The Red Cloud chief., 1879-02-06

way
''Mr. Hope" said tittie Patty Ste.
ycns. the gtoocr's daughter. stop one
moment. u you pleas. that ! may rub
on, that great white croas You have on
your shoulder"
Go and sell your behring's. lazy GIRL
replied Robert. ''and do no, concern
yourself about the passcrs by"
The littlo girl, siiencod. hsst.ncd to
rc-entrr her mothers shop.
A. this moment Hope arrived nj the
house ~ the butcher. who ~As conycr.
sing on tho threshold yith his neighbor.
the blacksmith.
you are Jus, the man ! wanted"
said the latter. stopping Robert, and he
began la speak la him on business hut
hardly had he commenced, when old
Peggy Turion arrived. In her plaid gown
and blue spron.
"Mcrcyf Mr.. Hope" exclaimed she.
taking up her apron. what IL that on
your backp"
Robert turned to tell her Ia lot him
alone. but tho blacksmith then per.
cclysd the mark which had been made
by Mr.. Taylor.
'Hcsvcnsr' said he. laughing, Tho
nigh, serve for n sign Ia the White
Cro-s."
IL suppose" said the butcher. 'that
his wife has marked him thus for fear
~ losing him"
Hope Eel, that there was for him but
method ~ escaping nj the same
time from the apron ~ Peggy. and the
Jokes ~ the butcher and blacksmith, so
he fastened 10 leave the spot. not with.
oat some abusive language to his neigh
borsi but the cross had began Ia weigh
more heavily upon his shoulder than he
had nj first supposed.
The unfortunate Robert seemed des-
tined this day Ia provoking encounters.
for he had gone but a few stops when
he found himself opposite the school
house. School was Just out, and the
scholars were nj this moment issuing
from III. door. ready for any fun that
might present itself. Hope was terribly
uneasy. aud imagined he already heard
cries behind him. His fears were .
realized; he had scarcely passsi
school.house door when n long
was heard. and fifty scholars at least
began Ia pursue him and point Mt him.
throwing up their caps In the mir.
Look. look" exclaimed one; there
Ia n sheep marked for the butcher"
'Don't you SEQ. replied another at
Is n crusader Just setting out for Palcs-
tine"
And the shouting and laughter 70.
commenced more loudly.
Hope became pale with anger; he
turned like . cross dog pursued by
children. and. perhaps. would have
cruelty rcvcngcd himself on his young
prosecutors. had not MIR. Johnson. tho
sohoolmastcr, suddenly appeared ut the
door ii his house.
Robert advanced toward him. COM.
planning of his pupils M being insolcnt,
Mr.. johnson replied that he would not
for tho world encourage impcrtinencc
In them. but that the white cross which
he had on his back might make wiser
people than boys laugh.
"WhAt n this cross to your replied
Robert. GROSSLY. ''ls not my back my
own property"
The schoolmAstcr smilingly assentcd,
and Hope went on his way. hut the
cross Was growing heavier and heavier.
He began 10 think thnt Il would not
bc 80 easy To pay his rent In this man.
nor. so much raillcry had already
boon hcapcd upon him, what would Il
bc " the cause were knowDp His land.
lord might m well have written on his
back n receipt In full.
As he reflected thus, Robert arrived
Mt the tavern, no was passing by
when he perceived Mr.. Taylor himself
nj u few PAGES distance, aud on the
other side his noighbor Hullins. dag.
ging his wooden leg, aud convcrsing
with Harry Stokes. the carpenter.
Harry Stokes was tho wit of tho vii.
lagc. aud Hope would not have n
countered him before nullins for the
world. lie therefore took refuge In
the tavern.
hut the place was not long tenablc.
The drinkers did not fail 10 perceive the
cross, and to rally Hope, who grew
angry; the quarrel became violent, and
the %innkcepcr, fearing some serious RI.
suit, turned Robert out of doors.
The latter had left home with the In.
tention nj examining some work which
had been offered "a him In n neighbor
ing village. but his mind had been so
disturbed by old Fox. Patty Stevens.
the blacksmith. the butcher, Peggy
Turton. and the school boys, that he
resolved 10 return home, thinking that
would bc, after all, the most p~esceablo
place.
Have YOU eve seen. In the month IT
September, n young partridge, the last
Of tho brood, huttering along through
the fields with q wounded wingp Such
was Robert on his way home Mt the
other end ot the village. Now he walk.
I'd rapidly lest he should be- ovortakeD.
now slowly lest no should NEE. some
one; now In the road. now In the iiclds.
gliding behind the bushes. climbing the
walls and stunning chances like a gypsy
who has stolen n chicken from n farm.
er's poultry yard. AZ this moment
the white cross was an insupportable
weight
Al last he reached his dwelling. and
this time hoped Ia find q little rest.
But rs soon "A his wife perceived him
she began Ia cry out;
"Are YOU not ashamed to como back
a. you wcntp Five or ak neighbors
have asked mo II you had lost your
sensesl Quicks Let me rub out that
crossr'