs. Bartlett, as the young men appeared, and they heard the rocking-chair creak on the veranda in prompt answer to the summons. "This is young man who stood in a non-committal my son, gentlemen," said Mrs. Bartlett, indicating a attitude near the corner of the room. The professor recognized him as the person who had taken chaise of the horses when his father came home. There was evidently something of his father's demeanor about the young man, who awk- wardly and silently responded to the recognition of the strangers. " And this is my daughter," continii«^'^ the good woman. " Now, what might your names be?" " My name is Yates, and this is my friend Professor Benmark, 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 Bartlett?" he said. "I am happy to meet yen." 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 moment at his host, whose eyes were fixed on the table-cloth, and who appeared to be quite con- tent to let his wife run the show. " The road's a little rocky m placed, but it's very pleasant." " Now you sit down here, and you here," said Mrs. Bartlett ; " aud I do hope you have brought good appetites with you." The strangers took their places, and Yates had a chance to look at the younger member of the family, which opportunityhe 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 pinafore added that touch of wholesome cleanliness that was so noticeable everywhere in the house. A bit of blue ribbon at her white throat and a flower of the spring just below it completed a charming ])icture, which a more critical and less susceptible man than Yates might have contemplated with pleasure. Mi^ Bartlett sat smilingly at one end of the table, and her father grimly at the other. The mother sat at the side, apparently looking 1^ i^X^feMirf^B^iriiHiiMHHIi^fll "^^fc 'our repartee, paper-mau is awn "" tless as gooci, term m ofk^iy' and light as of a lovely t welcome to iterwards re- en appeared, in prompt indicating a he corner of 10 had taken 'as evidently a, who awk- angers. in. " Now, tenmark, of syllables, as :e8 cordially )U do, Miss they had a host, whose e quite con- ey m places, tlett; "and e to look at did not let 80 crusty a •les in them keep from ders, was a st material, added that rv where in icl a flower nch a more ntemplated ! 'ber father tly looking 'IN THE MIDST OF ALARMS.' 163 on that position as one of vantage for commanding the whole field and keeping her husband and her daughter both under her eye. The tea- pot 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 nervously 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 unreleat- ing. After a moment's hopeless irresolution, fiartlett bent his h^d over his plate and murmured, — " For what we are about to receive, oh, make us truly thankful. Amen," Mrs. Bartlett echoed the last word, having also bowed her head when she saw surrender in the troubled eyes of ner husband. Now, it happened that Yates, who had seen nothing of this silent stru^le of the eyes, being exceedingly hungry, was making every preparation for the energetic beginning of the meal. He had spent most of his life in hotels and New York Iwarding-houses, so that if he ever knew the adage "Grace before meals" 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 Bart- lett's golden head was bowed, but out of the corner of her eye she saw Yates s look of amazed bewilderment and his sudden halt of surprise. When all heads wei« 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, IStty /" cried her mother, in astonishment, " what ever is the matter with vou?" , 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 i" 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 evidently also of the opinion that there was no occasion for mirth. The professor was equally in the dark. " I 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. Although I attend church regularly, of course," he added, with jaunty mendacity, " I must con- fess that I haven't heard grace at meals for years and years, and — well, I wasn't just prepared for it. I have no doubt I made an exhibition 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 1" cried his hostess, " I don't mean yoa. I mean j^mk 154 'IN THE MIDST OF ALARMS." Kitty. But that girl never could 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 throughout the raealj 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 after- noon as proud as Punch in their new covered buggy. Thingr 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 organ moved out into the back room." " The whole Howard lot's a stuck-up set," muttered the farmer. But Mrs. Bartlett wouldn't have that. Any detraction that was necessary she felt competent to supply, without help from the nom- inal 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 b^un if I had been at home at the time. Not but what Margaret'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 bring up 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 I My lands !" cried young Bartlett, who spoke for the first time. His admiration for her accomplishment evidently went beyond his powera of expression. Bartlett himself did not relish the turn the conversation had taken, and he looked ijomewhat uneasily at the two young strangers. The professor's couutenance was open and frank, and he was listening with respectful inf:3rest to Mrs. Bartlett's talk. Yates bent over his plate witn 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 acquaintance. I must ask you for an intro- duction." 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-n>ck. Two persons at the table were much relieved when the talk turned to the 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 apparently sane men to give up the comforts of home and live in this exposed manner, if they were uot 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 ff liAMMMHiaita^M She always ram, at that Ele sat silent ;h for two. lat farming's re this after- hinge ie very n a farmer's at the ladies' iry's sporting [h the organ he farmer, ion that was tm the nom- you, Hiram, i served you een at home epar, for she it does seem ily hope they erman in my ung Bartlett, omplishment ersation had ig strangers, was listening ent over his e basiness in I, "that you or an intro- ooked at his ', in answer Howard on had offered ersons at the ivt. It was rested in the ler the boy. een at work irts of home id to do so. jrivilege of ninteresting " IN THE MIDST OF ALARMS.' 155 country anyhow. Even after ezplanations were offered the problem seemed still beyond him. After the meal they all adjourned to the veranda, 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 v/ill have enough of it, with the rain and the mosquitoes. We have plenty of room nere, and you will have one comfortable night on the Bidge, at any rate. Then in the morning you can find a place in the woods to suit you, and n;y boy will take an axe and cut stakes for you and help to put up your precious tent. Only remember that when it rains you are to come to tne house, or you will cat«h 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 up-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 open door-way into the room where Miss Bartlett 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 automatic 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, ef^rly 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 T* cried Mrs. Bartlett. Although she was talking volubly to the professor, her maternal vigilance never even noddec^ much less slept. " A cigar ? Not likely ! I'll say this for my hus- band and my boy, that, whatever 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 d^rees in the estimation of his hostess. " Hurt 'em ?" cried Mrs. Bartlett, indignantly. " I guess it won't get a chance to." She turned to the professor, who was a good listener, — re8{)ectful and deferential, with little to say for himself. She rocked gently to and fro as she talked. Her husband sat unbendingly silent, in a sphinx-like attitude that gave no outward indication of his mental uneasiness. He was think- ing gloomily that it would be just his luck to meet Mrs. Bartlett un- expectedly on the streets of Fort Erie on one of those rare occasions mm "IN THE MIDST OF ALARMS." when he was enjoying the pleasures of sin for a season. He had the most pessimistic forebodings of what the future might have in store for him. Sometimes when neighbors or customers treated often in the village and he felt he had taken all the whiskey that cloves would oon- ceal, ne took a five-cent cigar instead of a drink. He did not partic- ularly like the smoking of it, but there was a certain devil-may-care recklessness in going down the street with a lighted cigar in his teeth, which had all the more fascination for him because of its i^anifest danger. He felt at these times that he was going the pace, and that it is well our women do not know of all the wickedness there is in this world. He did not fear that any neighbor might tell his wife, for there were depths to \/hich no person could convince Mrs. Bartlett he would descend. But he thought with horror of some combination of circum- stances that might bring his wife to town unknown to him on a day when he indulged. He pictured with a shudder meeting her unex- pectedly on the uncertain plank side-walk of Fort Erie, he smoking a cigar. When this nightmare presented itself to him he resolved never to touch a cigar again ; but he well knew thct the best resolu- tions fade away when a man is excited with two or thi-ee glasses of liquor. When Mrs>. Bartlett resumed conversation with the professor, Yates looked up at young Hiram and winked. The boy flushed with pleasure under the comprehensiveness of that wink. It included him in the attractive halo of cria^e that enveloped the fascinating person- ality of the man from New York. It seemed to say, — " That's all right, but we are men of the world. We know." The tea-dishes having been cleared away, Yates got no more glimpses of tiie girl through the open door. He rose from his lowly seat and strolled towards the gate with his hands in his pockets. He remembered that he had forgotten something, and cudgelled his brains to make out what it was. He gazed down the road at the house of the Howards, which naturally brought to his recollection his meeting with the young girl on the ix>ad. There was a pang of discomfiture in this thought, when he remembered the accomplishments attributed to her by Mrs. Bartlett. He recalled his condescending tone to her, and recollected his anxiety about the jug. The jug! That was what he had forgotten. He flashed a glance at old Hiram, and noted that the farmer was looking at him with something like reproach in his eyes. Yates moved his head almost imperceptibly towards the barn, and the farmei*'8 eyes dropped to the floor of the veranda. The young man nonchalantly strolled past the end of the house. " I guess I'll go to look after the horses," said the farmer, rising. " Here's looking at you," said Yates, strolling into the barn, taking a telescopic metal cup from his pocket and clinking it into receptive shape by a jerk of the hand. He ofiered the now elongated cup to Hiram, who declined any such modern improvement. " Help yourself in that thing. The jug's good enough for me." " Three fingers" pf the liquid gui^lea out into the patented vessel, and the farmer took the jug, after a furtive look over his shoulder. " Well, here's luck." And the newspaper-man tossed off the potion He had the i^e in store for oflen in the » would oon- id not partio- Bvil-raay-care r in his teeth, its i^anifest , and that it is ill this world, or there were stt he would )n of circuna- him on a day tie her unex- ,ne smoking he resolved e best resolu- ee glasses of be professor, flushed with included him Eiting person- know." ;ot no more om his lowly xwketfi. He ed his brains the house of his meeting soomfiture in attributed to e to her, and was what he )ted that the his eyes. " the young man 1 in am, and ler, rising, barn, taking ato receptive :ated cup to for me." snted vessel, ihoulder. ff the potion "IN THE MIDST OF ALARMS.' 157 with the facility of long experience, shutting up the dish with his thumb and finger as if it were a metallic opera-hat. The farmer drank silently from the jug itself. Then he smote in the cork with his open palm. " Better bury it in the wheat-bin," he said, morosely. " The boy might find it ii you put it among the oats, — feedin' the horses, ye know." " Mighty good place," assented Yates, as the golden grain flowed . in a wave over the submerged jar. " I say, old man, you know the spot : you've been here before." Bartlett's lowering countenance indicated resentment at the impu- tation, but he neither affirmetl nor denied. Yates strolled cut of the , barn, while the farmer went through a small door-wav that led to the stable. A moment later he heard Hiram calling loudly to his son to bring the pails to water the horses. " Evidently preparing an alibi," said Yates, smiling to himself, as he sauntered towards the gate. CHAPTER V. Thky were all at breakfast when Yates n&A morning entered the apartment which was at once dining-room and parlor. "Waiting for you," said vonng Hiram, humorously, that being one of a set of jokes which suited various occasions. Yates took his place near Miss Kitty, who looked as fresh and radiant as a spring flower. " I hope I haven't kept you waiting long," he said. " No fear," cried Mrs. Bartlett. " If breakfast's a minute later than seven o'clock we soon hear of it from the men-folks. They get precious hungry by that time." '* By that time ?" echoed Yates. " Then do they get up before seven ?" " Laws I what a farmer you would make, Mr. Yates I" exclaimed Mrs. Bi»rilett, laughing. " Why, everything's done about the house and barn, horses fed, cows milked, — everything. There never was a better motto made than the one you learnt when you were a boy and like as not have forgotten all about : Earljr to bed and early to rise Makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise. I'm sorry you don't believe in it, Mr. Yates." " Oh, that's all right," said Yates, with some loftiness, " but Fd like to see a man get out a morning paper on such a basis. I'm healthy enough, qtiite as wealthy as the professor here, and every one will admit that I m wiser than he is, yet I never go to bed until afler two o'clock, and rarely wake before noon." Kitty laughed at this, and young Hiram looked admiringly at the New-Yorker, wishing he was as clever. ^*,- -.