Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-12-07
GaIes ana Skfifbts.
(Conunuea from yesterday

~ her own errsnd over to Crawford's was
explained, bat Marshal Hayns made no
comment on the explanation. Palmer
Bitters walked slowly away, leaving his
sister To complete her conversation with
the energetic young farmer who. at the
same time, boarded with and employed
the Bittsrs family. They were people
whose way in life required them TO keep
employers and boar'iers.
''Gwine to ride by Crawford's ?" There
was an inquiring archness in the unfiinch-
ing black eyes.
..Reckon so. 'Twon't be out Of my
way to do your errand for you"
well, no. I s'pose not. You wouldn't
think of stnppin' in. now, if jimmy Craw-
ford asked We? They do say she doesn't
make herself the pleasanfest kind Of COM
pany for them she doesn't take to-
It mas not have been said with the in
tention Of sending her own company" of
d, his work, but she had managed to do
I'm putting 10 my time on my house
and INV corn lust now. Don't care to
have 'em burned up, either. Reckon III
20 over and take look at things"
He marched away and the black eyes
followed him keenly.
"He's an awful worker, he is. He
isn't so bad lookin', either, sometimes.
Hank Sanders could lay him on the broad
of his back any day. Hank ort to be do
in somethin' with that thar land OF his'n.
It's high time thar was crap onto it."
The eastern or any other side Of a quar-
ter section of land. United States measure,
is half a mile long. and burrows CT that
length. through virgin prairie sod. call
for strong pulling Marshall Hayne had
told no man that he was already the own
er of the land upon which Palm Bitfers
and his father thought they were throw
ing away their work. that afternoon, and
it was hard tor them TO break ''nobody's
land' for some unknown new settler.
Neither Bitters nor Crawford knew Of
his added claim to the respect Of his
peiphbors, when he mounted his horse
that evening, but either his land posses
sions, or Celerity's errand, or something
thing else. was living heavy on his mind.
lie paused for moment in front of his
own new house, and again he said TO him.
self: :.
ut will be ready by the first snow"
He rode onward. then. with the air of a
man who is willing his horse and thoughts
should take their own gait, until he neared
the house with the ricks behind it.
"WiIl 20 in? Not unless she asks
me. If she does, will And what then ?
Yes, I'll do it, sure's | live! l cant
stand this any longer"
IL was not from Virginia he received
his invitation to come in. but her father,at
the gate, said to him. what. Marsh.
TO tell her all thatp Reckon not. I'd
miss half on it, sure. You jest light down
off the horse. and come into the house.
III find her for We. somewhat. Tell her
Yourself"
Marsh obeyed, and in few minutes
more the young people were sitting to-
gether in the pleasant little parlor by
themselves. To Judge by the time re-
quired for its delivery and explanation.
the message from CELEBRITY Bitters must
have been a long one, and very well re-
membered 1t was an unpropitious piece
of work for Marshall Hayne, however. if
he had meant that any special errand Of
his own should follow. The very telling
Celerity's words over and over. to make
sure of them, brought too wildly to Vir-
ginia Crawford's mental vision picture
of her visitor in close communion with a
COIIciy ulUlIcu, VIM StlilCu uPou uu~
utterable things through pair OF black.
brilliant eyes.
She noticed, too,--and a rebellious feel
ing rose within her rs she studied it,-hOw
the willful look Of set. determined pur-
pose grew and deepened in the strong
face before her 1t seemed to look out ag-
gressively and assail her, srousing some
thing desperate and opposing from the
hidden depths OF her heart. 1t was a
fierce and struggling feeling and it swelled
until she was almost afraid Of him. She
was angry with herself and that. but her
fear grew fast when his eyes told her that.
his face getting strangely pale. and her
ears gave her to know that his deep. bell
like voice was trembling,-and that it
seemed to well up from away down,
down. some hidden place whence no
voicc of man had ever before came to her.
She strove not to understand il. and not tn
know why her heart was beating more
quickly. and harder and harder. although
as yet he was not talking anything in par
ticular,-land. and crops. and stocks, and
his new house, and so forth.
The room was swiftly getting dark. as
rooms will at the close of October DAYS,
but Virgins could see Marshall Haynes
fare rs plainly as before, for some reason
II seemed to stand out Of the gloom rs if
framed in it. white. fixed, determined. At
last there came moment when her heart
stopped its hot beating for pulse or two.
and begun to swell. She could hardly re-
member. afterwards. precisely what he
had been saying, but when he came to the
words
at will be ready by the first snow. Vir-
ginia. viii you go into it with me ?"
"l?"
The questioning exclamation burst from
her lips in great sob. rs she sprmg to
her feet.
You will not? Then l will burn it
DOWN.
The first words had sad and mournful
sound. and as II they came from dis
lance, while the latter were uttered in
harsh. hoarse whisper. She would have
given world for the power to speak
again. there in the deepening gloom. into
which her backward step had carried her
but the swelling of her heart forbade it
too long. and the next sound she heard
was the rapid stroke Of the hoofs Of
Marshall Haynes horse upon the road, rs
he galloped away.
''Gone What did I say!'
She sank mon a chair, and the very