The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1893-05-30

Brown vas the richest man in the
neighborhoOd, and therefore considered
the best catch. 1t was asserted that
Mary Graham would never marry
Blake as long as there was a chance of
capturing Brown, and the former well
knew of such opinion. Brown had been
West for a number of years, and there
had been whispers of wild, if not Grim
inal doings there, but, in view of his
financial worthiness, they remained
whispers and finally died away.
Take care what you say about him, "
said the girl, a note of alarm escaping
her. HE was here to day, as I said,
and he is very bitter against you. He
lid not threaten you openly, but he
said many things to show that he hates
you and that he means to be even with
you for the snub you gave him at the
meeting last week"
Just like the coward" Blake said
angrily, ito come with his threats to a
woman. Why doesn't he come to me
and make them?"
Reginald Brown is a man not to be
defied," Mary said, putting down her
knitting to conceal the trembling of
her hands, land you had best not be
50 outspoken. If he should hear you,
you might regret it,"
"Pehaw," he cried impatiently, Il
am not afraid of him. If YOU want
him, Mary, just say SO; don't try to
scare me away"
She looked dOubtfully at him a mo-
ment, then anger flashed over her face
and she said:
I'm not trying to scare you away.
Mr.. Brown has probably the same
right to consideration as you. He was
here to day, as I have said, just as you
came to night, to get a final answer
from me-"
And what answer did you give
him?" he asked impulsively.
Have you a right to ask that? But
I will tell you anyhow. I gave him
the same answer l will give you. I
will take my own time to answer. I
won't give it to anyone until I am
ready. have no answer to give you
tonight. That is your answer"
The young man rose slowly, took his
hat from the table and walked toward
the door. Deep dependency was upon
his face as he turned there, and said:
Mary, I see it all now. You love
Brown. You love him when he comes
to you, trying to win you by threats
of a rival. That isn't manly"
Haven't you done as much? You
have called him names tonight"
"He deserves them. I don't fear his
threats and I'm going to leave you to
him. I'll take the liberty, though, of
saying that you'll never be happy with
him. I repeat that he is a coward.
Good bye"
He turned again, and, with sudden
impulse she moved one hasty step to-
ward him, bat determination came
back to her face, and she restrained
her impulse and let him go out. He
fastened down the walk to the road,
and turned aside into the path leading
past Blackman's Gully.
Mary walked back to the chair and
resumed her knitting, but oon let it
fall to the floor. She was restless;
looking into the fire a moment, then
rising and walking to and fro Once
she put on her shawl and a red hood
and stepped to the door, but there she
stopped, took them off, ard with a
forced laugh said: Nonsense, it was
only imagination, or the frost on the
pane" and sat down again by the fire.
"Of course it was only the frost, ="
she repeated. II am like a child. But
I didn't do wrong. If he is so indie
pendent about not wanting to come
here to live, I can be independent, too.
And then the way he demanded my
answer. I just won't stand it, and
I'll"
She was interrupted by the distant
crunch Of the frozen snow under run
ming steps. They came rapidly nearer,
and when they turned into the yard,
she leaped up and stood ready to re
ceive the conner. Her father hurried
in, his face pale and startled.
MARY, get a bed ready at once, he
said. There have been terrible doings
this night"
"What9" she asked forbodingly.
"You will know soon. A man has
been thrown over into Blackman's
Gully. AS I was coming home I saw
him lying part way down the steep
side, where he had lodged against a
tree. It's mighty lucky it's moonlight,
or he'd have frozen to death, if he's not
already. I reused the neighbors and