The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1881-03-17
Job AIi.as MistAks. and What Csss
Of IL.


AZ i am hpl AZ bofAH Wy nihr ci"e'
leave the lantern out sad 60 10 bed. sAi'
Fred LAndon. ss be drew on bis glove
and took down bis vhip.
Surely you will be at home before dark
II is earlier than you usually start, an'
you have no extra business. Don't forge
the parsons crrands, nor Widow Wilkins
tea
| am coming home by job Aliens
The mountain road is rough. and il Is is'
miles farther,
O, Fred, remember the Golden Rnle.
Let every man look out for his bacon, il
nv Golden Rule. And be stepped briskl,
toward the door. not appearing to NOTES
the white hand that had caressingly tonch
ed his coat sleeve for an instant.
But they are so very, very poor, Fred
said the tender, pleading voice.
And always will be at that rate. II was
not my fault that pork was only four cents
when he offered me eight. He must look
out for Number One-I have to.
Before be finished speaking. Black Jim
was cantering along the road, too far away
for Annie to say another word except
good-by, which sounded cheerily enough.
But Fred did not even look back. His
wifes words in regard to the job Allen af-
fair seemed too much like his own sbn-
science speaking to him, and for once he
was glad 10 be beyond the sound OF them.
Before he was out Of the settlement he
began TO wonder IL he hadn't forgotten
something. His money was in his pocket;
so was his memorandum. He looked over
the list 81 purchases he was TO make for
himself and neighbors. 1t wns all right.
Well, what If didn't kiss Annie good
by? We have been married more than
year.
What an excuse! And Landon, as though
ashamed Of it, went on telling himself that
she was the dearest little woman III the
world, and had come more than thous
and miles alone, TO be the light and Joy OF
his Western home.
But there certainly is too much Bible
about her to suit my style.
Thy style, called Echo Rock, as he
turned corner in the road.
My style, Fred repeated, for Echo Rock
always agreed with every one, invariably
the last words Of everything said
within hearing of it; but it denied unbap-
py Fred the comfort of its approval, and
said again, "Thy style"
Well, have your own way And Fred
gave Black Jim sharp cut with the whip,
while the echo called after him, 'Your
own way"
The horse shared the restless spirit of
mis- rider, and theyreached the "city' be-
lore noon. Bnt things went wrong, as
.hings often will when the man himself is
wrong 1t was sfter sunset when he reach
ID Job Aliens cl caring
/ was coming 10 see you, Allen said; for
cannot pay you as soon rs expected.
We have been sick, and it is pretty hard
getting living off the Rocky Mountains
with family Of six to feed. Am to pay
you sixteen dollars for that pork?
Certainly; it was your own offer.
Pork was only four cents the pound
then, and hasn't been above five and half
since then at the city. / had but just ar
rived, and made mistake III offering you
, fair Eastern price for the meat Never
theless. can afford it if You can! and he
lnrolled the heart-case that served as a
wallet and counted out twelve dollars,
'aying he would try to pay the rest in jan
iary.
You are not a man who would ayenge
,our own fault on another, and l want to
Know what you mean by "if can ahord
tY
was thinking of the hereafter Not Of
he life that now is, but of that which is
o come. Besides, I shall sleep better to-
light than you will. by the way, won't
'ou stop with us tonight? II is going to
,e very dark, and you are heartily well
ONE to our best il you will.
Landon looked at the basefooted, half |
lad children, drew his coat closer about
i'm, and said Mrs. Landon would expect
i'm.
As he left the clearing his horse started
I every stump or stone by the roadside.
4, the twilight despened he became aware
iat some animal was following him. Was
a panther, bear or wild boar? Neitli-
! would be a pleasant travelling compan-
m; and despite the rough road, Black
in was given looser rein. The unknown
ursuer was not to be out-distanced, for
heneyer the horse slackened his pace for
few rods q rustling Of leaves made him
urry on.
When they had nearly reached the main
ad the horse stumbled and almost fell
ID limped badly. Fred Landon was ac-
united brave man. but his conscience
Vi been troubling him all day, and now
seems to have taken bodily shape, and
% darkness alone would have made him
ar Every evil thing be had ever done
,peared to stand out before him, and he
" It's sinfnlness. Even the birds nests
had stolen when mere 10y, and his
tile acts OF disobedience, to say nothing
the sins OF his later life. filed him with
rror, and ere he reached Echo Rock he
II that Annic's way was the right. and
solved TO accept il as his way.
As he passed the parsons, he found him
tie door to take the parcels. Butat
ord from Fred he retreated and closed
e door, while his wife at the window said
A.