-_._ ## 168 " IN THE MIDST OF ALARMS." "For the land's sake!" cried Mrs. Bartlett, with true feminine profanity. " What do you do up bo liito as that?" " Writing, writing," said Yates, airily, — " articles that make dy- nasties tremble next morning, and which call forth apologies or libel suits afterwards, as the case may be." " Mr. Bartlett has been good enough," said the professor, changing the subject, " to say we may camp in the woods at the back of the farm. I have been out there this morning, and it certainly is a lovei-' 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 humbug 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 vnU 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 have seen his bill at the Bufialo hotel : I have it somewhere, ai^d am going to pin it up on the outside of the tent as a warning to the ^uth 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, irhich etill contained the tent and fittings. Young Hiram threw au axe and a spade among the canvas folds, mounted to his place, and drove up the lane leading to the forest, fol- lowed by Yates and Benmark on foot, leaving the farmer in his barn- yard with a cheery good-by which he did not see fit to return. Young Hiram knew the locality well, and drove direct to an ideal place for camping. Yat.^<3 was enchanted. When the tent was put up he gazed in enthusiastic rapture around him and upbraided Renmark because he took the sylvan situation so coolly. " 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 ru^ed covering of the oak ; smell the wholesome wood- land scents. Renmark, you have no soul, or 'ou could not be so un- moved. It is like Paradise. It is St._y, Renny, by Jove, I've forgotten that jug at the barn !" " The jug 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?" -Urn / 1 If ^^^^Jitmiami^m^tttmiM lUfe true feminine lat make dy- iogies or liiiel 8or, changing k of the farm, lovej V spot." "Of course tween the ant is by and by, am, — ** down il water." ," said Mrs. e my advice, ghest ground '.y friend uses lalo hotel : I le of the tent what water I lett evidently vas a shrewd e horses were and fittings. canvas folds, le forest, fol- ' in his barn- ;urn. St to an ideal ptare around t situation so u don't grow ight filtering he branches ; b bark of the esome wood- lot be so un- y Jove, I've to smash it, "ly THE MIDST OF ALAJHUS.' im ** I did, but he didn't know where it was." Yates threw himself down on the mnns and laughed, flinging his arms and legs about with the joy of living. " Say, Culture, have you got any old disreputable 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 leave«f. 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, but I am not so selfish as to refuse to discuss the matter with you." When the professor came out of the tent Yates roared. Benmark himself smiled : he knew the effect would appeal to Yates. " By Jove, old man, I ought to have included a mirror in the out- fit. The look of learned respectability set off with the garments of a disreputable tramp makes a combination that is simply killing. Well, you can't spoil that suit, anyhow. Now sprawl." " I'm very comfortable standing up, thank vou." " Get down on your back. You hear me? " Put me there.'' " You mean it ?" asked Yates, sitting up. ^ "Certainly." f " Say, Benny, 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 baid, Renny," cried Yates, springing to his feet. " Now, it will hurt : you have fair warning. I bave spoken." The young men took sparring attitudes. Yates tried to do it gently at first, but, finding he could not touch his opponent, struck out more earnestly, again giving a friendly warning. This went on ineffectually for some time, when the professor, with a quick movement, swung around his foot with the airy grace of a dancing-master, and caught Yates just behind the knee, at the same time giving him a slight tap on the breast. Yates was instantlv on his back. " Oh, I say, Benny, that wasn't fair. That was a kick." " No, it wasn't It is merely a little French touch. I learned it in Paris. They do kick there, you know, and it is good to know how to use your feet as well as your fists if you are set on by three, as I was one night in the Latin Quarter." Yates sat up. " Look here, Benmark : when were you in Paris ?" " Several times." Yates gazed at him for a few moments, then said, — " Benny, you improve on acquaintance. I never saw a Bool-var in my life. You must teach me that little kick." "With pleasure," said Benmark, sitting down, while the other sprawled at full length. " Teaching is my busings, and I shall be glad to exercise any talents I may have in that line. In endeavor- ing to instruct a New York man, the first step is to convince him \ 'f # 160 " FN THE MIDST OF ALARMS." he doesn't know everything. That is the difficult point. Afterwards, everything i« easy." " Mr. Stitison Renmark, you are pleased to lie severe. Know that you are forgiven. This delicious sylvan retreat does nut lend itself to acrimonious dispute, or, in plain English, ouarrelling. Let dogs de- light, if they want to ; I refuse to be goade. it. Afterwardii, re. Know that Jt lend itoelf to Let dogri de- ueruIouH nature tnesB. Nothing raping out, as a Do you follow le dishes. We friend with re- esolved to force That's no fair eanness m your hat people who y their fellow- ih dishes." en I suggested Iplomaoy about I, when you act uld have said, e been lovely ; ts in life when h the dishes r sure of getting te to be agreed foraging, you e house of the srefore I shall As I may not ■irm- house you landy in camp, 1 can never go will give you le." IN TEE MIDST OF ALARMS.'* 161 " I think Hu. The villain from whom [ hired the outfit said it waa complete. Doubtless h» Hud; but we'll mauugc, I think." *< Very well. If you wait until I change my clothes, I'll go with you as far as the road." " My dear fellow, be advised and don't change. You'll get every- thing twenty per cent, cheaper in that rig-out. Besides, you are so much more picturesque. Your costume may save us from starvation if we run short of cash. You can get enouzh for both of us as a pro- fessional tramp. Ob, well, if you insist, I'll wait. Good advice is thrown away on a man like you." CHAPTER VI. The blessed privilege of skipping is, to the reader of a story, one of those liberties worth flghtina for. Without it, who would be brave enough to begin a book ? With it, even the dullest volume may he made passably interesting. It must have occurred to the observant reader that this world might be made brighter and better if authors would only leave out what must be skipped. This the successful author will not do, for he thinks highly of himself, and if the unsuo- cessful author did it it would not matter, for be is not read. The reader of thia story has, of course, come to no portion that invites skipping. She — or he — has read faithfully up to these very words. This most happy state of things has been brought about first by the intelligence of the reader and secondly b) the conscientiousness of the writer. The mutual co-operation so charmingly continued thus far encourages the writer to ask a favor of the reader. The story now enters a i)eriod that Mr. Yates would describe m stirring. To compare small things with great, its course might be likened to that of the noble river near which its scene is situated. The Niagara flows placidly along for miles and then suddenly plunges down a succession of turbulent rapids to the final catastrophe. If the writer were a novelist, instead of a simple reporter of certain events, there would be no need of asking the indulgence of the reader. If the writer were dealing with creatures of his own imagination, instead of with fized facts, these creatures could be made to do this or that as best suited his purposes. Such, however, is not the case ; and the exciting events that must be narrated claim precedence over the placid happenings which, with a iittle help from the reader's imagination, may be taken as read. The reader is therefore to know that four written chapters which should have intervened between this and the one preceding have been sacrificed. But a few lines are necessary to show the state of things at the end of the fourth vanished chapter. When people are thrown together, especially when people are young, the mutual relationship Existing between them rarely remains stationary. It driils towards like or dislike, and cas^ have been known where it progressed into love or hatred. Stillson Benmark and Margaret Howard became, at least, very firm friends. Each of them would have been ready to admit this much. Vol. LII.— 11 162 **IN THK MIDST OF ALARMS" III the four cliantcrx which, hy uii iiiifiirtiitiatf nombiniuiun of cironm" HtanoeH, are hmt to tho world, it wuiild have lH>t>ii wen huw theno two had at UaHt a ^(mmI foiiiKiation on which to luihi up an a(t}iiaintanoo in the fact liiat Margaret's brother wiih a fltiuiont in tho univentitv of which the profesMor wan a wortliy nK^mlxir. They had aliM) a Buujeot of difference which, if it leadn not to heattnl iirKHtuent but ia m)berly diwuflwid, IcikIh ithtdf even more to the building of friendnhip than HiibJeotH of a((r«ement. Margaret hehl that it weh wrong in the uni- versity to cloHe itH d(M)r8 to women. Ben mark had hitherto given the Bub|e(!t but little thought, yet he devel little of a diplo;natittt to conceal it. On one ocouiion YateH had been present, and he threw himself, with tho energy that diHtinguiHliMl him, into the woman Hide .>f the question, cordially agreeing with Margaret, citing iuHtanceM and holding those who were against the admission of women up to ridicule, taunting them with fear of feminine competition. Mamaret became silent as the champion of her cause waxen the Hitrary to that (liploinatiat to and ho threw (! woman Huie inBtances and up to ridicule, rgaret became eloquent; but pionahip, who 8 the ho|)e of ■omiaing views 18 experienoes liniy attracted Bxcewive self- had naturally noHtiy desired ings to Yates, have learned >t much given fidences. As girl's regard j)orter has to been at the ...at she had York. Rea- ls young per- itible fund of in shocking a ig her on one ler, with that iry American etoe of a mil- MT Yates bad hat felt like now felt the lave I met a e paw of our Rcninitrk said, with some M'verity, thnt he V.o\yfA Yates would n(»t forget that \w woh, in a measure, a guest of his noighlHtrH. " Oh, (hai't all right," Kaid Yates. " If you have any n|>ar« sym- pathy to iMMtow, keep it for me. My neighlN)rH are amply able and more than willing to take nure of theniHelvcH." And now as to Richard Yates himself. One would imagine thai hert! at least a oonM!i<>ntiouH relator (»f eventH would have an nwy tank. Alas I HUsses8ing an education that extended far into conic sections and algebraic formulse, to balance up the lists and give him a candid and statistical opinioik as to which of the two h« should favor with serious proposals. When these appeals for help were coldly receiveuitoes, give me a practical object-lesson." The man in the hammock sighed reproachfully. "Of course an unimaginative person like }uu, Renmark, cannot realize the cruelty of suggesting that a man as deeply in love as I am should demean himself by attending to the prosaic details of household affairs. I am doubly in love, and much more, therefore, as that old bore Euclid used to say, is your suggestion unkind ar \ uncalled for." " All right : then don't criticise." " Yes, there is a certain sweet reasonableness in your curt suggestion. A man who is unable or unwilling to work in the vineyard should not find fault with the pickers. And now, Renuy, for the hundredth time of asking, add to the many obligations already conferred, and tell me, like the good fellow you are, what you would do if you were in my place. To which of those two charming but totally unlike girls would you give the preference?" " Damn ! said the professor, quietly. " Hello, Renny !" cried Yates, raising his head. '' Have you cut your finger ? I should have warned you about using too sharp a knife." But the professor had not cut his finger. His us^ of the word given above is not to be defended; still, as it was spoken by him, it seemed to ^ose all relationship with sweariag. He said it quietly, mildly, and, in a certain sense, innocently. He was astonished at him- self for using it, but there had been moments during the past few days Mil iwer that did not ivinoed that your )es should not be until next day's i work well over noyiug than work iedly done. Still, K) previous." I into your hands. e been doing your aid the hammock, aowledge, Renny, ng taught at the Id be as complete ordinate my own t that instead of 'ing of the potato round the greatest : them in the slow should boil them e remaining coat )uld be white and X wet sponge." ng of it. If you ive me a practical Ren mark, cannot ly in love as I am itails of household ■efore, as that old p ' uncalled for." iir curt suggestion, neyard should not le hundredth time rred, and tell me, ■ you were in my unlike girls would '■' Have you cut too sharp a knife." us^ of the word spoken by him, it ]e said it quietly, istonished at him- the past few days "IN THE MIDST OF ALARMS.' 16ft when the ordinary expletives used in the learned volumes of higher mathematics did not fit the occasion^ Before anything more could be said, there was a shout from the road-way near them. " Is Richard Yates there ?" hailed the voice. " Yes. Who wants him ?" cried Yates, springing out of the ham- mock. " I do," said a young fellow on horseback. He threw himself off a tired horse, tial tho animal to a sapling,— which, judging by the horse's condition, was an entirely unnecessary operation,— jumped over the rail fence, and approached through the trees. The young men saw coming towards them a tall lad in the uniform of the tel^raph- service. " I'm Yates. What is it ?" "Well," said the lad, "I've had »' hunt and a half for you. Here's a telegram." "How in the world did you find out where I was? Nobody has my address." " That's just the trouble. It would have saved somebody in New York a pile of money if you had hft your address. No man ought to p to^ the woods without leaving his address at a telegraph-office, any- how. 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 ho^eback with duplicat<» of that de- 8ratch,and some more have gone ai.ng the lake si\ore on the Amerioau 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 fir^t." " I'm glad of that. I've been 'most all over Canada. I got on your trail about two hours ago, and the folks at the farm-house down hilovr said you were up here. Is there any answer ?" ^ Yates tore open the envelope. The despatch was long, and he read It ^ith a deepening frown. It was to this effect : " Fenians crossing into Canada ac Buffalo. You are near the spot • get there quick as possible. Five of our men leave for Buffalo to^ night. General O'Neill is in command of Fenian army. He will give you every facility when you tell him who yojj are. When five arrive tney will report to you. Place one or two with Canadian troops. Ciet one to hold the telegraph-wire, and send over all the stuff tlie wire will ^rry. Draw on us for cash you need ; and don't spare expense." When Yates finished the reading of this he broke forth into a line " of language that astonished Renmark and drew forth the envious admiration of the Buffalo telegraph-boy. ' Heavens and earth and the lower regions I I'm here on my vac*- I 166 m THE MIDST OF ALARMS.' ' 51 S*°'. «r.