The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1892-10-19

Strong. who parted from her at tho
depot with that rcproochful look In
his eyes.
What caprice had moved her TO tell
him nop AT that moment shc felt MS
though she would give tho world to
pour ont hcr sorrow aud pcnitcncc TO
him, but he wos lost to hcr--gonc to
some far Western town.
SO she lay and sobbcd herself sick.
II was tho natural result of her long
weeks of sclf.controllcd trouble; she
had not 50 completely owned TO her
self before how much she regretted
the past.
When shc rose In tho morning shc
saw such white little face aud swollen
eyes IN the glass that she dreaded TO
go downstairs. a sort of apathy had
seized upon her, however, aud she
quietly striped into her place ut the
tablc with hopes that her mother
would not notice her especially. But
the sharp eyes of that busy woman
took her daughter in quickly. She
Intended 10 watch her moro closely
hereafter; her dislike for Nat Parkins
must be overcome.
"lIcs,cr," she cried in surprise,
"what have you been doing to your
sclf?"
"Noihing," Hester snid, wcarily,
bracing herself for the attack. Mira.
Barnard. after n moments look, set
down the collrc-pOt aud opened her
lips, but suddenly, 10 cvoryonc's SUR
| prise, Mr.. Barnard, who usually kept
II discreet silence during his wifc's
Trades. laid his toil-wor hand on his
| daughters shoulder.
"Now, Jane !"-hcr husband spoke
with the authoritative tone he rarely
used snvc when his daughter needed
dcfcncc-'l want you to drop this
nonsense about marrying Hester or To
Nat Parkins. lie IL not her kind Mt
ALL" In his blind way Joshua Bar
nard felt the difference between his
gentle daughter aud the bluir, rough
young farmer.
"Aficr she went upstairs last night"
hc went on, al pas 'cd under her witt
dow and the child was crying III to
break her heart, aud look at her
pa'c free this morning. Can you sec
it?"
eyes, see it," his wife said cross
". 1t always reused her temper TO
be opposed unexpectedly by her hus-
band, for she usually had to submit.
al see 1t and i,'s all nonsense! Some
good for-nothin' city fellow. pll war;
rant!" with which shot she left the
table and began ratting tho dishes in
n way to prevent further conversa-
tion.
Joshua Barnard slowly left the
house for the field. II was new idea
that his wife had suggested, yet Hes
ter had never said anything to him
about 1t, aud there wcro few things
she did not confidc to him. lie
thought of 1t all the long, warm morn-
ing Till tho terrible heat drove all the
workers to tho welcome Shade of the
trees along the fence by the road-
side.
The dust lay thick and dry OH tho
ground. the insects shrilled monoto-
nously-nothing stirred. A cloud OF
dust came down tho road aud Joshua
Barnard aud his men watched IL curl
ously: who was foolish enough to
drive horses SO fast under such blaz'
ing sun?
1t did not take much to check the
exhausted span of bays, who stood
painting and dust-begrimed, and they
turned to the light blackboard.
A man lay there, fallen under the
seat, with his face dark rod aud his
clothes dust covered.
"Drunk" was the disgustcd cry, but
Joshua Barnard, who looked more
closely, said, "A sunstrokc. Take hin
to the house carefully" and followed
wiping his heated brow. lie felt char.
table now towards all strangers. Was
it not II stranger that Hester perhaps
loved2
There was confusion in the browi
farmhouse Immediately, for Jan,
Barnard was in her element when sh,
had sick person Oh her hands, ant
sne uncercmoniously left Hester viii
the houscwork below while she tool
/ a -. IL