The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1895-02-22


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-
BILE of trundling them off to the poor
house
She made no reply to Hapgood's
speeches, marked with CHEEKY self con-
fidence, 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 ranged on the
neat shelves. She closed the door be-
hind her, as if to hint that she wished
to be aloue, but Hapgood opened it and
came strolling i'll with the assurance of
perfect right to go anywhere in his
own house.
Il suppose you have made search
for Uncle Sis will, he said, address
ing the question to Elsie's back hair as
he stood looking down at the process of
taking the thick yellow folded cream
from off the pans
mo, 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 i'll peace. I'VE 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 -
Arthur stood looking at her medita-
lively, his lips made up to whistle,
though no sound came.
Il don't want you to think you are
not welcome to stay here, - said he at
last. "You may make this your perma-
nent home if you please, Elsie. Uncle ST
was simple old fellow, easily imposed
upon aud not up to modern ideas. He
might have made much more out of the
land if he had tried. can It be expected
to act on 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 all unmarried man to girl of her
age was covert insult Excuse me,
Mr. Hapgood, she said. 81 do not go
with the house and the land or any of
the goods and chattels. am neither an
OK nor all ass, a manservant nor q maid
servant, to be included in your plan.
Hapgool gave a little superior, self
satisfied laugh. That tone of independ-
ence was very pretty in young thing
like Elsie. He liked to see her toss her
curly head in that defiant way The
lines of her slim waist We're very tempt
ing She had been a 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 motion to slip his
arm round the girl s waist when q shad-
ow darkened the doorway, and Elsie,
turning quickly at the risk of scattering
HapgoOd with cream from her skim
mer, saw Paul Raynor looming up like
a thundercioud crowned with his hand
some, powerful head, with the abundant
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 che larger and brawnier fellow of
the two. Paul was quivering with rage,
but Elsie gave him an imploring look to
keep him from laying violent hands Qn
Hapgood.
"Oh, " said the latter, looking him
over, - understand you are my uncle's
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 l understand you
carried on the farm. "
''Yes, worked, and Uncle 81 paid
me what he pleased, returned Paul in
a tone of offensive brevity.
''And you We're satisfied"
Il was satisfied. "
ANOo StAiI p4liOliS, CIIS llhS iIlCSu
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 fellows
studied insolence, and his hands fairly
itched to lay hold of him.
81 understand you are naturalist,
Arthur went ON. Elsie here has great
opinion of your requirements.
A blush stole over Paul's face. He
was ashamed to be called by what to
him was a great and sacred name. 81
am merely learner, a 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 i'll the old shop, A little
knowledge of that kind is enough to
make fellow conceited, especially if
he has not seen much of the world It's
common observation that chap bit
ten with that kind of mania will know
good deal less when he knows more.
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