°°^ ^'"^ ^ J"*"? '"*° '^O'*^ ^*"* a" '•»« Papere in New York. Why couldu't those fools of Fenians stay at home? The idiots don't know when they'i-o well off. The Fenians be hanged !" "Guess that's what they will be," said the telegraph-boy. "Any ai ewer, sir?" or/ j " No. Tell 'em you couldn't find me." "Don't expect the boy to tell a lie," said the professor, speaking for the first time. ' r s „ "P^' 1,^°°'*' '?'"*^ * ^'^'" exclaimed the bdj, "but not that one. No, sir. I ve had too much trouble finding you. I'm not going to p^tend I'm no good. I started out for to find you, and I have. But 1 11 tell any other lie you like, Mr. Yates, if it will oblige you." Yates recognized in the boy the same emulous desire to outstrip his fellows that had influenced hijnself when he was a young 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 Com- pany some day, or perhaps hold the less important office of the United States Presidency. Who knows? Have you a tel^raph-blank ?" "Of course," said the Imy, fishing out a bundle from the leathern wallet by his side. Yates took the {wper 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," continued Yates. " I think the truth is better on all occasions." " 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, Ren- mark, are you a doctor ?" " Of laws," replied his friend. " Oh, that will do just as well." And he finished his writing. " How is lis ?" he cried, holding the paper at arm's length. " John A. Bellington, " 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 I left New York trouble of the heart has complicated matters, and at present baffles the doctor. Consultations daily. It is impossible for me to move from here until present complications have yielded to treatment. " Binmore would be a good man to take charge in my absence. " Yates." "There," said Yates, with a tone of satisfaction, when he had finished the reading. " What do you think of that?" te 1 tapers in New home? The « hanged !" i-boy. " Any issor, npeaking not that one. 1 not going to I have. But ge you." to outstrip his J reporter, and ive him of the bund me, and tlegraph Com- of the United >h.blank?" u the leathern himself down you," replied :his occasion," :he telegraph- « Say, Ren- writing, ength. for a week. most eminent Since I left tnd at present )le for me to to treatment. absence. " Yates." vrhen he had ''IN THE MIDST OF ALARMS' 167 The professor frowned, but did not answer. The boy, who partly saw through it, but not quite, grinned, and said, " Is it true?" "Of course it's truel" crieid Yates, indignant at the unjust sus- picion. " It is a great deal more true than you have any idea of. Ask the doctor there if it isn't true. Now, my boy, will you give in this y: when you get back to the oflBce? Tell 'em to rush it through to New York. I would mark it * rush,' only that never does any good and always makes the operator mnd." The boy took the paper and put it in his wallet. " It's to be paid for at the other end," continued Yates. "Oh, that's all right," answered the messenger, with a certain condescension, as if he were giving credit on behalf of the comnany. " Well, so long," he added. "1 hope you'll soon be better, Mr. Yates." Yates sprang to his feet with a laugh and followed him to the fence. "Now, youngster, you are up to snuff, I can see that. They'll perhaps question you when you get back. What will you say?" " Oh, I'll tell 'em what a hard job I had to find you, and let 'em know nobody else could 'i' done it, and I'll say you're a pretty sick man. I won't tell 'em you gave me a dollar." " Bight you are, sonny ; you'll get along. Here's five dollars, all in oi.e bill. If you meet any other of the messengers, take them back 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 instead 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 ham- mock. As he expected, the professor was more taciturn than ever, and, although he had been prepared for silence, the silence irritated him. He felt ill used at having so unsympathetic a companion. " 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 diHerence 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'tcontrol. 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 rae 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 ' ^^^"'I'ilK^*'*;^^;-;^^?^; #■ Mi 168 "IN THE MIDST OF ALARMS.' in encounter with Bartlett on the road, Renmark saw that he was thor- oughly angry. The reporter stood with clinched fist and flashing eye, hesitating. The other, his heavy brows drawn down, while not in an aggressive attitude, was plainly ready for an attack. Yates concluded to speak and not strike. This was not because he was afraid tor he was not a coward. The reporter realized that he had forced the con- versation, and remembered he had invited Renmark to accr>mpany him. Although this recollection stayed his hand, it had no eiFect on his tongue. " I believe," he said, slowly, " that it would do you good for once to hear a straight, square, unbiassed opinion of yourself; You have associated so long with pupils, to whom your word is law, that it may interest you to know what a man of the world thinks of you. A few years of schoolmastering is enough to spoil a Gladstone. Now, I think, of all the " The sentence was interrupted by a cry from the fence : "Say, do you gentlemen know where a fellow named Yates lives?" The reporter's hand dropped to his side. A look of dismay came over his face, and his truculent manner changed with a suddenness that forced a smile even to the stern lips of Renmark. Yates backed towards the hammock like a man who had received an unexpected blow. ** I say, Renny," he wailed, " it's another of thost cursed telegraph- messengers. Go, like a good fellow, and sign for the despatch. Sign it 'Dr. Renmark, for R. Yates.' That will give it a sort of official medical-bulletin look. I wish I had thought of that when the other boy was here. Tell him I'm lying dorwn." He flung himself into the hammock, and Renmark, after a moment's hesitation, walked towards the boy at the fence, who had repeated his question in a louder voice. In a short time he returned with the yellow envelope, which he tossed to the man in the hammock. Yat(<8 seissed it savagely, tore it into a score of pieces, and scattered the fluttering bits around him on the ground. The professor stood there for a few moments in silence. " Perhaps," he said at last, " you'll be good enough to go on with your remarks." " I was merely going to say," answered Yates, wearily, " that you are a mighty good fellow, Renny. People who camp out always have rows. This is our first; suppose we let it be the last. Camping out is something like married life, I guess, and requires some forbearance on all sides. That philosophy may be cheap, out I think it is accu- rate. I am really very worried about this newspaper business. I ought, of course, to fling myself into the chasm like that Roman fellow,' but, hang it, I've been flinging myself into chasms for fifteen years, and what good has it done? There's always a crisis in a daily news- paper office. I want them to understand in the Argus office that I am on my vacation." "They will be more apt to understand from the telegram that you're on your death-bed." Yates laughed. " That's so," he said j " but you see, Renny, we # he was thor- flashing eye, lile not in an tes concluded afraid i'or he >roeJ the oon- to accompany i no efect on good for once :. You have ', that it may you. A few »ne. No^, I Yates lives?" f dismay came iddeuness that had received Bed telegraph- spatch. Sign lort of official hen the other : himself into ation, walked )n in a louder velope, which savagely, tore s around him moments in to go on with y, " that you t always have Camping out He forbearance k it is aocu- business. I loman fellow, fifteen years, a daily news- Bee that I am «legram that 26, Benny, we 'IN THE MIDST OF ALARMS.' 169 New-Yorkers live in such an atmosphere of exaggeration, and if I did not put it strongly it wouldn't have any effect. You've got to give a big close to a man who has been taking poison all his life. They will take off ninety per cent, from any statement I make, anyhow, so you see I have to pile it up pretty high before the remaining ten per cent, amounts to anything.'' The conversation was interrupted by the crackling of the dry twigs behind them, and Yates, who had been keeping his eye nervously un the fence, turned around. Young Bartlett pushed his way through the underbrush. His face was red ; he had evidently been running. ** Two tel^rams for you, Mr. Yates," he panted. " The fellows that brought 'em said they were important : so I ran out with them myself, for fear they wouldn't find you. One of them's from Port Colborne, the other's from Buffalo." Telegrams were rare on the farm, and young Bartlett looked on the -r receipt of one as an event in a man's life. He was astonished to see ^ Yates receive the double event with a listlessness that he could not help thinking was merely assumed for effect. Yates held his hand, and did not tear them up at once, out of consideration for the feelings of the young man who had had a race to deliver them. " Here's two books they wanted you to sign. They're tired out, . and mother's giving thetn something to eat." " Professor, you sign for me, won't you ?" said Yates. Bartlett lingered a moment, hoping that he would hear something of the contents of the important messages ; but Yates did not even tear open the envelopes, although he thanked the young man heartily for bringing them. " Stuck-up cuss I" muttered young Bartlett to himself as he shoved the signed books into his pocket and pushed his way through the underbrush again. Yates slowly and methodically tore the envelopes and their contents into little pieces and scattered them as before. " Begins to look like autumn," he said, " with the yellow leaves strewing the ground." CHAPTER VII. Bkfobe night three more telegraph-boys found Yates and three more telegrams in sections helped to carpet the floor of the forest. The usually high spirits of the newspaper-man went down and down under the repeated visitations. At last he did not even swear, which, in the case of Yates, always indicated extreme depression. As night drew on, he feebly remarked to the p/ofessor that he wjas more tired than he had ever been in going through an election campaign. He went to his tent-bunk early, in a state of such utter dejection that Benmark felt sorry for him and tried ineffectually to cheer him up. "if they would all come together," said Yates, bitterly, "so that' one comprehensive effort of malediction would include the lot and have it over, it wouldn't be so bad ; but this constant dribbling in of mes- sengers would wear out the patience of a saint" .^# 170 •' IN THE MIDST OF ALARMS.' As he sat in his shirt-sleeves on the edge of his bunk, Renmark said that things would look brighter in the morning, — which was a safe remark to make, for the night was dark. Yates sat silently with his head in his hands for some moments. At last he said, slowly, " There is no one so obtuse as the thoroughly good man. It is not the raeasenger I am afraid of, after all. lie m but the outward symptom of the inward trouble. What you are seeing is an example of the workings of conscience, where you thou^^ht con- science was absent. The trouble with me is that I know the news- paper depends on me, and that it will be the first time I have failed. It is the newspaper-man's instinct to be in the centre of the fray. Ho yearns to scoop the opposition press. I will get a night's sleep if I can, and to-morrow I know I shall capitulate. I will hunt out General O'Neill and interview him ou the field of daughter. I will teWraph columns. I will refurbish my military vocabulary, and speak of deploying and massing and throwing out advance guards, and that sort of thing. I will move columns and advance bri^ides and invent strategy. We will have desperate fighting in the columns of the Arffua, whatever there is on the fields of Canada. But to a man who has seen real war this opfira-bouffe masquerade of fighting — I don't want to say anything harsh, but to me it is offensive." He looked up with a wan smile at his partner sitting on the bottom . of an upturned pail as he said this. Then he reached for his hip-pocket and drew out a revolver, which he handed butt-end forward to the professor, who, not knowing his friend carried such an instrument, instinctively shrank from it. '' Here, Benny, take this weapon of devastation and soak it with the potatoes. If another messenger comes in on me to-night I know I shall riddle him if I have this handy. My better judgment tells me he is innocent, and I don't want to shed the only blood that will be spilled during this awful campaign." How long they had been asleep they did not know, as the ghost- stories have it, but both were suddenly awakened by a commotion out- side. It was intensely dark inside the tent, but as the two sat up tliey noticed a faint moving blur of light which made itself just visible through the canvas. "It's another of those fiendish messengers," whispered Yates. "Gimme 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 out- side. "No, no," cried another; "no man shoot. It makes too much noise, and there must be others alwut. 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, T- olin, come with me." " The Fenian army, by all the gods !" whispered Yates, groping for UiAM^MMI tmtk link, Renmark lioh was a safe 9me momenta he thoroughly it all. Ke H you are seeing thought oon- low the newH- I have failed, the fray. Ho it's sleep if I vill hunt out ghter. I will ary, and speak lards, and that les and invent i of the Argiu, I who has seen I't want to say on the bottom his hip-pocket >rward to the n instrument, soak it with ght I know I nent tells me that will be as the ghost- m motion out- sat up tliey f just visible ipered Yates. ibout a dozen ►ming." a voice out- ;es too much yer bayonets ound to this lat end ; and, I, groping for •< IN THE MIDST OF ALARMS.' 171 ?:/. 