Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1885-09-10

hay W gon, the straw hat. aud the
white shirt-sleeves drawing near.
"You have broken down." said the
owner, heartily, jumping down.
@Thank you. yes. The carriage seems
coming all to pieces said / ora, still
trembling from fright "Coull you do
anything to help us? should be, oh !
so much obliged to you"
"Yes," sa d Ada, shaking the dust of
! her silk sAirts. I'VE are the Misses
Atherton. evil pay you, of course. :"
| The man bent to examine the axle
tree. His side face was toward Dora,
but she plainly saw him smile.
"It's not so very bad, then?' she
said, anxiously.
at might be fixed, i think. so you
could get home safely; but 1 haven't
much time. In fact, I'm in q great
hurry"
"What Is your time worth to you?"
asked Ada, with the air she had once
seen millionaire use when speaking to
some workmen he was about to employ.
Sometimes more, sometimes less, :"
answered the man, with the same quiz
zical smile.
But he had procured cord from his
pocket, and, with deft fingers, began
mending the broken tra,e. Then he
produced some nails, and with stone
pounded away vigorously beneath the
carriage.
"There 10y driving carefully you will
be able to reach home safely" he said,
at last, rising.
There was something in his composed
manner and distinct enunciation which
made Ada stare for an instant; but she
could see little beneath the broad straw
hat but curling black beard, tanned
cheek, and two piercing eyes.
"What is to pay?"
Nothing"
| He offered a hand to help Dora into
the carriage.
She seated herself and drew out q
little embroidered portemonnaie.
IL beg your pardon" she said, ear
nestly, "but you must let me pay you.
You said you were in hurry; we have
taken your time, and you have done us
great service. have nothing but q
half-sovereign. Pray take it. 1 am
sorry it is so little" blushing, as she
rendered him shining coin.
Again the quizzical smile and the
eyes-they had world of meaning in
them, those piercing dark eyes under
the hat-brim. Dora felt her heart thrill
strangely.
1t relieved her greatly that the man
extended his hand and received the
money.
THANK you," he said, quietly.
"What may your name be?" asked
Ada, who had seated herself unassist-
ed, "and your occupation You are quite
handy" patronizingly.
The man laughed outright, a low,
mellow laugh.
farmer. Good-day, ladies"
He stepped back, lifting his hat,
smiling again of the look of consterna-
ton upon the features of the girls at
the grace and the face the movement
revealed.
A kingly brow shaded by close
clipped yet beautiful hair, white fore
head, eyes dauntlessly bright, with
scorn and a smile in them.
The phaeton turned one way, the hay
wagon another.
"Whoever thought that he looked
like that, under that old hat, in hay
cart ?" said Ada, breathlessly. "Who
can it be? How provoking! He was
a right down gentleman, though he said
he was only farmer"
Poor Ada! Her modification had
just begun.
That evening, with silk hat doffed
from the handsome head, faultlessly ar
rayed, Mr.. Allen Waters presented
himself in the little parlor of the Hol-
lyhocks, and, introducing himself,
begged leave to inquire if the young
ladies had reached home quite safely.
Ada apologized quite eagerly and
tried to be sweet, but Mr.. Waters
seemed to have eyes only for Doras
brunette face.
He came again and again to the Hol.
lyhocks, and at last one day boldly de-
clared himself Dora's lover.
"You have known me hut such little
while, you don't know half my faults,
murmured she.
II don't care if 1 DON'T" he laughed.
Il love you, and have loved you ever
since you offered me that half-sovereign
so charmingly, blushing and ashamed
of the small sum. Why, you little
darling, do you know your appealing
dark eyes kept me from meeting O man
who would have paid me hundred
pounds that day?"
"And you never got itP" cried Dora,
aghast.
"No; but that does not matter. ]
have your half-sovereign, and had rather
have it."
Such an incorrigible fellow as that oi
course had his own way, and Dora be-
came Mrs. Allen Waters. She loves
her husband because, under all circum.
stances, she finds him gentleman.
And Ada is in the sulks.