Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1881-07-26
to Give hi. horse the reins and to do as he

city 0uslneSS-nouse nau maue nouc tnt
less man of him. His greeting at the
Squire's had been clearly altogether un.
expected, and he pulled his horse to Q
walk, moment later, as if he wanted tc
give the matter some kind of considera-
ton.
How he would have driven il he could
have looked along the road ahead Of him
just beyond where it entered the hemlock
woods
Distant as were her neighbors. Milly
Van Vleeck was too robust and healthy
minded a young lady to remain housed
up, even in winter weather, and she had
life than she did that afternoon, as she
tripped along the frosty road homeward.
never looked roster or prettier in all her
Away beyond the saw-mill and into the
woods she had been, almost aimlessly, in
sheerexuberance Of youth and high spirits
never dreaming of such possibility as
danger there and then.
Down the road she was coming,a and the
frosty snow that cracked under her light
feet was not more innocent or fearless.
A man in the road
1t might be Jake, her father saw-mil
hand. or it might be one Of the farm boys,
or it might be neither. Why should she
care
And yet as the man drew nearer, ,Milly
walked more slowly, and her heart began
to beat, she could not have told why.
She could see him more distinctly now
aud never had her eyes fallen on anything
like that before.
81 almost wish | had the dogs with
me-" she said to herself with shudder
1" What a horrible-looking man.
thought the tramps were all gone"
More and more slowly walked Milly,
for, as the hideous form drew nearer, q
pair of blazing eyes gloated fiercely and
triumphan,lyupon herthrough the matted
locks which hung from under the battered
felt hat on his head.
"A dar,er of his, | reckon" growlet
the tramp. ats all the same, anyhow
some rich mans gal"
A wild scream burst from Milly's whit
ening lips, and she tried to spring pas
him; but his long arm caught her as sht
went by, and in an instant her long shaw
was wound around her head.
mo more screechin',' growled thu
hoarse, deep voice. though there's no
body nigh enough TO hear ye."
Nobody:
Then why was it that the lash hat
fallen so suddenly on the good horse Gil
bert Morse was driving. just beyond TIN
turn in the road
A scream from vigorous lungs goes ia
in frosty weather, and the whip fell NOR
than once.
Milly struggled hard. even in that grass
of iron, but her sire myth was failing fast
when wild, angry shout rang down tn
road, and the tramp loosened his hold TO
a moment.
Don't NEEDLE youngster," he began
as tiercely plunging steed was pulled
up in a furry of snow at the roadside.
The answer came from the loaded en'
Of whip, square between the eyes. q,
A thinner skull might have beer
cracked by it, and, even on his brazel
forehead, the blow brought him to hi
knees.
Milly Van Vleeck was free, and sh'
almost instinctively bounded into th'
cutter.
There was no room to turn, and Gil
bert Morse gave his trotter the reins. 70
he saw the tramp feeling among his rag
for something which might have DANCE
in it. He longed to stay and finish hi
work with his loaded whip, but ther
was Milly.
"Oh, Gil! she exclaimed, show shal
| get home."
"The saw-mill road" he replied 18th
track has probably not been broken, bu
the snow isn't deep"
"Yes, but it has" said Milly. "The..
were hauling logs yesterday"
"Safe enough. then" said Gill. "Bu
amt / thankful l came along, jus
them"
"Did father tell you l was out thi
way. l knew you would come to Sc
me the first thing. And how you hav
improved
Milly's excitement was taking a forn
that could not be unpleasant to her com
panion but deep cloud was settling o.
his face. Notwithstanding, and sh
checked herself suddenly to ask him:
"But what can be the matter: n
did not hurt you, did he"
"No, but your father has, Milly.
cannot stop at your house. Your fathe
has forbidden me. Something betwee
him and mine, about the election. Whe
we get to the gate You can get out an
go in. Perhaps he'll get over it soon
and don't want to make him an
worse, just now.
A wise young man was Gilbert Morse
in spite of his Milly's all but fearful pro
testations, for the sight of his daughte
returning home in such company
aroused old Squire Van Vleeck to tn
uttermost.
1t was even an aggravation that g
90 deity pulled up. just long enough fc
Milly to jump out, and then raised hi
hat so politely to her father as he drov
away.
So choked with wrath, indeed, was tn
bitter old man that he could not fin
words to express himself, and, before b
had recoyered his utterance. Milly wa