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." "On, just let me jump out among 'em and begin the fireworks. Those I aidn't shoot would die of fright. Imagine scouts scouring tlie woods with a lantern I — with a lantern, Renny I Think of that ! Oh, this ispie I Let me at 'em." " Hush ! Keep ouiet ! They'll hear you." " Tim, bring the lentem 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 yer bayonet, Murphy, and let him know we're here." " There may be twenty in the tent," said Murphy, cautiously. " Do what 1 tell you,' answered the man in command. Murphy progged his bayonet through the canvas, and sunk the deadly point of the instrument into the bag of potatoes. " Faith, he sleeps sound,'^ said Murphy, with a tremor of fear in his voice, as there was no demonstration on the part of the bag. The voice of Yates rang out from the interior of the tent : " What the old Harry do you fellows think you're doing, anyhow ? What's the matter with you ? What do you want ?" There was a moment's silence, broken only by a nervous scuffling of feet and the clicking of gun-looks. " How many are there of you in there ?" said the stem voice of the chief. " TwO; if you want to know, both unarmed, and one ready to fight the lot of you if you are anxious for a scrimmage." " Come out one by one," was the next command. " We'll come out one by one," said Yates, emerging in his shirt- sleeves, " but you can't expect us to keep it up long, as there are only two of us." The professor next appeared, with his ooat on. The situation cer- tainly did not look inviting. The lantern on the ground threw up a pallid glow on the severe face of the commander, as the footlights might illuminate the figure of a brigand in a wood on the stage. The face of the officer showed that he was greatly impressed with the im- portance and danger of his position. Yates glanced about him with a smile, all his recent dejection gone, now that ne was in the midst of a row. " Which is Murphy," he said, " and which is Doolin ? Hello, alderman," he cried, as his eyes rested on one tall, strapping, red-haired man who held his bayonet ready to chfirge^with a fierce determination in his face that might have made un opponent quail. " When did you leave New York ? and who's running the city, now that you're goner The men had evidently a sense of humor, in spite of their blood- thirsty business, for a smile flickered on their faces in the lantern-light, and several bayonets were unconsciously lowered. But the hard face of the commander did not relax. I "'^- ■ wr 4/ \ 172 "IN THE MIDST OF ALARMS." " You are Aoxna yourself no good by your talk/' he said, solemnly. " What you say will be used aeainst you." " Yes, and what you do viTl be used against you ; and Ar,a*i forget that fact. It's you who are in danger, — not me. You are at this moment making about the bi^est 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 Ilenmai'k were speedily overpoweral ; and then an unseen difficulty presented itself. Murphy pathetically remarked that they had no rope. The captain was a man of ret^ouroe. " Cut enough rope from the tent to tie them." "And when you're at it. Murphy," said Yates, "cutoff enough more to hang yourself with. You'll need it before long. And re- member 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 t(^ether, offeriug sardonic suggestions and cursing their clumsiness. Kenmark submitted quietly. When the operation was finished, the professor said, with the calm confidence of one who has an empire behind him and knows it, — " I warn you, sir, that this outrage is committed on British soil, and that I, on whom it is committed, am a British subject." " Heavens and earth, Renraark, 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 foot in it. I know che kind of men I have to deal with ; you evidently don't." In tying the professor they came upon the pistol in his ooat-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 you 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 Ren- mark 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 stand, and report to the general. They are spies. They are armed, and they denied it. It's according to the rules of war, captain." " Ri'les 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 Qenetal O'Neill just as &8t as you f . * .AaMfe iA AM* rfiAirtfe mtm^ " tN THE MIDST OF ALARMS." 173 said, solemnly. id doa't forffet ou are at this is in Canada." 'rasp of a raan ^nmai-k were resented itself. The captain 3ut off enough •ng. And re- re to pay for. ;ied his elbows cursing their operation was ne who has an ] British soil, >t " ' ssible to keep izen.' " lion given to »lking. You [ have to deal 8 coat-pocket. the captain, ofessor would Qing for dear lie captain to , before Ren- oling, and let lis." bat we shoot 'hey are spies. ! rules of war, of war, you le is digging nake up your a &8t as you can. The sooner you get us there the more time you will have for being sorry over what you have done." fiut the captain still hesitated, and looked from onn to the other of his men, as if to make up his uiiud whether they would obey him if he went to extremities. Yates's 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 agreea ?" They were unanimously agreed. " Look here," cried Yates, and there was a certain impressiveness iu his voice in spite of his former levity, " this farce has gone just as far as it is going. Go inside the lent there, and in my coat-pocket you will find a telegram, the first of a dozen or two received by me within the last twenty-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 news- paper-man. " Then you are one of the Argua staff." " I am chief of the Argua staff. As you see, five of my men will be with General O'Neill to-morrow. The first question they will ask him will be, ' Where is Yates T 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 own 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 this. Cut these cords judt as quickly as you can, and take us to the general. We were going to see him in the morning anyhow." " But this man says he is a Canadian." " Thaf s all right. My friend is wie. If you touch him you touch me. Now hurry up. Climb down from your peroh. I shall have enough of trouble now, getting the general to forgive all the blunders you have made to-night, without your adding insult to injury. Tell your men to untie us and throw tne ropes back Into the tent. It will soon be daylight. Hustle, and let us be off." '' Untie them," said the captain, with a sigh. Yates shook himself when his arms regained their freedom. " Now, Tim," he said, " run into that tent and bring out my ooat. Ifs chiUy here." Tim did instantly as requited, and helped Yates on with the coat. " Good boy I" said Yates. " You've evidently been porter in a_ hotel." Tim grinrtjd^ " " I think," said Yates, meditatively, " that if you look under the right-hand bunk, Tim, you will find a jug. It belongs to the profes- sor, although he has hidden it under my bed to divert suspicion from * ?» ggg 174 "IN THE MIDST OF ALARMS." hiinHolf. JuBt HhIi it out and brine i^. here. It in not m full as it was, hut there's enougii to go round, if the profewior does not take more than his share." The gallant troop smaokcd their lips in anticipation, and Rentnark looked astonished to see the jug brought forth. " You first, profesBor," said Yates ; and Tim innocently offered him the iug. The learued man shook his head. Yntes laughe<], and took it himself. " Well, here'H to you, boys," ne said. '* And may you all get Ixiok as safely to New York as I will." The jug passed down along the line until Tim finished it. " Now, then, for the (samp of the Fenian army," criecl Yates, taking Renmark's arm ; and they began their march through the woods. " Qreat Cnsar, Stilly," he continued to his friend, " this is rest and quiet with a vengeance, isn't it ?" CHAPTER VIII. The company, feeling that they had to put their best foot foremost in the presence of their prisoners, tried at nrst to maintain something like military order in marching through the woods. They soon found, however, that this was a difficult thing to do. (~!anadian forests ard not as trimly kept as English parks. Tim walked on ahead with the lantern, but three times he tumbled over some obstruction and dis- appearetl suddenly from view, uttering maleut thM light ck, daybreak e perceptibly ng." 8 they blun- :s, the sharp tistled above d the alder- flight. The :now enough Q, ye see, I commotion, Both were ler his com* maiid. They were a motley crowd. Borne tattered TJnit«our tent, general, you will wse an empty jug, which will explain everything. Renmark's drunk, not to put too fine a point up comes my duty to have you taken out and shot ?" " In real war, yes. But this is mere idiotic fooling. All of vou 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 often minut«8, instead of twenty-four hou.s." " Hold on, general, hold en," cried Yates, as the an{;ry man rose and confronted the two. " I admit that he richly deserves shooting if vou were the fool-killer, which yon are not. But it won't do. I will be responnible for him. Just iinish 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 ammunition left tu conquer Canada with." The general smiled in spite of himself, and resumed the writing of the pass. " There," he said, handing the paper to Ya- ss. " You see, we always like to oblige the press. ?l 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 bad 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 anything 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 bis 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 dii-ection. It will be easier walking i^ pp "TN THK MIDST OF ALAHMV." 177 au(i when not to, jniptjr iug, which it too fliio a point list give me your y;ivo no inibrma- g el«o you may I should fall in Are, that you are irorat^looking set le other. , and that it be- ig. All of you ore twenty-four have you shot »iif,ry man rose rves shooting if )n*t do. I will and I will take }uoh him. He ne for that, nor an ass, general, with." the writing of 9. " You see, ligerent friend, you meet the II think, on the to march in a He added in Tou didn't see 38 will be five of be more than rest and quiet n." t'ith bis friend ping men and bayonets was ach a place. Kidge Boad, ^er m than through the woods ; and, bmides, I want to stop at one of th« rurrn-houMis am) get Honu- hroakfust. I'm as hungry as a bear afler tramping m> long.' " Very well," answered the pnjfeiMJor, Hhortly. They ntumblcd along until they reached the edge of the wood, then, crossing «oin« opMi fi»;Kls, prewintly came M|K)n the nmd iH«r the spot where the ftst-Cight lia«i taken place l)etwe<>n YateH and Ikirt- lett. The two, now with greater (xmuort, walked Hilently along the road towuixls tin \v»«t, with the nMldening emt iH'liind tiiem. The whole Hcene woh ntrangely nuiet and {leuccful, atut the rev()ll<>ction of the weird camp they hod left in the wocmIh neenieil merely a bad dream. The morning air was sweet, and the birds were iM'ginning to sing. Yates hail intended to give the professor a piece of his niind ream- ing the lack of tact and common sense diB^laye^^^^^i i i >■■ ^m 180 :Mf " tm THE MIDST OF ALARMS." ^m4 'r "Stoliker," she exclaimed, "I'm ashamed of youl You may hank,' a man if you like, but you have no right to starve him. — Come straight in with me," she said to the prisoners. " Madam," said Stoliker, severely, " you must not interfere with the course of the law." " The course of stuff and nonsense !" cried the angry woman. " Do you think I am afraid of you, Spi ■ Stoliker? Haven'fr I chased you out of this very orchard when you were a boy trying to steal my apples ? Yes, and boxed your ears too when I caught you, and then was fool enough to fill your pockets with the best apples on the place after giving you what you deserved. Course of the law, intleed 1 I'll box your ears now if you say anything more. Get down off your horse and have something to eat yourself. I dare say you need it." " This is what I -all a rescue," whispered Yates to his linked companion. What is a stem upholder of the law to do when the interferer with justice 13 a determined and angry woman accustome I to having her own way ? Stoliker looked helplessly at Hiram as the supposed head of the house, but the old man merely shru^ed his shoulders, as much as to say, " You see how it is yourbeli. 1 am helpless." V Mrs. Bartlett marched her prisoners through the gate and up to the house. " All I ask of you now," said Yates, " is that you will give Ren- merk and me seats together at the table. TYe cannot bear to be sepa- rated even for an instant" Having delivered her prisoners to the custody of her daughter, at tl.3 same time admonishing her to get breakfast as quickly as possible, Mrs. Bartlett went to the gate again. The constable was still on his horse. Hiram had asked him, by way of treating him to a non-con- troversial subject, if this wes the colt he had bought from old Brown on the second concession, and Stoliker had replied that it was. Hir?.m was saying he thought he recognized the horse by his sire, when Mrs. Bartlett broke in upon them. " Come, Sam," she said, " no sulking, you know. Slip off the horse and come in. How's your mother ?" " She's pretty well, thank you," said 3ara, sheepishly, coming down on his feet again. KJtly Bartlett, her gayr'ty gone and her eyes red, waited on the {msoners, but absolutely refused to serve Sam Stoliker, on whom she ooked with the utmost contempt, not taking into account the fact that the poor young man had been merely doing his duty, und doing it well. " Take off these handcufls, Sam," md Mrs. Bartlett, " until they have breakfast at least." Stoliker produced a key and unlocked the manacles, slipping them into his pocket. " Ah ! now," said Yates, looking at his red wrist, " we can breathe easier, and I, for one, can eat more. The professor said nothing. The iron had not only encircled his '.rist, but had entered his soul as well. Although Yates tried to make tb? early meal as oheerful as possible, it was rather a gloomy festival. ' IN THE MIDST OF ALARMS.' 