The Press., 1894-11-22

Cnaln ana ring, ana WnO nau the power of keeping perfectly cool while he stir red up all sorts of disagreeable emotions in other people. Elsie was dumb, with dull aching at the heart She did not think of herself or of Paul. They were young and strong, and the world was all before them, but those two helpless old women, so innocent minded and unsus picious, with all their silly little vani- ties, this man, she felt sure, was capa- ble of trundling them off to the poor house.
 She made no reply to Hapgood's speeches, marked with cheery self con- fdence, as if quite unaware that he was cutting into the quick of her sensibili- ties, but went into the pantry to skim the pans of sweet milk banged on the neat shelves. She closed the door be- hind her, as if to hint that she wished to be alone, but Hapgood opened it and came strolling in with the assurance of a perfect right to go anywhere ill his own house.
 II suppose you have made 8 search for Uncle Sis will, ," he said, address ing the question to Elsies back hair as he stood looking down at the process of taking the thick yellow folded cream from off the pans
 "No," said Elsie, feeling hot and un- comfortable and wishing with all her soul that he would cease to dog her steps and go away and leave her to do her work ill peace. We have made no search. We knew there was nothing coming to us. The house is all open, and you can ransack it from top to bottom. J
 Arthur stood looking at her Eledita lively, his lips made up to whistle. though no sound came
 II don't want you to think you are not welcome to stay here" said he at last. "You may make this your perna- nent home if you please, Elsie. Uncle Si was @ simple old fellow, easily imposed upon and not up to modern ideas. He might have made much more out of the land if he had tried. l can't be expected to act OH his plan, but as far as you are concerned there need be no change Elsie was uncomfortably conscious that Hapgood was studying every line of her back, though her knowledge of the world was not great. She knew in stinctively that an offer of protection from an unmarried man to 8 girl of her age was a covert insult. "Excuse me, MT Hapgood," she said II do not go with tho house and the land or any of the goods and chattels. am neither an OK nor an ass, a manservant nor maid servant, to be included i'll your plan.
 Hapgood gave a little superior, self satisfied laugh. That tone of independ- ence was very pretty ill a young thing like Elsie. He liked to see her toss her curly head in that defiant way. The lines of her slim waist were very tempt ing. She had been little saucy and | pert, and why should she not be well kissed by way of punishment? Hapgood knew no reason that could restrain him from amusing himself with little Elsie. He had just made 8 motion to slip his arm round the girl waist when a shad- ow darkened the doorway, and Elsie, turning quickly at the risk of spatterjng | Hapgood with cream from her skim mer, saw Paul Raynor looming up like thundercloud crowned with his hand some, powerful head, with the abundant l light hair tossed carelessly off the fore | head, his big hands clinched and his eye like blue lightning.
 Arthur turned, too, but with his usual deliberation, taking time to put | up his single eyeglass He measured | Raynor with his glance and saw that he was the larger and brawnier fellow of | the two. Paul was quivering with rage, but Elsie gave him an imploring look tc keep him from laying violent hands on Hapgood.
 ''Oh, said the latter, looking him over, II understand you are my uncle's l hired man.
 | 'Then you have been misinformed, '" said Paul, lifting his head proudly. ''There was no question of wages be- tween us. "
 "Oh, indeed! But understand you carried on the farm.
 "Yes, I worked, and Uncle Si paid me what he pleased ' returned Paul ill tone of offensive brevity.
 ''And you were satisfed?"
 II was satisfied.
 Mot ambitious, eh, like most Amer ican boys who have had to begin at the bottom?'
 Paul made no reply. A black cloud hung over his forehead. He was trying to choke down his wrath at this fellow $ studied insolence, aid his hands fairly itched to lay hold of him.
 ''I understand you are naturalist, D Arthur went OH. "Elsie here has great opinion of your requirements. y | A blush stole over Paul's face. He was ashamed to be called by what to l hi md am merely a learner, student" he stammered, letting his eyes drop to the | floor.
 "Yes, " drawled Hapgood. II saw your collection of beasts and birds and creep ing things out in the old shop. A little knowledge of that kind is enough tc make fellow conceited, especially ii l he has not seen much of the world. It's common observation that chap bit ten with that kind of mania will know | a good deal less when he knows more. 1 Now, you see, have come into posses ] sion of this place, and cannot be ex- | pected to rear up learned plowboys like my uncle, who was an impractical, whimsical old fellow But if you want to stay here for the present to look after the stock am willing to give you fai1 wages for fair days work. Nothing vague, you nderstand-nothing senti- mental about me; all down in black and white. '
 Paul muttered 8 very bad word deeE down ill his throat, one of the few he had ever used Keep your dirty money, he cried "If you offered it tc l C E==z=zzHI Fl IN