The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1881-11-19

ever, and was disposed to assert her suprem-
acy, was. known to every living thing or peri
son under or near that hospitable roof, her
father and mother excepted.
somewhat stately, gray-haired dame
awaited their coming, In the doorway, with a
brief, matronly greetng to
!" Nirginny If you're going to town to-mor-
row you've heaps to do to-day. ears like
everybody was clearin' out at the same time
:" est exactly as well, mother calmly re-
sponded her husband. "We can lock the house
up
" We jest can. And We can throw the key
in the we'll Them il any Teller wants to get
i'll he can crawl through u winder.'
Many dwelling on the prairie in those days
was ignorant of lock or key, and well accus-
toned to take care of itself, but trawford's
contained more to tempt unlawful intrusion
than did some others.
There was loud upon Virginia's face
when she followed her mother into the house,
although she did not hear her father mutter:
''If | was Marsh Hayne, now, l wouldn't
let any gal that lives treat me the way
she's treated him. He's right down good
Teller. He's heap too good for Celebrity Bit
ters"
Perhaps; but he was delivering Virginia
Crawford's message at that very moment, and
she MAJ have guessed as much.
1t had sent him to hold somewhat animated
conversation with young woman who did not
at all resemble the belle of Crawford's Prairie,
but who appeared very fully to appreciate her
present company. She was not so tall as Vir-
ginia, but she was nearly as handsome, in her
own way, aud her black eyes flashed under her
full eyebrows with as clear a warning of a
strong will behind them as came from Virgin
las own. In truth, the blue-gray eyes were
the softer and the pleasanter to look upon,
"Going to town, is she. Pm obleeged to
her for sendin' me word. Palmer, he's goin
of down the timber, after dark. 1 can't leave
home this evening. Pears like it wasn't to
do me any sort of good to have her CO."
"Wel, never you mind. II you want to send
word over. get your errand ready. I'll have to
ride past Crawford by and by, and I'll leave
1t for you.'
"Will you, nova I'd like it.''
Where's Palm! Iwant him. Where's the
old man!'
The long, one-story lighthouse in front of
which they were talking, stood about half a
mile beyon the great corn-feld, in the middle
of which arose the new-built, fresh-looking
structure which was to be the future home of
Marshall Hayne. The logs showed signs of
age, but there was barely enough of plowed
ground around them to fend off prairie fire.
he Bitters family had not occupied it long,
and they were not of the class that open new
farms.
" Palmm shouted the dark-eyed maiden.
Mr.. Hayne wants vel Wants the old man,
tool"
A brawny ragged-looking and not uncomely
the corner of the house, but he came alone.
What's up, Marshl'
We'll, Palm, it's just this: I don't care to
be fired out of my corn crop You take the
double team and the break-plow, after dinner
and run two or three burrows along the north
east fence and lit lie down the east side. The
old man can run two or three more, about ten
yards out, and Well SINCE off the grass be-
tween 'em."
"That'd stop most anything, onless thar
was high wind. Most likely it would then.
Awful waste of work, though. Take all day
and to-morrer"
Cant help it, Palm. There were some
pretty smart blisters last year, between this
and town. l don't want any i'll mine"
Celebrity Bitters had been listening, and she
now remarked:
Hank Sanders, he said he'd be over to see
me m, tonight. ~ git him to stop oyer and help.
Thar's heap of fun a-fghtin fire.
The inability of Celebrity Bitters to carry her
own errand over to Crawfords was explained,
but Marshall Hayne made no comment on the
explanation.
The eastern or any other side of quarter
section of land, United States measure, is half
mile long, and burrows of that length,
through virgin prairie sod, call for strong
pulling. Marshall Hayne had told no man
that he was already the owner of the land
upon which Palm Bitters and his father thought
they were throwing away their work that aft
ernoon, and 1t was hard for them to break
"nobody's landn for some unknown new set
tier.
Neither Bitters nor Crawford knew of his
added claim to the respect of his neighbors
when he mounted his horse, that evening, but
either his landed possession, or Celerity's err
rand, or something else, was lying heavy on
his mind. He paused for moment in front
OF his own new house, and again he said to
himself:
1T will be ready by the first snow"
He rode onward, then, with the air of
man who is willing his horse and thoughts
should take their own gait, until he neared
the house with the ricks behind it.
Will l go in! Not unless she asks me. If
she does, will And what then! Yes, I'll do
it, sure's live l can't stand this any longer"
1t was not from Virginia he received his in
vtaton to come in, but her father at the gate
said to him: 'What, Marsh? to tell her all
that! Reckon not. I'd miss half on it sure.
You jest light down off your horse, and come
into the house. I'll find her for ye, somewhat.
Tell her yourself"
Marsh obeyed, and in a few minutes more
the young people were sitting together in the
pleasant little parlor by themselves. To Judge
by the time required for its de livery and ex-
PLANTATION, the message of Celebrity Bitters
must have been 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
.
words over and over, to make sure of them,
brought too viyidly to Virginia Crawford's
mental vision picture of her visitor in close
communion with comely maiden who smiled
upon him unutterable things through pair
of black, brilliant eyes.
The room was swiftly getting dark, as rooms
will at the close of October days, but Virginia
could see Marshall Haynes face as plainly as
before, for some reason. 1t seemed to stand
out Of the gloom as if framed in it, white,
fixed, Determined At last there came a mo-
ment when her heart stopped its hot beating
for pulse or two, and began to swell She
could hardly remember afterwards precisely
what he had been saying, but when he came to
the words:
"It will be ready by the first snow, Virginia
Win you go into it with me!'
oI$'
The questioning exclamation burst from her
lips in great sob, as she sprang to her feet.
You will not! Then will burn it down ~
The first words had sad and mournful
sound, and as if they came from distance, while
the latter were uttered in a harsh, hoarse
whisper She would have given world for
the power to speak again, there in the deep
ening 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, as he
galloped away
Gone! What did sayl"
She sank upon chair, and the very dusk
faded gloomily out OF the little parlor. Her
STRUGGLE against the Oyprmasterv of MarsholI