181 ou I You may •ve him. — Come iterfere with the angry woman, [aven'f I chased nng to steal my t you, and then les on the place V, indeed I " I'll n off your horse ed it." to his linked interferer with to having her supposed head ilders, as much ^te and up to (vill give Ren- ear to be sepa- sr daughter, at dy as possible, vas still on his I to a non-oon- tm old Brown t was. Hiram re, when Mrs. Slip off the coming down waited on the on whom she t the fact that doing it well. , "until they slipping them e can breathe encircled his tried to make •omy festival. Stoliker b^an to feel, poor man, that the paths of duty were unpopu- lar. Old Hiram ooula be always depended upon to add sombreness and taciturnity to a wedding-feast, and the professor, never the live- liest of companions, sat silent, with clouded brow, and vexed even the cheerful Mrs. Bartlett by having evidently no appetite. When the hurried mital was over, Yates, noticing that Miss l^itty had left the room, sprani; up and walked towards the kitchen door. Stoliker was on his feet in an instant, and made as though to follow him. "Sit down," said the professor, sharply, speaking for the first time. " He is not going to escape. Don't be afraid. He has done nothing, and has no fear of arrest. It is always the innocent that you stupid officials arrest. The woods all around you are full of real Fenians, but you take excellent care to keep out of their way and give your attention to molesting perfectly inoffensive people." "Good for you, professor!" cried Mrs. Bartlett, emphatically. "That's the truth, if ever it was spoken. But are there Fenians in the woods ?" " Hundreds of them. They came on us in the tent about three o'clock this morning,— or at least an advance-guard did, — and, after talking of shooting us where we stood, they marched us- to the Fenian camp instead. Yates got a pass written by the Fenian general, so that we should not be troubled again. That is the precious document which this man thinks is deadly evidence. He never asked us a question, but clapped the handcuffs on our wrists, while the other fools held pistols to our heads." " It isn't my place to ask questions," retorted Stoliker, doggedly. " You can tell all this to the colonel or the sheriff, and if they let you go I'll say nothing against it." Meanwhile, Yates had made his way into the kitchen, taking the precaution to shut the door after him. Kitty Bartlett looked quickly around as the door shut. Before she could speak, the young man caught her by the plump shoulders, — a thing which he certainly had no right to do. " Miss Kitty Bartlett," he said, " you've been ciying." " I haven't ; and if I had, it is nothing to you." " Oh, I'm not so sure about that. Don't deny it. For whom were you crying? The professor?" " No, nor for you either, although I suppose you have conceit enough to think so." " Me conceited ? Anything but that. Come now, Kitty, for whom were you crying? I must know." " Please let me go, Mr. Yates," said Kitty, with an effort at dig- nity. " Dick is my name. Kit." " " Well, mine is not Kit." " You're quite right. Now that you mention it, I will call you Kitty, which is much prettier than the abbreviation." " I did not ' mention it.' Please let me go. Nobotiy has the right to call me anything but Miss Burtlett ; that is, ymi. haven't, anyhow." " Well, Kitty, don't you think it is about time to give somebody s^ j "W 182 "/^ THE MIDST OF ALARMS." the right? Why won't you look up at me, so that I can tell for sure whether I should have accused you of crying? Look up, — Miss Bartlett." " Please let me go, Mr. Yates. Mother will be here in a minute." " Mother is a wise and thoughtful woman. We'll risk mother. Besides, I'm not in the least afraid of her, and I don't believe you are. I think she is at this moment giving poor Mr. Stoliker a piece of her mind ; otlierwise, I imagine, he would have followed me. I jaw it in his eye." " I hate that man," said Kitty, inconsequently. " I like him, because he brought me here, even if I was handcuffed. Kitty, why don't you look up at me? Are you afraid?" " Whai, «thoala I be afraid of?" asked Kitty, giving him one swift glance from her pretty blue eyes. " Not of you, I hope." " Well, Kitty, I sincerely hope not. Now, Miss Bartlett do you know why I came out here ?" "For something more to eat, very likely," said the girl, mis- chievously. " Now, Miss Kitty, that, to a man in captivity, is both cruel and unkind. Besides, I had a first-rate breakfast, thank you. No such motive drew me into the kitchen. But I will tell you. You shall have it from my own lips. That was the reason." He suited the action to the word, and kissed her before she knew what was about to happen. At least Yates, with all his experience, thought he had taken lier unawares. Men often make mistakes in little matters of this kind. Kitty pushed him with apparent indigna- tion from her, but she did not strike him across the face as she had done before when he merely attempted what he had now accom- plished. Perhaps thid was because she had been taken so completely by surprise. " I shall call my mother," she threatened. "Oh, no, you won't. Besides, she wocildn't come." Then this frivolous young man began to sing in a low voice the flippant refrain, " Here's to the girl that gets a kiss and runs and tells ner mothel*," ending with the wish that she should live and die an old maid and never get another. Kitty should not have smiled, but she did ; she should have rebuked his levity, but she didn't. " It is about the great and disastrous consequences of living and dying un old maid that I want to speak to you. I have a plan for the prevention of such a catastrophe, and I would like to get your approval Yates had released the girl, partly because she had wrenched her- self away from him and partly because he heard a movement in the dining-room and expected the entrance of Stoliker or some of the others. Miss Kitty stood with her back to the table, her eyes fixed on a spring flower which she had unconsciously taken from a vase stand- ing on the window-ledge. She smoothed the petals this way and that, and seemed so interested in botanical investigation that Yates wondered whether she was paying attention to what he was saying or not What his plan might have been can only l)e guessed; for the fates ordained if- .u. "IN THE MIDST OF ALARMS.' AH tell for sure ook up, — Miss ■e in a minute." II risk mother, telieve you are. r a piece of her i. J jaw it in ras handcuffed. i» him one swift , if artlett; do you the girl, mis- oth cruel and ou. No such 1. You shall ore she knew is experience, e mistakes in rent indigna- i face as she i nowaocom- 30 completely ' Then this apant refrain, ber mothei-," Id maid and she did; she •f living and 1 plan for the our approval renched her- sment in the some of the jyes fixed on I vase stand- 'ay and that, tes wondered not. What tes ordained 183 one that they should be interrupted at this critical moment by the person on earth who could make Yates's tongue falter. The outer door to the kitchen burst open, and Margaret Howard stood on the threshold, her lovely f>u» aflame with indignation, and her dark hair down over her shoulders, forming a picture of loveliness that fairly took Yates's breath away. She did not notice him. " Oh, Kitty," she cried, " those wretches have stolen all our horses ! Is your father here ?" " What wretches?" asked Kitty, ignoring the 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 y^u." " Have they taken your own horse too ?" "Nt. I always keep Gypsy in the stable. The thieves did not come near the house. Oh, Mr. Yates ! — I did not s.;e you." And Margaret's hand, with the unconscious vanity of a woman, sought her dishevelled hair, which Yates thought too becoming ever to be put in order again. Margaret reddened as she realized from Kitty's evident embarrass- ment 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 com- mitted himself. Then the fear swept over him that Margaret might have noticed her firiend's evident confusion and surmised its cause. He wondered whether this would help him or hurt him with Murgaret if 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 eager to accept a chance to live in New York. Thus his mind gradually resumed its normal state of self-confidence, and he argued that whatever Margaret's suspicions were, they could not but make him more precious in her eyes. Jle knew of instances where the very danger of losing a man had turned a woman's wavering mind entirely in the Iran'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 coustable. ^ " All right. I am ready." As he entered the room he saw the two girls standing together talking earnestly. "wr l^' 184 «« IN THE MIDST OF ALARMS." ytt I r.- wish I was a constable fur twenty-four hours/' cried Mrs. Bart>- lett. " I would be hunting 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 cise, without handcuffing them, I'll go along with you myself and protect you and see that tl sy don't escape. You ought to be ashamed of yourself, Sam Stoliker, if you have any manhood about you, — which 1 doubt." " I must do my duty.' The professor rose from his chair. " Mr. Stolikev," he said, with determination, *' ray 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, fiut I give you fair warning that if you attempt to put a handcuff" on my wrist again I will smash you." A cry of terror from one of the girls at tho prospect of a fight caused the professor to realize 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, out — ^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. Reiimark took a step towards them, and stopped. Yates, with his usual quickness, came to the rescue, and his cheery voice relieved 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, handcuff* me. It hasn't struck your luminous mind that you have not the first tittle of evidence against my friend, and that eveu 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 no property ; for the professor can, if he likes, make you pay sweetly for putting the handcuffe on him without a warrant or even without one jot of evidence, — What is the penalty for false arrest, Hiram ?" continued Yates, suddenly api)ealing 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 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 handcuff's into his pocket again, and mounted maemmmam l^^^^glggg^fgf/m^ "IN THE MIDST OF ALARMS.' 186 ied Mrs. Bait- idcuffiag inno- the handcuffs not take those Icufling them, hat li 2y doiri't toliker, if you he said, with quietly. We g to make us you attempt ect of a to them, pardon." her, and the while Kitty ites, with his relieved the •bject in the r somebody, ^ou have not eu if I were me is no shoes for a your duty, pe you have pay sweetly ^en without t, Hiram?" hink it is a as hit on a ag.— Good- est I ever wk to have d mounted J. his hone. The girls from the veranda watched the procession move up the dusty road. Thev were silent, and had even forgotten the exoiting event of the stealing of the horses. CHAPTER IX. When the two prisoners with their three captors came in sight of the Canadian volunteers they beheld a scene which was much more military than the Feniau camp. They were promptly halted and ques- tioned by a picket befoi-e oomiug to the main body, and 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 whicn 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 that glittered as the rising sun shone on them, were stacked with neat precision here and there. Tlie men were preparing their breakfast, and a temporary halt had been called for that purpose. The volunteers were scattered by the side of the road and in the fields. Renmark recognized the colors of the regiment from his own city, and noticed that there was wii^h it a comnany 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 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 the mistake. Most of these are raw boys, who know all that can be learned of war on a cricket-field. They 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 vet- erans. What will be but a mere skirmish to them will seem to these boys the most awful tragedy that ever happened." Some of the volunteers crowded arouUTl the incomers, eagerly inquiring for news of the enemy. The Fenians had taken the pre- caution to cut all the tel^raph-wires leading out of Fort Erie, and hence those in command of the companies did not even know that the Fenians 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 deatinal never to reach. Stoliker sought an fJ^ ■M 186 " JN THE MIDST OF ALARMS.' officer and delivered up his prisoners, together with the inoriminating {wper that Yates had handed to him. The officer's decision was short and sharp, as military decisions are generally supposed to be. He ordered the constable to take both of the prisoners and put them in jail at Fort Col borne. There was no time now for an inquiiry into the case ; that could come afterwards ; and as long as the men were jafe in jail everything would be all right. To this the constable mildly inter- posed two objections. In the first place, he said, he was with the volun- teers, uot in his capacity as constable, but in the }X)6ition of guide and man wht < knew the country. In the secoud place, there was no jail at Port Col borne. " Where is the nearest jail ?" " The jail of the county is at Welland, the coraty town," replied the constable. "Very web: take tlieni there." " Viut I am here a? guide," repeated Stoliker. The ohicy.- ho>itat:ed for a moment. " You haven't handeufis with you, I preauiie?" ** Yclonel sends an escort. I'm going to use Stoliker as a shield when the bullets begin flyi ig. The bugles Hounded for the troop.s to fall in, and Stoliker very rf- luctautly attached one clasp of the handouff around his own lefl wrist while he snapped the other on the right wrist of Yates, who embar- rassed him with kindly assistance. The two manacled men disap- peared down the road, while the volunteers rapidly fell in, to continue their morning's march. Young Howard beckoned to tne professor from his place in the ranks. " I say, professor, how did you happen to bo down this way ?" " I have l)een camping out here for a week or more with Yates, who is an old school-fellow of mine." " What a shame to have him led off in that way ! But he seemed to rather like the idea. Jolly fellow, I should say. But I wi-h I had known you were iu this neighborhood. My folks live near here. They would only have 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 Mar- garet?" " Yes," said the professor, slowly, but his glance fell as it encoun- tered the eager eyes of the youth. It' was evident that Margaret was the brother's favorite. " Fall back, there," cried the oflBoer to Renmark. " May I march along with them ? or can you give me a gun and let me ttke jiart?" " No," said the officer, with some hauteur ; " this is no place for civilians." Again the professor smiled, as he reflected that tne whole company, as far as martial experience went, were merely civilians dressed in uniform, and he became grave again when he remembered Yates's ominous prediction i-egarding them. "I say, Mr. Renmark," cried young Howard, as the company moved off, " if you see any of them don't tell them I'm here, — especially Margaret. It r ight make them uneasy. I'll get leave when this is over and drop in on them." The boy spoke with the hopeful confidence of youtii, and had evidently no prem(mitiou of how his appointment would be kept Renmark left the road and struck across country for the tent, which he reached without further molestation, finding it as he had left it. Meanwhile, two men were tramping steadily along the dusty road towards Welland, the captor moody and silent, the prisoner talkative and entertaining. Yates's conversation often went beyond the enter- tainment, and becam* , at times, instructive. He discussed the affairs of bqth cuuntri^ showed a way out of all political