The Press., 1894-12-06

all was silent save the slow tick of the clock in the corner. Had the little witch taken French leave and left those old women on. his hands? He flushed and grew angry as it flashed upon him that she might have gone away with Paul Raynor =.
 He stepped out of the back kitchen door on his way toward the barn, where the bawling of calf could be heard in the quiet air and the cawing of crows as they Tapped their great black wings over a cornfield He stopped to look in at the old shop where Paul had kept his pets and saw the door open and the place quite empty. Even Paul's old hats and coats, that had hung there on pegs, had been taken away, and the few books he kept on 8 rude shelf in the corner. A grim smile of satisfaction curled Arthur's lips as he looked about the deserted place. Paul's white pigeons were still flying in and out of the high window in the peak, clapping their wings as they rose in air. He went on to the barn, where the great doors were closed, making semitwilight in the large area that smelled of hay and dried clover. He pushed them open and stepped in on the thrashing floor. Old Whltefoot was munching his feed in the stall, and he turned his head and looked at the in truder. A slight rustling in the hay mow near 8 tall ladder caused Arthur to glance up toward the roof of the barn, where the daylight in misty streaks was coming ill through the cracks and knot holes.
 "You witch!" he cried. What are you doing up there in the hay?"
 Hunting fresh eggs for Aunt Pris- sy's omelet," Elsie answered up aloft. "She is rather poorly this morning."
 In a moment she had skipped down the ladder with a few pearly eggs in her apron. Arthur put out his hand, but Elsie did not seem to see it.
 Do you know you were quite fasci- nating," said he, ''as you peeped just now with your bright eyes over the edge of the haynow-so fascinating, in fact, little girl, l have half mind to steal kiss?''
 Better keep your distance, " said FL sic, picking up a pitchfork and menac- ing him.
 Arthur laughed incredulously. You couldn't hurt flea, but are very be- witching all the same. Most women are ugly when they are at work, but it is not so with you. I don't know whether like you best stabling horse or knead- ing bread or hunting hens eggs or feed ing calves. y
 Elsie looked coldly resentful. II don t like compliments, said she, land l wish you would keep yours to yourself. ;
 Doesn't Raynor pay you compli- ments?" he said, peering in her face.
 Elsie blushed a little ill spite of her. self. "No he does not" she said. with perfect frankness. "He has more sense :"
 "I'll be bound he does, though, lit tie Elsie He would be a greater fool than he looks if he did not. I'll wager he's kissed you dozens of times, and you ought to give me the same privilege It's relief to get that fellow off the place. He was a kind of incubus. have been thinking up plan for you, Elsie. You ought to go to school for a year or two, for you have in you the making of a splendid woman." "Why do you concern yourself about me, MT. dapgOOO!
 Because you have no other protector no other friend.
 "Then the Lord have mercy upon me-"
 ''I like to see you look like that, Ell sic, for wouldn't give a, snap of my finger for girl who hasn't little spice | of the devil in her. I intend to make you believe in me and trust me. Now I want you to do me a service, an( (Asy little thing that will not take 10 min- utes of your time. want you to go and tell those old women that have en- gagged a pleasant room for them in the Old Ladies' home at Littlefeld, most comfortable place, where they will be far jollier than they can be out here, where dare say they are dull enough at times. You can arrange it all with out scene. have constitutional dis like to scenes, and l want them to know how generous my intentions really are ;"
 Elsie drew herself up, and g look of scorn and contempt came into her mo- bile face. Her eyes flashed fire. She clinched her little hand until the nails hurt her palm. "Go and do your cruel work yourself, /" she cried desperately. "You are a perfectly heartless and cold blooded man to ask me to stab my old friends and give them their death blow. hate and detest you, and will never speak to you again if I can help it." The hot tears nearly blinded her. She turned on her heel and walked slowly out of the barn.
 An angry red spot burned on Hap goods cheek. He gnawed his neither liz with suppressed rage and vowed he would get the whip hand of the proud little beggar who had defed him and refused to do his bidding. Elsie walked away to the house with her head up and defiant. She left the kitchen work un- done and went to her own room, where she sat gazing from the window up the high pasture toward the woods where Paul was in hiding. In the hollow o1 the great oak tree at the top of the lane she had hidden store of provisions fol his use. An awful silence brooded owe, the house, as if some one lay dying. She bent her ear to listen and heard Arthur Hapgood go up into the attic and prow aboutamong Uncle Si old dusty trunks 1 After time he descended to the kitch en. She heard his footsteps and the opening and shutting of doors. The1