The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1895-03-08

tS lltJ IOSt LII dlE. l1t NCllU OIl " lllO
barn, where the great doors were closed,
making a 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 i'll the stall, and he
turned his head and looked at the in
truder. A slight rustling in the hay
NOW near tall ladder caused Arthur
to glance up toward the roof Of the barn,
where the daylight in misty streaks was
coming i'll through the cracks and knot
holes.
"You witchr' he cried. "What are
Won doing up there i'll the hay?"
Hunting fresh eggs for Aunt Pris-
sy's omelet," Elsie answered up aloft
"She is rather poorly this morning" "
In q moment she had skipped down
the ladder with a few poarly eggs i'll
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 haymow-so fascinating, i'll fact,
little girl, | have half mind to steal
kiss?''
Better keep your distance, said Ell
sic, picking up a pitchfork and menac-
ing him.
Arthur laughed incredulously. You
couldn't hurt q 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. | don't know whether
like you best stabling horse or knead
ing bread or hunting hens eggs or feed
ing calves
Elsie looked coldly resentful. 81 don't
like compliments, said she, land
wish you would keep yours to yourself. "
Doesn't Raynor pay you compli-
ments?" he said, peering in her face,
Elsie blushed little in spite of her
self mo, he does not" she said, with
perfect frankness. HE has more sense. "
"I'il 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 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 Cf splendid woman.
"Why do you concern yourself about
me, Mr.. Hapgood?'
because you have no. other protector
no other friend "
''Then the Lord have mercy upon
me- ~
81 like to see you look like that, Ell
sic for wouldn't give snap of my
finger for girl who hasn't little spice
of the devil i'll her. | intend to make
you believe in me and trust me. Now
| | want you to do me a service, an easy
| 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 pleasant room for them in the
Old Ladies' home at Littlefiold 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 a constitutional dis
like to scenes, AMI want them to know
how generous my intentions really are. "
Elsie drew herself up, and 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. $50 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 l cen 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 Oh Hap
goods cheek He gnawed his neither lip
with suppressed rage and vowed he
would get the whip hand of the proud
little beggar who had detied him and
refused 10 do his bidding Elsie walked
away to the house with her head up and
Eefiant She left the kitchen work un-
done and went to her own room, where
she sat gazing from tho window up the
high pasture toward the woods where
Paul was in hiding. In the hollow of
the great oak tree at the top of the lane
she had hidden store of provisions for
his use, An awful silence brooded over
the house, as if some one lay dying She
bent her ear to listen and heard Arthur
Hapgood go up into the attic and prowl
aboutamong Uncle ST S old dusty trunks
After time he descended to the kitch-
ell. She heard his footsteps and the
opening and shutting of doors Then
she knew by instinct he had gone TO the
parlor, where the old ladies sat at their
morning game of cribbage, all uncon-
scious i'll the sunshine. She felt op-
pressed and could hardly breathe as she
stole out to the landing and hung over
the banister, while a murmur of voices
went on in the parlor 1t seemed an
eternity before Arthur Hapgood came
out and closed the door with a slam.
Elsie crept down the stairs and paused
in the hall. There was "a sound of sob
bing and of dull, low moaning, as of a
child that has lost its way and is crying
itself to sleep. She hesitated a moment,
listening with her ear to the crack,
then softly pushed open the door
The two old women, in their haste to
retreat to their last earthly stronghold,
had huddled themselves in bed with
their clothes on. Miss Hetty had gone
into complete eclipse under the album
quilt and presented the appearance of an
amorphous bundle, while Miss Prissy
still kept her head above the sheets, with
} her day cap all awry and her false puffs
sadly out of place They were mOanino