difficulties, gave v«. mmmfimmmi' "IN THE MIDST OF ALARMS.' hlttiug Stoliker back to the lent in an hour or ho. iut I want to see [ an eacort. I'm in flvi ig." Stoliker very rr- lis own left wrist ates, who erabar- icled men disap- II in, to continue his place in the iown this way ?" Qore with Yates, But he seemed Jut I wi-h I had ear here. Thev ou.» idingly kind as e you met Mar- il as it encoun- t Margaret was me a gun and is no place for that the whole leroly civihans le remembered the company 1 I'm here, — I*H get leave >uth, and had )uld be kept, le tent, which lad left it. he dusty road oner talkative •nd the enter- ied the affairs Bculties, gave IM reasons for the practical use of oororoon sense in every emergency, ]>a»*Hed opinions on the methcHls 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, detluced from these anecdotes the foolishness of resisting lawful authority lawfully exer- cised, and in general showeil tliat he was a man who re8pecte8, twisting his band around so as to grasp the chain t'^at joined the ctrfltt. (Totting a firm grip, he walkovell known to those who have to deal with refractory crimiiials. " I am as eager to see the fight as you are." The sharp pain brought Yates to nis 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 constable, panting. " Two sidra are firing. I'll shield you on one side, and you 11 have to shield me on the other." Again Yates laughed, and they ran silently together. Avoiding thr 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 roll of the 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 Yaies, clutching him by the throat, " I'll choke you." But he did not need to do it again. The girl heard the cry, turner! with a frightened look, and was about to fly into the house, wheu she recognized the two. Then she came towards them. Yates took his hand away from the constable's throat. " Where is your father or brother?" demanded the constable. "I don't kno\''" " Where is your mothe'- ?" " She is over witL ^.trs. Howard, v. ho r. ill." " Are you all alone ?' ' "Yes." " Then I command you in the nai^e of the queen to give no assist- »nce to this prisoner, but to do as I tell you." " And I command you in the name of the Presideui," cried Yates. " to keep your mouth shut and not to addr^iss 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 fi]( is. The law mustn't have any hold on you, «s 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." I i iMi i ^r M««>jWg!g!l mm m« ■'i;'^*^«?ff constable, who har, by the gods, I'll •utal iron from it." 2d with the pascMon quailed before the le did not show his and giving a twist leal with refractory ire." ^ rein. He laughed, laps you would not ito the thick of the lets.-' B, panting. "Two ou^ll have to shield gether. Avoiding le smoke rolled up ■ on. some distance I the road and take artlett's house and ^itty Bartlett, who ace the roll of the ia as the sound of up his voice and lira by the throat, ird the cry, lum&i the house, wheu lem. Yates took je constable. to give no assist- iii," cried Yates, ce that.— Kitty," here to get a file, get it. You are law mustn't have Kitty. Ids." ■i--- The ^instable caught his breath. " But he did. I saw him." " And I fcttw him unlock them at breakfast. The key was on the end of his watch-chain. He hasn't thrown that away." She made .% move to ^ake out his watch-chain, but Yates stopped her: '* Doa't toiich 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 c'everL>ess and pluck, my stupidity, or Miss Bartlett's acuteness of observatioo. — Can we get into the barn, Kitty?" " YeSp but you mustn't hurt him." " No fear. I think too much of him. Don't you come in. I'll be out in a momeut, 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 form<)d one side of the perpent'icular ladder that led to the top of the hay-mow. " Now, StoliKsr," he said, solemnly, " you realize, of course, that I don't want to hurt you, yet you also realize that I must 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 unfortunate mar, 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 ^irl, who was waiting for him. "I want to borrow a kitchen chair, Kitty,'°he said, "so tb'jt poor Stoliker will get a rest." They walked towards the house. Yates noticed that the firing had ceased, except a desultory shot here and there across the country. "I shall have to get over the border as quickly as I can," he coi tinued. " This country is getting too hot for me.'* " Yo'i are much safer here," said the girl, with downcast eyes. " A man has brought the news that the United States gunboats are sail- ing 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. Stoliker's a stubborn animal. He has suffered too much at my hands to be in a forgiving mood. Vol. Lll.— .'3 con- V\sd 194 ' IN THE MIDST OF ALARMS ' We'll bring him a chair, anyhow, and see the effect of kindness on him." When the chair was placed at Stoliker's disposal, he sat down upon it, still hugging the post with an enforced fervency that in spite of the solemnity of the oocasior. nearly made Kitty laugh, and lit up her eyes with the mischievousnest; ^hat had always delighted Yates. " How long am I to be kept here ?" asked the constable. " Oil, not long," answered Yates, cheerily ; " not a mornent 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 anything anyhow, or you wouldn't have acted quite the way you did. n 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 this time; and there's nothing on record, anyhow." "Df you mean it? Will yju. 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, auw that Kitty was gone, " if there is any- thing to eat in the house ?" " Shake !" cried Yat^, holding out his hand to him. " Another great and mutual sentiment unites us, Stoliker. Let us go and see." CHAPTER X. 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 con- flict when all was over ; Kcnmark found the battle raging around him before he realized that things had reached a crisis. The result of the struggle was similar in effect to an American railway-accident of the first class. One officer and five privates were killed on the Canadian side, one man was missing, 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 Trhen they retreated. Although the engagement resulted as Yates had predicte(i, yet he was wrong in his estimate of the Cana4?"- ". Volunteers are invariably underrated by men of experience in niiliuirv 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 havd been different, as was shown afterwards, when the volunteers, unimpeded rmmmmm ^- dtfUi •MMMMMMHMMWHHM "IN THE MIDST OF ALARMS.' 195 il of kindness on le sat down upon it in spite of the id lit up her eyes ates. stable. a niornent longer V York State : so ort to Stoliker. IS the next man jr. I am under officer. I don't have acted quite 'ould have been i^e you my word ! as not they've thing on record, doubt that. I hold you." d when he was if there is any- im. " Another } go and see." it, and the man he field of con- ng around him an American e privates were nd many were jably never be lers were taken 'edicte}en comical had it not been that death hovered over it. The comedy without the tragedy was enacted a d**;- -:r I wo before, at a bloodless skirmish which took place near a hamlet (ailed Waterloo, which affray is dignified in Canadian annals as the se':x)nd battle of that name. When Yates reached the tent he found it empty and torn by bullets. The fortunes of war had smashed the jug, and the fragments were strewn in front of the entrance, probably by some disappointed man who had tried to sample the contents and had found notniug. Yates was tired out He flung himself down on one of the deserted bunks, and was soon sleeping almost as soundly as the man behind a log not six feet away with his face among the dead leaves. When the Canadian forces retreated, R*3umark, who had watched the contest with all the helpless anxiety of a non-combatant, sharing the danger but having no influence upon the result, followed them, making a wide d6tour so as to avoid the chance shots which were still flying. He expected to come up with the volunteen^ on the road, but was not successful. Through various miscalctllationfj, he did not suc- ceed in finding them until towards evening. Kt first they told him that young Howard was with the company and unhurt, but further iu- quiry soon developed the fact that he had not been seen since tho 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 remembered i25 196 '/JV THE MIDST OF ALARMS.' that the boy had said he wuuld visit his home if he got leave ; but no leave had been asked for. At last Renmark was convinoed that young Howard was either badly wounded or dead. The possibility of his desertion the professor did not consider for a luomant, although he ad- mitted to himself that it was hard to tell what panio 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 mad- his way to the fat 1 field. He found nothing on the Canpdian side. Going over to the woods, he came across several bodies lying where they fell ; but they were all strangers. Even in the darkness he would have had no difficulty in recognizing the volunteer 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 l)elow. 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 openra, and he recognized Mrs. Bartlett and Margaret standing in the light. He moved away from the gate, and heard the older woman say, — " Oh, she will be all right in the morning, now that she has fallen into a nice sleep. I 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 go- '. woman came through the gate, and then ran with all the speed of sixteen towards 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 any one so lovely, and be was startled to find that he had a most uu-professor-like longing to take her in his arms and comfort her, a feeling which had never assailed him in the dim educational corridors of the stately university building. Instead of bringing her consolation, he feared it would be his fate to t> 'd to her anxiety ; and it was not until he saw that she was ab jut to clcae the doo;' that he found courage to speak. " Margaiet," he said. The girl had never heard her name pronounced in that tone before, and the cadence of it went direct to her heart, frightening her with an unknown joy. She seemed unrble to move or respond, and stood there with wide eyes and suspended Ireath, gazing into the darkness. Ren- mark stepped into the light, anO she sav/ his face was haggard with fatigue and anxiety. " Margaret," he said again, " I waui 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 fiither in the house ?" " Yes, but he is worried about mother. Tell me what it is. It is better to tell me." Ij p pj lii ii ! nj ii m i u M li^m mmmm ! got leave ; but no avinoed that young ! possibility of his it, although he ad- anio of fear might )und bulleta flying i madj his way to side. Going over lere they fell ; but vould have had no 1 he knew so well, yet fearing to hear ig was silent about window and also owing what to do. ind the father or puzzled him. As Mrs. Bartlett and rom the gate, and hat she has fallen I were you. It e firing It's all I ran with all the itood in the door- ale and anxious, )ve!y, and he was e longing to take id never assailed iversity building. Id be his fate to she was abjut to that tone before, ling her with an , and stood there darkness. Ren- »8 haggard with I you a moment. find the horses, •wn beside him. hat it is. It is "IN THE MIDST OF ALARMS.' 197 : Renmark hesitated. ^ " Don't keep me in suspense like this," cried the girl, in a low but intense voice. " You have said too much or too little. Has anything happened to Henry ?" " No, It is about Arthur I wanted to speak. You will not be alarmed ?" " I am alarmed. Tell me quickly." And the girl in her excite- ment laid her hands imploringly on his. " Arthur joined the volunteers in Toronto some time ago. Did you know that?" ^ '■' He never told me. I understand — I think so, but I hope not. He was in the battle to-day. Is he — has he been — hurt ?" " I don't know. I am afraid so," said Renmark, hurriedly, now that the truth had to come out, and he realized by the nervous tightening of the girl's unconscious grasp how clumsily he w"\ telling it. "He was with the volunteers this morning. He is not with them now. They don't know where he is. No one saw him hurt, but it is feared he was, and that he has been left behind. I have been all over the ground." "Yes, yes." " But I could not find him. I came here hoping to find him." "Take me to where the volunteers were," she sobbed. "I know what has happened. Come quickly." " Will you not put sometning on your head ?" " No, no. Come at once." Then, pausing, she said, " Shall we need a lantern ?" " No ; it is light enough when we get out from the shadow of the house." Margaret ran along the road so swiftly that Renmark had some troublfc in keeping pace with her. She turned at the side-road and sped up the gentle ascent to the spot where the volunteers had crossed it. " Here is the place," said Renmark. " 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 be crossed the road and ths 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 rlfl, 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 moment against a tree. " It must have been about here," she said, in a voice hardly audible. " Have you searched on this side ?" 198 «' m THE MIDST OF ALARMS.' m M #1 •' Yes, for half a mile farther into the fields and woods." "No, no, not there, but down alon? 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 following '-jira. Sud- denly she darted past him and flung herself down in the long grass, wailing out a cry that cut Renmark like a knife. 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, Mai^aret." This Statement, however, was a somewhat premature one to make on so hasty 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 voluntw'rs ?" " This morning, — early," said the professor, taken aback; " Why didn't you tell me?" " He asked me not to." " He is a mere boy. You are a man, and ought to have a man's sense. You had no right to mind wh^t a hoy 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, without going to the vol- unteers." Renmark was so amazed at the unjust accusation 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 inconsistency. " 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 quarrelling with me," but he did not say it. Renmark was not a ready man, yet he did, for once, the right thing. ** Mai^ret," he said, sternly, " throw down that fence." This curt command, delivered in his most schoolroastery manner, was instantly ol)eyeng nim. Siid- the long grass, isistretched hand ?ed himself this rapidly ran his inic, and a thrill he heart, argaret." This nake on so hasty I he loved. He irkness, blazing iback; have a man's t was my right oegligenee and Dg," she added, wrong until I Dg to the vol- from a girl lout a temper vever, to have 1 have found u stand there Ren mark was stery manner, >le one to set lome pai-ts of 1. Margaret right again, '• 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 in hia arms, and was pleasetl to hear a groan escape his lips. He walked through the open gap and along the road towanls the house, bearing tlie unconscious form of his nupil. 