Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1890-03-14
SHE WAS IN EARNEST.

spoken and saw behind him q heavily
built, elderly man of the farmer sort, whc
carried in his hand long whip. and wor,
broad brimmel felt hat well pulled oyeI
his eyebrows.
cam ] looking for somebody" he rc
peated. Yes, sir. I'm looking for Mr.
Mark Mellish. lie was to meet me her,
and take me down To his place. I've been
walking that station platform for full
hour, and as the sun is going down aud
have no idea where am and i"
Here lie paused, evidently thinking il
best not to utter the remainder of his sen
tence
'Ncllish had good reasons Tor wanting
tc see me, " he added "I'm beginning L
think that he meyer got my telegram
Have you a hotel on tavern hereabout'"
Nothing hut the boarding house at the
mines" said the farmer; ''and when you've
got there you are at Mellish's But il
you're Mr. Nelson Noble, then"
Il am" interposed the young man
Then" proceeded the farmer, eve
come to fetch you, and you haven't any
need of hotel"
Good " cried young Noble, this great,
grand, stony country of yours, with its
bald hills and nothing growing, gives a
man from Connecticut feeling of having
got into the giants country as Jack the
Beanstalk did. Your depot master trotted
home awhile ago, saying that there Were
no more trains until to morrow, and it is
going to be deucedly gloomy night. The
idea of spending it here was unpleasant
in fact was getting nervous over it when
you spoke to me-.
And you couldn't be among hune5ter
people. said the farmer: 'tisu't like youI
big cities. where there is robbers. and
bunko men, and pickploketS, as I've heard
tell, and traps set ior yoa everywhere.
Youll find every man brother here"
Very likely" replied Noble, with a
laugh; "howeyer, I'm glad you came lor
me, Nj ----'
Smith, you can call me. said the old
man, "and we might Us well he OIL my
wagon is in the holler there The horse il
acting queer, and wouldn't give him the
pull uphill Any baggage, Mr.. Noblef'
"Only this" answered Noble, with a
swing of the travelling bag. 'Pm only go
ing to stay over night aud he followed
Mr. Smith over the rocky road and down q
steep slope until they reached the spot
where a coyerwagon, drawn 10y bony
old white horse, stood waiting.
"You sit inside ont of the draught,' said
Smith, 'seein' you've got chilled at the
depot The wind is kinder keen"
THANK you" Noble answered, and
shortly finding the old man indisposed TO
talking he fell asleep under the dingy
canopy, and slept until the sudden stop
ping of the wagon and loud shouts from
the driver aroused him.
whats the matters" he cried, thrusting
his head through rift in the awning, and
from the shadow beyond--for night had
fallen while he slept-Smith's rough voice
replied:
Darn it all, the horse has done it at
last. He's dead as door nail, and you
cant get to the mines tonight, stranger,
nohOw You can iix it,"
Let me look at the animal, said Noble
Perhaps he's not dead.
II know more about horses than you
do said Smith, "if you'll excuse my say
ing it, III have to ask you to stop at my
place tonight I'll borrow team to-
morrow and take you up to Mellish's."
'Yon are very good" said Noble "Per-
sonallv, I'm not in haste. but Mr. Melish
had good reasons for wishing to see me to
night; he should have sent better horse
for me"
ooh, that's my horse, said the farmer,
laughing. ''He gave me the job to fetch
you Guess he had reasons for not sending
folks from his place. Well, losses are to
be expected, l suppose This way, stranger;
I'll take hold of you. know the way in
the dark"
And shortly Noble found himself
emerging from the darkness of the starless
night into little area of yellow light that
fell from lantern swinging before the
porch of a shabby looking house.
As Smith, with the freedom of the owner
of the place, flung open the door, Noble
caught sight of the figure of girl of seven
teen, who sat crouchcd upon the hearth be-
fore blazing fire.
The girl was handsome creature; and
as she sprung lightly and alertly to her feet
Noble saw that she owed nothing to the as
sistance OF dress Her hair was cut short
like boys; her dress was a faded calico,
made without regard to the fashion;and heI
shoes were the toughest specimens of tho
of the cobbler's art.
She stood in the blaze Of the freight
and looked at them with great dark eye;
that reminded Noble of those Of stag al
bay.
Brought home company MILDLY said
the man, with an air of jollity. ''Set sup.
per as soon as yc can, for were starved
Mighty plain doin's you'll find here
stranger; but you'll have TO stand it.
Then he marched out of the room.
Noble sat down upon splint bottomed
chair near the fire, and looked at the girl
She stood staring at him. Evidently the
advent of stranger had alarmed her. \
curious feeling of awkwardness came ovel
the young man. MILDLY, as her father bad
called her, was too old to be spoken tc
caressingly, as though she were child
and too uninlprmcd TO greet him as woman
would He compromised the matter by
smiling; in return she frOwnod.
"I am afraid intrudc," said the young
man, gently.
"Well, said the girl, "if truth is to be
told, | don't want you here. Why don't
you 90 on up to Mellish's' Your legs seem
long enough to walk it. You'd get de.
cent supper there | could tell you how to
go"
The idea that the girl was half witted
occurred to Noble.
ooh, I'll 60 early to morrow, MILDLY" he
said iestingly.
fFor my part, answered MILDLY, Il
wouldn't stay at all where ! wasn't want
ed.
"The prcttiest idiot that | ever saw,
thought Noble.
He turned toward the fire and began to
stir the Goals with a long poker. Mean
time he kept his travelling bag between his
feet Heavy steps were heard going about
overhead.