Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1888-11-29
The Brent Boarder.

Hester?"
Il am not cool to you. Mr., Kings
bury"
Eyes you are; YOU don't like me. or
you don't like my being here; can't
quite make out which it is.
A long pause ensued. while Hester
leaned over the gate swinging her
STRAW hat her straight eyes contracted
into slight frown. The plain print
dress she wore did not disguise the
shapeIiness of her figure. and her
clearly cut features and soft hazel
eyes had proved q source of great fas-
cination for Jack Kngsbury. 1t was
lucky chance that had led him to an
swer an advert sement in the Times
for summer board for Il single gentle
man. He found the farmer good
natured. Jolly fellow, and his wife q
sweel-faced, lady-lke woman, who
treated him as son; but their daugh-
ter was an enigma. Jack knew little
about farmers daughters, especially
New England farmer daughters and
was quite unprepared for the intclll-
gence and quiet dignity Of the girl
whom he had expected TO find strap
ping, red. faced lass who would expect
him to chalf with her and pay her
broad compliments. Hester actually
avoided him; but Jack had his full
share of conceit, and reasoned that
she liked his attentions well enough;
she was little shy, perhaps. but that
would wear off in time.
The horse is coming out of the barn,
Mr.. Kingsbury; you will be late for
dinner if you do not start.
III get there in good tine" said
Jack, looking at his watch; %, GU
havn't wered IN, question yet.
WELL" said Hester, turning as she
spoke. "if you must know, l did not
approve of fathers idea of taking II
boarder do not Ike it She spoke
forcibly. and without waiting for a re-
ply walked off to the house just rs the
buggy came round.
Jack, feeling very much rs if some
one had hit him in the face, jumped
into the wagon and drove of furiously.
venting his own bad temper on the
horse with sharp cuts of the whip.
He had gone TO dine W tn party Of
Young fellows at the Profile House and
Hester found herself wondering when
he would come back; the house was so
still and lonely when he was out: she
knew she had been rude just before he
left. but then he was so conceted.
Well. she would try TO atone for il
when he came home. Supper time
passed. but he did not come, so Hes
ter went out for walk along the road
while the setting sun flooded the fields
with gorgeous crimson light. She
walked a long time before the sound of
approaching wheels made her glance
up, and she saw Jack Kingsbury coming
along in the buggy. He drew up nj
the side of the road.
"WiIl 'you get in Miss Hester and
drive home with me?"
Hester nodded assent and sprang in.
At Il branch road Jack turned the
horse
1--WE are on the wrong road Mr..
Kingsbury,' SAID Hester.
IL know" returned Jack.
But it is growing late and must
get home"
Jack made no reply but drove on
rapidly Hester laid her hands on the
reins: "Really Mr.. Kingsbury." she
said II wish TO 90 home
In an instant she felt his arm about
her.
Not before YOU have given me a
kiss to atone for your cruelty today
said Jack excitedly.
As she turned 10 look at him Hester
noticed for the first time that his face
was flushed and his breath heavy with
wine. She pushed herself away from
him and said with n forced laugh,
you are joking. Mr. Kingsbury. and
YOU know / do not like jokes
1T is no joke. shouted Jack, fierce
ly, Il will kiss YOU. ="
''There-you have knocked my hat
off-go after it or it will be lost in the
dark; / will hold the horse"
Muttering something under his
breath Jack jumped out aud walked
back to where tho hat lay. AS he
picked il up he heard the snap of q
whip, and looking forward saw the
buggy vanishing in the distance.
His wrathful expressions are best lef
unrecorded 1t was a good three miles
TO the farm, cutting across fields. and
the fresh mountain mir soon cooled
Ja,k's excitement. Before he had gone
two miles ne ChilCu ulinstii ~ lOOa ouN
an idiot, and his admiration for the
girls high handed way of Kidding her.
self of him grew with every step home
ward. "By Jove. he exclaimed
aloud. she's worth dozen city girls
What fool / was to insult her; she
will never forgive it. know her well
enough for that" and he walked on
again buried in thought.
He found the door of the farm
house open. and, after laying his hat
carefully on the hall table, went
straight 10 his room. threw off hi:
coat. and lighted cigar. Tbere was
a knock Mt the door.
..Mr. Kingsbury!
"Come inl'' shouted Jack.
You ain seen Hester on the road,
Mr.. KingsburyP' queried the farmer,
stepping into the room.
Hasn't she returned yetp' cried
Jack, in astonishmen,