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 have a doctor?" Her as»drtton was half an inquiry. "Certainly." ** We must not disturb any one in the house. It is better that I should tell vou what to do now, so that we need not talk when we reach there." " We cannot help disturbing some one." " 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." " 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 iibr him at the gate, and silently led the way around the house to when) 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 knick-knacks that are dear to the heart of a girl in a snuggery which she can call her own. "It is not likely that 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 you going alone." " No, no. Please do just what I tt-ll you to. 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 anything more, and Ren- mark sat down, devoutly hoping that no one would rap at the door of - the room while he was there. 200 *>IN THE M.'DST OF ALARMS." CHAPTER XT. m Maroaret spokn caressingly to her liorse when fhe opened the stable door, and Gyjwy replied with that affectionate low guttural whinny which the Bootch graphically lerm " nickering." She patted the little animal ; and if Gyp;y was surprised at being s«»--ldled and bridled at that hour of the night, no protest was made, the horse merely rubbing its nose loviMgly up and down Margaret's sleeve ap she buckl'?d tile different straps, 'th^^ was evidently a good unil'T-'dnd- iiig between thoee t v; "No rv^i," jhf v^.-^T. ::..<;, T lave notaing for you to-night, — k wi>rk. Now, you mustn't make a nothing bui i»ard w«. ' .uv* '^ noise til! we get pa tiiv ho!!.- On her wrist she 8iu^-^i«d tlv ">p of a riding-whip which she always carried but never used. ' iyp *iad never felt the indignity of the lash. The little horse was always willing to do what was required merely ^or 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, ulthough 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 ;uV(»tigate. Half-way between her own home and Bartlett'9 house she sprang lightly into the saddle. " Now then, Gyp," The horse required no second word. Away they sped down the road towards the east, the mild June air coming sweet and cool and ^resh from the distant lake, laden with the odors of the woods and the fields. The stillness was intense, broken only by the plaintive cry of the whippoorwill, America's one-phrased nightingale, or the still more weird and eerie note of the distant loon. The houses along the road seemed desert."^. ; 00 lights were shown anywhere. The vildest rumors were abroad concerning the slaughter of the day, and the population, scattered as it v/as, appeared to Iiave retired into its shell. A spell of silence and darkness was over the land, and the rapid hoof-l>eat3 of the horse soucded with startling dis- tinctness on the harder portions of the road, emphasized by intervdils of complete stillness when the fetlocks sank in the sand and progress was more difBcL.fc for the plucky little animal. The only thrill of feai 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 anything might be hidden. Once the horse with a jump of fear staited sideways and plunged ahead : Margaret caught her breath as she saw, or fancied she saw, several men stretched on the I'oad-side, asleep or dead. Once iu the open again she breathed more freely, and if it nad not been for the jump of the horse she would have accused her imagination of playing her a trick. Just as she had completely refssured herself, a shadow moved from the fence to the middle of the road, and a sharp voice cried,— infi. i. mmmA ■iiimmni wwirm Phe opened the t low guttural f." She paUetl ng an.-ldled and lade, the horse t's sleeve a? she »od i:n<.Vr"'dnd- i^ou to-night, — mistn't make a hip which 8he le indignity of it was required loree, and there (1, although the red that if her light come out ^rtlett'i^ house ped down the and cool and voods and the aintive cry of the still more 3 were shown the slaughter fared to have was over the startling dia- 1 by intervals and progress nly thrill of le entered the he road, like rthing might lideways and r fancied slie d. Once in been for tha n of playing If, a shadow sharp voice "/// THE MIDSV CF ALARMS.' aoi «Haltr The little horse, ae if it knev the rnenning of the word, planted ■ two front hfofs ogethr- a: J slid along the ground for a moment, c. • 'inf» so quickly to ' stand-still that it was with some difficulty Mar- gt 'et Kept her seat. She saw in front of 'r a man holding a gun, '". dently ready u> fire if she attempted t'. uisuhiiy his command. " Wi..' are you, and where are yoi' goi'ig?" he demanded. "Oh, please let me paiss," pl^aued Margaret, with a tremor of fear in her voice. *' T an^ ,ijing for a u^^.;tC/* — ^lor my brother : Le is badly wounded, and will perhaps die if I am delayed. The man laughed. "Oho!" he cried, coming oUwer; "a woman, is it? and a young one, too, or I'm a heathen. Now, mias or missus, yon 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 ladv, and see if you don't like me better than him ; and remember 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 bad' wounded. I must get to the doctor." " There's no * must' with a bayonet in front of you. If he •" Come d ■ been wounded there's plenty of better men .lilled to-day. my dear." Margaret gathered up the bridle-rein, but even in the darkue^e «iie man saw her intention. I " 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 danger to herself. " Yes, mi.ssy," said the man, approaching nearer and laying hia hand on Gypsy's bridle. " But there will be no need of that. Besides, It would make too much noise, and might bring us coinpany, which would be inconvenient. So come down quietly, like the nice little girl, you arts." " If you will let me go and tell the doctor, I will come baok hei-e 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 recently as all that. A girl in the hand is worth a dozen a mile up the road. Now come off' 9)at horse, or I'll take you oflP. This is war-time, and I'm not going to waste any more pretty talk on you." The man, who, she no^ saw, was hatlon, 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 banging 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 blindiog cut acr<3ss the eyes, and then brought down the lash on the flank of her horse, drawing tiie animal round with her left over her enemy. With a wild snort of astonwb- MIMW jwr^ ■ ( M 202 "/iV THE MIDST OF ALARMS' meiit the hnrsc sprang fbrwanl, bringing man and gnn down to the ground with a (flatter that woke tho cchs ; then, with an indignant to&s of the head, Gyp npcd along tho roed like the wind. It was the first time Gvpy had ever felt the cut of a whip, and the blow was not forgiven. Margaret, fearing further olwtruction on the road, turne. IMie window )hy8ician. iniB around the lung to do with y, stroking the I know it; but I had, and you have done it so >cau.»e I had to ' the head that . It was the sting of it. and I don't >'ou, of course, was striking. vord he would n would have clever even if he ii woman. 18 ting, whinny- 'er. As soon little pet, I must draw a d for a mere iiore, and on ess offere one of them within it. Kjw, Renmark, which of those girl" would you choose if you were me ?" The professor drew in his breath shortly, and was silent for a moment. At last he said, speaking very slowly, — " I am afraid, Mr. Yates, that you do not quite appreciate my point of view. '*8 you may think I have acted in an unfriendly man- ner, I will tr^ lor the fir&t and final time to explain it. I hold that any man who marries a good woman gets more than he deserves, no matter how. worthy he may be. I have a profound respect for all women, and I think that your light chatter about choosing between ^wo is an insult to both of them. I think either of ti em is infinitely too good for you, — or for me either." " Oh, you do, do you? Perhaps yor think that you would make a much better husband than I. If that is the case, allow me to say ou are entirely wfong. If your wife was sensitive, you would kill er with your gloomy fits. I wouldn't go off in the woods and sulk, iByhow." " 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 lesser of two evils." " Think you could do it, I suppose ? Renny, you're conceited. You're not the first man who has made such a mistake and found be was barking up the wrong tree when it was too late for anythiqg but bandages and arnica." " I have tried to show you how I feel regarding this matter. I might have known I should not succeed. We will end the discus- isiou, 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. Y/a 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 don^s for you. Now let me save you, Renny, before it is too late. Iiere is my proposition. You choose one of those girls and marry her. I'U take the other. I'm not as unselfiSh as I may 8(«m in Uiis, foi your choice will save me the worry cf 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, who is it to be?" i Tf ■B— t;"i> nil J^ 'IN THE MIDST OF ALARMS.' 207 here is sosaething ours is around the le circle to all the : cable." ui-s; still, there is ou are in a more k with you about, vant to brinp one I girh would you was silent for a te appreciate my I unfriendly man- 1 it. I hold that 1 he deserves, no d respect for all jhoosing between tiem is infinitely yon would make allow me to say you would kill woods and sulk, 1 you that I had chose the lesser 'ou'i-e conceited, ke and found he !br anything bat this matter. I end the discus- Renuy, I'll tell worse than any it soon will be. lil, or a lobster, n itself. Then , Renny, before e of those girls ilfish aa I may cf making up irJs is too good ; kt that pass. " Good God, man, do you think 1 am going to bargain with you about ray Tuture wife?" " That's right, Renny. I like to hear you swear. It shows you are not yet the prig you would have folks believe. There's still hope for you, professor. Kow, I'll go further with you. Although I can- not make up my mind just what to do myself, I can tell instantly which :s the girl for you, and thus we solve both problems at one stroke. You need a wife who will iake 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 Bartlett is the girl. She will tyrannize over you just as her mother does over the old nan. She will keep house to the queen's taste and delight in getting you good things to eat. Why, everything is as pl&.n as a pike-staff. That shows the benefit of talk- ing over a thing. You marry Kitty, and I'll marry Margaret. Come, let's shake hands over it." Yates held up his right hand ready to slap it down ou the open palm of the professor, but there was no response. Yates's hand came down to his side again, but he had not yet lost the enthusiasm of his proposal. The more he thought of it the more fitting it seemed. " Mai'garet is such a sensible, quiet, level-headed girl that, if "I am as flippai>l; as you say, she will he just the wife for me. Thert are depths In my character, Renmark, that you have not suspected." " Oh, you're deep." " I admit it. Well, a good sober-minded woman would develop the best that is in me. Now, what do you say, Reuny ?" " 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 taes-up." And Yat4 drew a silver half-dollar from his pocket. " Heads for Margaret !" he cried. Renmark clinchetl 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, naught it in one hand, and slapped the other over it. " Now lOr the turning-point in the lives of two innocent beings." He raised the covering hand and peered at the coin in the gathering gloom. "Hejvds it is. Margaret Howard becomes Mrs. Richard Yates. Congratulate me, professor." Renmark stood motionless as a st^itue, an object-lesson in self- control. Ya:es 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." ->> Not waiting for the answer, which he probably knew there would have been little use in delaying for, Yates walke«l to the fence and sprang over it with one hand on the top rail. Renmark stood still - for some minutes, then quietly gathered underbrush and sticks large and small, lighted a fire, and sat down on a log with his head in his hands. _« 208 "/AT THE MIDST OF ALARMS.' CHAPTER XIII. Yates walked merrily down the road, whistling "(Jayly the Troubadour." Perhaps there is no moment in a man's life that 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 n be the moment he walks away an accepted lover. There is a ma^ic a'^ut a June night, witl; its soft velvety darkness and its sweet miul 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 neav to the Howard homestead, for he had not yet settled in his own mind the detai'9 of the meeting. He would not go in, for in that case he knew he would have to talk, perhaps for hours, with every one but the person he wished to see. If he announced himself and asked to see Margaret alone, his doing so would embarrass her at the very beginning : Yates was naturally too much of a diplomat to commence awkwardly. As he stood there, wishing chance would bring her out of the house, there appeared a light in the door-window of the room where he knew the convalescent boy lay. Margaret's shadow formed a silhouette on the blindi Yates caught up a handful of sand and flung it lightly against the pane. Its soft patter evidently attracted the attention of the girl, for after a moment's pause the window opened carefully, and Margaret stepped quickly out and closed it, quietlj standing there. " Margaret," whispered 'Yates, hardly above his breath. The girl advanced towards the fenee. " Is that youf she whispered in return, with an accent on the last word that thrilled her listener. The accent told as plainly as speech thftt the word represented the one man on earth to her. " Yes," answered Yates, springing over the fence and approaching her. " Oh 1" 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 resolutely behind her, seemingly wishing to retreat, yet standing her ground. " Margaret, you must have seen long ago how it is with me. I lov« you, Margaret, loyally and truly. It seems as if I had loved you all my life. 1 certainly have since the first day I saw yon." " 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 every- thing to me, and nothing else is anything. I have kncoked about the world a good deal, I admit, b ut t never was in love before, — never knew what love was until I met you. I tell you that " j^ 'IN THE MIDST OF ALARMS. 