The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1876-12-21
CHAPTER II.

SILVESTIK.
"Well, good day, old friend it VS.
q good chance that brought you bacl
| to Keriou. Leave matters to me
and they shall go smoothly, prom
ise you"
The speaker, Mathurln GueTik
came to the arched door OF his oil
stone house, and nodded farewell t
Lao.
Then he smiled, and rubbed hi
brown hands together in eongratula
ton of his own mAnHuvres. Gueril
was short and broad, and his long re-
hair was not becoming frame to hi
repulsive, sullen face. His long, half
shut gray eyes were twinkling witt
satisfaction. .l
Nothing could have happened
better. The girl says No to ever
man propose to her and, indeed
there are but few to choose from IL
Kerion who have money. This ont
is rich /; can see IL even in his walk
he stood watching Lao Coatfrec on
of sight-''and there are no relations
to make troublesome inquiries abou
the interest on Annik's hoard.
know too much about Ursuls; shr
will not NEEDLE, and l shall ask NJ
questions about Lao. Yes he mar
rIes Annik. He wants some ready
money, and he likes the girl, ami he
will take her right away to the West.
She will marry him fast eaolgh
how csn she refuse fine fellow like
that ? and shall be rid Of her, and
Monsieur lie Cures visits. l am tire>
OF being watched over and talked Il
as II were q sick woman"
Ee stuffed both hands into thI
POCKETS Of his breeches, which wer,
pear-shaped, and made Of unbleackeC
coarse jean gathered into innumsra-
ble tiny plaits his black cloth leg
gings, trimmed with faded embrOid.
cry, were buttoned with very small
metal buttons down to the snkles.
HAnnik :" he called in his harsf
Yoice-"Annik, have something tc
say" G1erik turned toward thu
house, but there was no answer.
The road had been empty since Lao
departed, but now, here was Annih
coming up from the church RnC
down the road above, which Lao had
taken, came q tall young fellow
walking briskly, whistling as b,
came. Looking straight before bin,
a moment ago th;s bright-haired hap
py-faced youth had a fearless, homes
face which won the beholder but a
the young girl stepped up into tht
road his fearless look faded into q
timid, almost beseeching glance, hi!
well-knit limbs moved less freely
and his head was less saueily erect
and as AnDik saw him, and nodded
and then moved ssrOss toward thi
farmhouse, the young man reddened
and stopped swkwsrdly in the mid
die of the road, as he said "gOod
day"
"You call me uncle 81 said Annik
The farmer had turned, and saw
the timid greeting exchanged, Hs
answered gruffily:
"Yes-yes. JEFF has need of help
90, she waits"
a little pOut closed the girls lips
She gave q lingering look over he
shoulder, and then went slowly int
the house. AS she passed her uncl,
she said drily:
"JeR did not need help when lei
her. She Is growing lazy"
Then she held up her pretty head
and walked on with the air of q younj
queen.
'I am tired of these airs" the far
mer murmured :" 1t is not pleasant
that young chit like Annik shoulC
be so independent-she shall be tanned
All, good day. Silvestik you hav
left work early to-day why so ~
l II La -
Mathurin Guerik. My cousin, IN
miller of Nixon, is Ill, and be has sen
to say that am to go and help him
that am to be his son, and ths
when he dies, the mill, and all that b
has, is to be mine"
"Some folks count chickens throu2
the egg-shell, SilvestIk. Well, e
your way, and prosper better at Nizo
than you have pEospeFed at Ksrion
Lao COatfrec, who went away in dI
grace, and who you all said had goa
to the bad, has come back to-day rio
and prosperous. Go and do like
wise"
Silvestik IOoked sharply at th
farmer.
LAO Costfrec has he come back
| L
got If, Indeed, he is rich. He is
smuggler ; every one knows it, an
ugly things have happened to hil
and to his crew."
Guerik's sullen face grew purpl
and he groWled a fierce oath betwee
, his teeth.
"Lso Is not q milkshop. and so I
is q mark for evil tongues. Take m
radvice, young man." be went c
narshly, keep your mouth shut,
you may find stones in your teetl
Lao is my friend"
Silvestik looked troubled. He hS
plenty Of intelligence, but he vi
slow in pieclng facts together and
:. this moment his head was so full
|. Ann;k, that he had no insight in
the extent of Guerikis anger.
. "T did not know that" he sa
lsimply, ''or 1 should have held n
tongue for 1 would not willing
grieve you, Mathurin." He Stops
and looked sheepish, then be forc'
, out the words. "If all goes as
,, wish, some day I hope to call you n
uDele.H
Guerik broke into a coarse, derisi1
laugh.
HSome folks are bent on seeir
through the egg-sheil. Go your wa
Silvestik. Ny niece Annik Is not +
, q penniless lad with scarce beard {,
the barber. Go, tell you 20
J Guerik roared out the last word
The young mans eyes flashed, and
made q step forward toward the fa
I mer. But Guerik did not notice eitl
er look or movement as be spoke
. turned quickly into the arched doc
, way, and pushed the half-door vi