The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1891-10-16

ly exaggerated by the newspapers; some
accounts went so far as to place him in
undisputed control Of all the railroads in
Florida.
Rosalies imagination found food in
the idea OF this young mountaineer
conuuering the low country. She was
glad to hear Mr.. Roosevelt declare that
Ellis operations were alllegitimate, and
without any color of fraud or deceit.
She perfectly understood that the young
man had brought down upon himself an
amount OF public condemnation on &C.
count of his moonshine business, and
she felt with pride the immediate value
of his present high course. In some in
definite way she had a sense OF respon,
bsibility for his actions, as II he had been
her brother or other near lSinsman. She
was not aware that this feeling was an
outgrowth OF that clannishness which
always exists among mountain folk.
81 am proud Of your success" she said
to him one day. as they sat together in
one of the spacious Roosevelt parlors.
Il do hope all your great plans will
prove practicable.
His dark face flushed little as he
answered.:
ut Is so kind of you. Miss Chenier, to
wish that. If | can always count ON such
a feeling from you | shall succeed in
spite of all opposition.
She smiled, and not catching the COW
ert or repressed sentiment of his last SEN
tence, said;
"You can do that. The business you
are now in has the approval of every
body, and"-
"Oh, well, the other business was in
famous, but didn't realize it till it was
all over" he quickly interrupted "You
know the war had demoralized us up
there in the mountains"
| 1--WE were shut out from a knowledge
of what was doing in the world" she
said. 81 did not dream of what strong
current human life can be till | went up
into the north.
"The current might be Just as strong
here in the south if we would make it So
What's the use of all this retrospection
and brooding and despair? Our soil is
lust as good as ever it was; we have our
health, our daylight, our nighttime
Is it the right sort OF. people we lack?"
The rich power of his voice thrilled
her as he spoke, and he lifted his head
proudly, as if conscious of his strength.
In very tender tone he added:
"Miss Chenier, | am not going to be a
drone and grumbler. Do you recollect
the time met you up in the dark little
dell by the spring above the mill?"
EYES," she simply said.
He reflected a moment. His face was
that of one who ponders dear and
doubtful proposition Something like a
pale heat gathered under the skin of his
dark cheeks He made slow, sound
less, hesitating movement with his lips,
as if about to utter some precious and
weighty sentence; but he turned and
looked through the window and did not
speak.
"You were in an evil mood that day."
she presently added.
Eyes, but had provocation, he quick
ly replied. "Those Yankees were track
ing me as hunter tracks wild beast"
(Since the war all northerners are called
Yankees in the south.
swell. they did not Rirt you, at least
she said. smiling archly.
"No, we are quits-they and L; our
scores are even" He smiled also, and
picking up her banjo. which CHANGED to
be near him. began idly drumming on
its strings After a moment he passed
it to her,
"Play for me" he said; lit will recall
the pastoral sweetness of the pocket. 1t
will drive away those unwelcome recol-
lections Sing the little French song ;
your father used to love-" !
about flying away"
Eyes"
She Immediately struck the preimi-
nary notes, and then throwing back her S
head, as bird does, began singing 6
She gave infinite sweetness to the ex- g
preston, and there was a charming dis |
,ord between the light, lingering ca g
lence of the French measure and the a
sudden blunt notes of the banjo. Her r
attitude was careless and graceful, the d
nerest trace of infantile abandon in it. b
uiting perfectly the spirit of the song t
Ellis stole glance at her face, soft, r
lreamy light gathering in his eyes. Her L
-oice was like a call to him from high |;
r and purer atmosphere, and he felt as n
she had really wandered away, in her :
White robe of innocence. far beyond his 9
each. =
"You have changed a great deal" he
said, interrupting.
"Oh, have II" she exclaimed. with e e
title flicker Of self consciousness in her =
ace do not sing SO well as used ..
OF"
"You sing better. did not mean that. -
had reference to your-your looks. -
"Its my Clothes" she said, casting a =,
nick, satisfied glance over her simple. :,
ut beautiful apparel ~
mot altogether-not at all" he re- ~ ~
pended. "You have learned a great g
cal, ana you nave grown ruv,e-more
beautiful" -
Have II" she exclaimed, her eyes re- VI
overing their old sincerity. and her -
oice its childish freedom. ii have ga
ways wished to be beautiful" na
you are very, very beautiful" he no
i'd in way which seemed to suppress -
world of emotion. 1t was as if he in
ere saying it from great distance and ~
i'd not expect her to hear it. az
Whittier their talk might at last have ~
d them. one may say no more than
lrmise. Just then Mr.. Roosevelt en- 81, sn
red the hall with some one. and la "a
oice that startled Rosalie reached the 'n
lrlor Mi
"You shall make my house your home