209 ng "Qayly the id's life that he i goes to propose e, unless it be the a mawjc a'^ut a ;t mild air iaden ent of the hour to live a better r, that Fate had ■he fence near to is own mind the it case he knew ry one but the ind asked to see very beginning : loe awkwardly, t of the house, where he knew a silhouette on flung it lightly he attention of carefully, and ding there, ith. sent on the last ainly as speech d approaching herself with a 3." Mamaret, I e." He tried y behind her, 8 with me. I bad loved you an." i be a surprise it." It is every- led about the efore, — never " Please, please, Mr. Yates, do not say anything more. If it is really true, I cannot tell you how soiry 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 caniot have so misjudged me, Mai^ret. Others have, but I did not expect it of you. You are far and away better than I am. No one knows that better than I. I do not pretend to be worthy of you, but I will be a good husband to you. Any man who gets the love of a good woman," continued Yates, earnestly, plagia- rizing Renmark, " gets more than he deserves ; but surely such love as mine is not given merely to be scornfully trampled under foot." '■* L do not treat your — you scornfully. I am only sorry if what you say is true." " Why do you say if it is true ? Doo't you know it is true ?" " Then I am very sorry, — very, very sorry, and I ho{»e it is through no fault of mine. But you will soon forget me. When you return to New York » " Mai-garet," 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 wil' wreck ray life. I am the sort of man that a woman can make or mar. i>o 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 thrjugh your own foolishness, 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." " Not for good, Margaret?" asked Yates, with tender r-proach. " No. A man whose good or bad conduct depends on any one else but himself is not mv ideal of a man." " Tell me what your ideal is, so that I may try to attain it." Margaret was silent. " You tliink it will be useless for me to try?" " As far as I am oonceraed, yes." " Margaret, I want to ask you one more question. I have no right to, but I beg you to answer me. Are you in love with any one else f " No," cried Margaret, hotly. " How dare you ask me such a question f *' Oh, it is not a crime, — that is, being in love with some one else is not. I'll tell you why I dare ask. I swear by all the gods that I shall win you, if not this year, then next, and if not next, then the year after. I was a (»wprd 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 yoar answer. I say no. Never ! never ! never l—thi? year nor any other year. Is not that enoujjh ?" "Not for me. A woman's *no' may ultimately mean 'yes.'" "That is true, Mr. Yates," replied Margaret, drawing herr-lf up as one who makes a final plunge. " You remember thi3 question you Vol. LII,-14 am 210 IN THE MIDST OF ALARMS." *'■ I 'VI asked me just now? — whether I cared for any jne else? I said 'no.' That -no' meant 'yes.'" He was standing between her and the window, ho she could not escape by the way she came. He saw she medita'«d flight, and made as though he wouM intercept her, but she was too quick for him. She ran around the house, and he heard a door open and shut. He knew he was defeated. Dejectedly he turned to the fence, climb- ing slowly over whert he had leaped so lightly a few mii-ites before, and walked down the road, cursing his fate. Although he admitted he was a coward in talking to her as he did about his wrecked life, yet h*. 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 towards 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 fitay in camp until they a^'rested 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; then 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 eujoy his misery without the fatigue of walking. His vivid imagination pieture Margaret's nus- band. He saw her now a farmer's faded wife coming to him and b^- ging for further time in which to pay tht seven per cent. due. He knew he would act magnanimously on sujh an occasion and grandly give her husband all the time he required. Perhaps then she would realize the mistake she had made. Or perhaps fame rather than riches would be his line. His name would ring throughout the If -ad. He might become a great politician and bankrupt Canada with a rigid tariff law. The unfairness of making the whole innocent people sufiSer for the inconsiderate 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 has been rejected by the girl he adores, — while it lasts. His eye wandered towards the black mass of the Howard house. It was as dark as his thoughts. He turned his head slowly around, and like a brighi star of hope there glimmered up the road a flickering light from the Bartletts' parlor window. Although time had stopped as far as he was oancemed, he was convinced it could not ?te very late, or the Bartletts would have gone to bed. It is always diflicult to realize that the greatest of catastrophes are generally over in p *ew minutes. It seemed an agi! since he walked so hopefully away ii-c- .1 :h^ -.e-^.'. As he looked at th« light the thought struck him that , ,p(.r:)'ij^e Kiri,y was alone in the parlor. She at least would not have tK>atc(^ ^im so badly as the t ':her girl j and — ^and she was pretty, too, .i.-i'.^^': m laala— iiiiiiinii fc*!*' ■' "ny;! ^£_g|- Ise? I said * no.* ■JO she could not flight, and made ick for him. She )hut. > the fence, clirab- V mil •ites before, >ugh he admitted wrecked life, yet J. What did the live. He found meet Ren mark in the Ridge Road, camp until they ty on him. Who aid that to give 3d the worst, and perhaps even of r believed a man would save his le would realize ide the road, and ■ oue, so that he ing. His vivid the owner of a [ages on a good Margaret's hus- to him and beg- cent. due. lie ion and grandly then she would ther than riches i the If ad. He da with a rigid ent people suffer p to him at the ) bitterness like i girl he adores, ck mass of the turned his head mmered up the low. Although ivinced it could d. It is always J generally over hopefully away struck him that vould not have was pretty, too, " IN THE MIDST OF ALARMS." 211 come to think of it. Ha always did like a blonde better than a bruue*;te. 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 it? extreme discomfort, and as a gentle hint that his presence is not wanted in that immediate 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 towards t!ie star that guided him, he remembered he had recklessly offered Miss Kitty to the cal- lous professor. After all, no one knew about the episode of a short time befoi* except himself and Margaret, 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 himself. As he neared the window he looked in. People are not particular about Ipwei'ing the blinds in the country. He was rather disappointed to see Mrs. Bartlett sitting there knitting, like the industrious woman she was. t\ti\\, it was consoling to note that none of the men-folks were presetit, 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 is." " Come right in. Why, what's the matter with you ? as if you had lost your best friend. Ah, I see how it is, started: — "you have run out of provisions, and are very hungty as a bear." "You've hit it first time, Mrs. Bartlett. I dropped around to see if I could borrow a loaf of bread. We don't t«ke till to-mor- row." Mrs. Bartlett langhed. *' Nice baking you would do if you tried it. I'll get yon a loaf in a minute. Are you nure one is enough ?" " Quite enough, thank you." The good woman bustled out to the other room f«>r the loaf, and Yates mads good upe 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. " They have a warrant out for my arrest, and I'm off to-morrow before they am serve it. But I ooulda^t go without seeing you. You'Ii You look "—Yates likely as come, sure ?" Again Kitty nodded, afler lookiitg up at him in alarm whea he spoke of the warrant. Before anything laither could be said, Mrs. Bartlett came in, and Kitty was aljsorbed in her book. "Won't you have something eat now before you go back?" " ' you, Mrs. Bartlett. You see, the professor is "Oh, no, thank waiting for me." " Let him wait, if he didn't have sense enough to come." " He didn't. I offered him the chance," rm ■iniirwtMTi MWJMWiJWBW 212 "/y THE MIDST OF ALARMS." " It won't take us a moment to set the table. It is not the least trouble." "Really, Mrs. Bartlett, you are verj' kind. 1 am not in the slightest degree hungry now. I am merely w ''ing some thought of the 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 wajt, come to me, and I will let you have iK if it's in the house. "You aretoo good to me," said the young man, with genuine ~ may ren'.jnd you of your prom- " Good-night." feeling, " and I don't deserve it ; but lee — to-morrow." " See that you do," she answered Yates waited at the gate, placing the loaf on the :ost, where he forgot it, much to the astonishment of the donor in the morning. He did not have to wait long, for Kitty came around the hou3e somewhat shrinkingly, as ore who was doing the most wicked thing that had been done since tht world began. Yates hastened to meet her, clasping ona of her unresisti.ig hands in his. " I must be off to-morrow," he ' "gan. " I am very sorry," answered Kitty, in a whisper. " Ah, Kitty, you ive not half so sorry as I am. But I intend to come back, if you will iet me. Kitty, you remember that talk we had in the kitchen when we- -when tlitire was an interruption, and when I had to go away with our ."riend Stoliker ?" Kitty indicate •^ *hat she remembered it. " W?!l, of courht you knov/ 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 mistaken, 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 "-d 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 waim 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 happily accomplished there should be any need of prolonging it, yet the two lingere*JN THE MIDST OF ALARMS.' 213 proud of their husbands as Kitty Bartlett that was. The one woman who might have put the drop of bittb'*n&ss 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 Margaret was wrong in her fears. Yates walked to the tent a glorified man, leaving his loaf on the gate-post behind him. Few realize that it is quite as pleasant to be lovea as to love. The verb " to love" has many conjugations. The earth he trod was like no other ground he had ever walked upon. The magic of the June night was never so enchanting before. He walked 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 r.o harm. He leaped the fence without even putting his hand to it, and thon was brought to earth again by the picture of a man sitting with his head in his hands beside a dying fire. But I intend to that talk we had tion, and when I you. Of course or Kitty had not ' it was late, and love you. You b day I saw you, ry me '^"i make fellow, not half ou will only say have ever been iged hand wai.ia e any hesitation 3 an astonishing omplished there di\ there, and he 1 sordid it had her pretty eyca ihe had won the rould make him e life that had lid of her as he Id. Strange to as happy or as CHAPTER XIV. Yates stood for a moment r^rding the dejected attitude of his friend. "Hello, old man," he cried, "you have the: most ' hark-from-the- tomba' appearance I ever saw. What's the matter ?" Renmark looked up. "Oh, it's you, is i*,?" "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, Renny, congratulate me, my boy. She's mine, and I'm hers, — which is two ways of stating the same delightful fact. I'm up in 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 and 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 f But I don't say it quite in that tone, Renmark. What's the matter with you ? One would think you were in lovejvith the girl yourself, if such a thing were possible." " Why is it not possible ?" " If that is a conundrum I can answer it the first time. Because^ you are a fossil. You are too good, Renny, therefore dull and uninter- esting. 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 inter- ested in has a past with which she has had nothing to do. If he is iiM'M'iiini 214 "IN THE MIDST OF ALARMS." wicked and she oau sort of make him over, like an old drtjss, ehv revelo in the prioess. Sin; flatters herself she makes a new man of him, and thinks t-lie owns thnt new man by right of manufacture. We owe it to the sex, Renny, to give 'em a chance at reforming us. I have known men who iiated tobacco take to smoking merely to give it up joyfully for tl>o sake of the v/oiuan they loved. Now, if a man is perfect to begin with, what is a dear ministering angel of a woman to do witli him ? Manifestly, nothing. The trouble with you, Renny, is that you are too evidently ruled by a good and well-trained con- science, and naturally all women you meet intuitively see this and have no use for you. A little wiokej conceited about himself." " I half believe you are right, Mr. Tf aU«," said the professor, rising. ** I will act on your advice, and, as you put it, see how it feels. My conscience tells me that I should congrstolate you and wish you a long and happy life with the girl voa have — I won't say chosen, but tossed up for. The natural man m me, on the other hand, urges me to break every bone in your worthless body. Throw ofiP 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? V^ht? To-night? Nonseuse!" '' " Do V >u want me to strike you before you are ready ?" " No, lienny, no. My wants are always modest I don't wish to fight at all, especially to-night. I'm a reformed man, T tell you. I have no desire to bid good-by to my best girl w:th 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 ridicu- lous." Yates gathered up ume fuel and managed to ooax the dying embers into a blaze. " There," he said, " tt at'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 &ther. He at least let me know why he fought me." ^^ mmAi it^^mtm mmm HXftfW^WI 1 drfcss, flh« revelfl man of him, and lire. We owe it ling U8. I have ely to give it up fow, it" a man is il of a woman to with you, Renny, well-trained oon- ely see this and ! the making of I to do what a is pulee and not his I think that an ver have an im- for once, just to I about himself." d the professor, , see how it feels. and wish you a t say chosen, but ■ hand, urges me w off your coat. f you believe it. ig in your sleep. dy?» I don't wish to I, T tell you. I a black eye to- If." flatter yourself yourself and get is is too ridicu- Doax the dying e a look at you. fight me for, you in a foot- ter fiither. He "/if THE MIDST OF ALARMS.' 215 "Whose father?" " Kitty's father, of (X)ura-, — my future father-in-law. And that's another ordeal ahead of me. I haven't Hpoken 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 eugage