Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1888-11-09

one of his scholars, and young lady at
that" said Mr. Ford, gravely, as he took
the rife from the hands of the half-amused,
hslf-reluctant girl. "It's quite safe with
me, and promise shall deliver it into
MIR. Mckinstry's hands and none other"
perhaps 1t wouldn't be ez likely to be
gin ally noticed ez 1t would If one of us
carried it," murmured Mrs. NcKinstry in
confidential abstraction, gazing at her
daughter, suDlimely unconscious of the
presence of a third party.
"Y u're quite right" said the master,
composedly, throwing the rifle over his
shoulder and turning toward the door
so I'll say good afternoon, and try anu
find your husband"
Mrs Mckinstry constrainedly plucked
at the folds of her coarse gown. yen
like drink afore We CO. she said, In an
ill-conceaed tone of relief. II clean for
get my manners. Greasy, fetch out that
mot for me, thank you" returned Mr.
Ford smiling.
con, I seegyou're temperance nat'ral-
w." said Mrs. McKlnstry with a tolerant
"Hardly that" returned the master .
81 follow no rule, drink sometimes-but
not to-day"
Mrs. McKinstrys dark face contracted
"Don't you see, maw," struck in Greasy
quickly. "Te Acher drinks sometimes, but
he don't use whiskey. That's all"
Her mothers face relaxed Greasy slip
ped of the door before the master, and pre-
ceued him to the gate. When she had
reached it she turned and looked into his
face.
"Wbat did nav say to yer about seem
me Just now 2"
Il don't understand you"
"To your SEEM me and ice Masters on
the trail ?"
'She said nothing"
"Humph," said Greasy medtatively.
"W hat was it you told her about it ?'
Nothing"
"Then you didu't see us ?"
~ saw you with some one-I don't know
whom"
And you didn't tell maw?"
al did not. 1t WAS none of my bust
ness "
He instantly saw the utter Inconsistency
of this speech ia connection with the rea-
son he believed he had in coming. But il
was too late to recall 1t, and she was look
ing Mt him with a bright but singular eX-
preston.
THAT Joe Masters is the conceitedest
fellow goin'. | told him you could see his
foolishness."
"Ah indeed"
Mr.. Ford pushed open the gate. AS the
girl still fingered he was obliged to hold
it a moment before passing through.
NAV couldn't quite hitch on to your
not drinkin'. She reckons you're like
everybody else about yer. That's where
she slips up on you. And everybody else,
l kalkilate."
y suppose she's somewhat anxious
about your father, and dare say is eX-
pecting me to hurry, returned the mas
ter, pontedly.
ION, dads all right" said Cressy, mis-
ChievOusly. You'll IL come across him over
yon, in the clearing. But you're looking
rlght purity with that gun. I. jnder sets
you Oft. You oughter wear one"
The master smiled slightly, and "GooG,
by" and took leave of the girl, hut not OF
her eyes, which were still following him.
Even when he had reached the end of the
lane and glanced back at the rambling
dwelling she was still leaning on the gate
with one foot on the lower rail and her
chin cupped in the hollow OF her hand
She made slight gesture, not clearly in
telligible at that distance; it might have
been mis- chievous imitation of the way
he had thrown the gun over his shoulder
il might have been a waited kiss.
The master, however, continued his way
in no very self-satisfied mood. Although
he did not regret having taken the place
OF Grassy as the purveyor OF lethal weapons
between the belligerent parties, he knew
he was tacitly mingling in the feud be-
tween people for whom he cared little or
nothing. II was true that the Harrlsons
sent their children to ais school and that
in the fierce partisauship of the locality
this simple courtesy WAS open to mlscon-
structlon. But he was more uneasiy con
scious that his mission, as far as Mrs. Nc
kinstry was concerned, was a miserable.
failure. The strange relations of the
mother and daughter perhaps explained
much Of the girls conduct, but it offered
10 hope of future amelioration. Would
the father, "worriuted by stock" and
boundary quarrels, a man In The habit OF
cutting Gordian knots with a bowie knife
prove more reasonable? Was there any
nearefsympthy between father and daugh
ter But she had said he would meet
Ncklnstry in the clearing; she was right
for mere he was coming forward II gal
lop
(T'O be cOntinUcd,)