Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1881-04-06

place not many miles away, 10 a
house where The partitions we're THU,
she had chauced TO oyerhear plan
for numbering and robbing me, the
vlllainin.ehlef Of the plot being the
starved and naked wretch whom | had
sheltered and sent away rejoicing not
many days previously. All In a mo,
ment, while ] was pondeling on the
doubtful problem Of gratitude, a fancy
came over mo that she might not be
telling the truth that II might be
just an excuse got up 10 justify her
own visit, and | playfully hlnted rs
much. "A woman does not trihe
with subjects like these, nor does she
deceive when she goes out Of her way
to do q service, she answered, u
rode of from that house the other way
this morning, and made long de,our,
and came here to warn you, And
now that ! have done II, II you will
please get my horse, ! will ride away
again. All fair, lht, !, full Of
thanks aud repentance, asked her TO
stay longer ifshe was not perfectly
rested; but she declined, and ]
brought the steed round and helped
her to mount him. Once in the sad
die her humor changed; she smiled
and reminded mo that ] had not been
polite enough to invite her to return.
A week OF reading, talking, riding,
trout fishing and romancing up in
those splendid mountains would be
very charming; perhaps she would
come il | asked her.
'And did you ask herr
Il did not. A young man with n
reputation TO sustain up there in the
mountains couldn't invite n youpg
lady to stay week with him could
he, now?' cried Joseph quantity:
VIII ich set US both laughing.
so | parried the question as easily
as could, and she rode away. In
going slowly down the trail she turn.
ed and kissed her hand to me with o
gracious sweetness. I assure you the
struggle within my own mind was
grant at that w~...~~. "-a L..
know whether have forgiven myself
even yet for what happened after.
wards.
What did happen''
She came back again. She came
back again and l drove her a'cay.
That is, l made the best excuse l
could for not readmitting her, saying
we should perphaps have fighting and
murder and what not in my fort that
night, and it would be no place for n
delicately bred woman. The pretty
and modest maid who was to have
come from WalIamet Valley and hang
up her pink garments on my pegs
rushed into my mind, you see. But l
never like to confess to this part of
the story, because get laughed at.
But don't you think did right hav.
ing my reputation to keep up?'
While we had our laugh out, Jo-
seph was pushing his soft, fine hair off
his brow with those slender fingers
that looked as if no rough work had
ever come near them; and what must
1t have been before it did Gomez
He went on ,houghtfully: She
finally rode away, not having been
invited to get off ber horse, leaving
me in anything but pleasant frame
of mind. From telling myself | was
a bear, turned to the other subject
the contemplated robbery and mur-
der OF myself. Had she simply in
vented that little fable? or was it
true bill ? l felt inclined to believe i,
the latter. Anyway I deemed it well
to be prepared for all contingencies,
barring and boiling my fort against
intruders, and sitting up late over
The fire. This was Sunday night.
On Tuesday morning three or tour
men rode up, one of whom was the
traitor, my former naked and hungry
protege. He no longer attempted to
conceal his true character from ME,
he and his companions were determin-
ed to clean out the Chinese camp
and asked me to join them in the
raid. I was on my guard in answer.
ng them, simply saying that l would
have nothing to do with robbing the
Chinese that they were my friends
md customers, and I thought that
hey had best be let alone. With
hat he went off. That same after
noon Edwards came in, having cap
ured some of the horses. He was
'ery tired aud asked leave to stay
With the horses at my place till next
lay. Isaid nothing to Edwards Of
he gang just gone away. or that (as
eusnecto odl tbov had tallad of mak. |