Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1895-11-22

except where narrow line Cl PO"u0iOU
flakes outlined the seams as II worn.
To the right was an apartment, hall OF
fee. half sitting room, furnished with
dark and chilly iron safe, SOFA and
chairs covered with black and col1ly
shining horsehair. Here Hays not only
removed his upper coat but his under
one also, and drawing a chair before the
fire, sat down in his shift sleeves. 1t
was his usual rustic pioneer habit, end
might have been some lingering renin-
iscence of certain not remote ancestors
TO whom clothes we're an impediment.
He was warming his hands and placidly
ignoring his gaunt arms in their thinly
clad hickory" sleeves, when O young
girl of eighteen sauntere1, half perfume
torily, half inquisitively, into the room.
1t was his only remaining daughter AL
ready elected by circumstances TO dry
household vlrginity, her somewhat large
features, sallow complexion, and taste
less. unattractive dress did not obvl-
ously suggest a sacrifice. Since her
sisters departure she had taken sole
charge Of her fathers domestic affairs
and the few rude servants he employed,
with certain inherited following OF ms
own moods and methods. To the neigh
bors she was known as Miss Hays -
dubious respect that in community OF
familiar "Sallies, Mamies, "Pussles,
was grimly prophetic. Yet she relolced
in the Oriental appellation OF "Aulelka.
To this it is needless to add that it was
impossible to conceive anyone who look
ed more decidedly Western.
aye can pat some things in my carpet
bag agin the time the sled comes round, "
said her father, meditatively, without
looking up.
"Then you're not coming back to-
nicht?" askc the girl curiously. What S
going on at the Summit, father?"
Il am" he said grimly. You don t
reckon I kalkilate to stop thar! I'm
going on as far as Horseleys to close
up that contract afore the weather
changes. -,
Il kinder allowed it was funny you'd
90 to the hotel tonight. There S a
dance there; those two Wetherbee girls
and Mamie Harris passed up the road
an hour ago on wood sled, nigh blown
TO pieces and sittin' up in the snow like
skeert white rabbits.
Hays brow darkened heavily
"Let 'em go" he said in harsh voice
that the fire had not yet softened. Let
'em 90 for all the good their fool parents
VII ever get outer EN-, or the herd OF
wayside cattle they've let them loose
among" -
Il reckon they haven't much to do al
home. or are hard put for company, tC
travel six miles in the snow to show OF
their prinkin' TO lot Of idle lOuts shiny
: with bears grease and scented up will
| doctors stuff, added the girl, Smuggling
her shoulders with touch OF hel
l fathers mood and manner
b. Perhaps it struck Hays at that mo-
ment that her attitude was someWha
. monstrous and unnatural for one still
1 Young and presumably like other girls
4 for, after glancing at her under hl'
: heavy brows, he said, in a gentler tone
Q Never you mind, Zuly. When you
e brother Jack comes home, he'll know
1 what's what, and have all the prope
}, New York ways and style. It's nlgl
e ON three wears now that he's had tn
t hest training Doctor Dawson S Academ,
8 could give, sayin' nothing of the pow III
r: Christian example OF one OF the pee
u preachers in the States. They mayh
; have worldly, ungodly fandanSoe
g where he is, and riotous liyin, ana scar
u let abomin nations, but I've been tod ina
e they've tea circles, and assemblies,
and harmony concerts of young folk
G and dancin'-yes, fine square dancln
l. under control. No, amt stinted hlI
;, in anythin'. You can remember tha'
: Zlleika. when you hear any more gos
y sip and backbitin' about your father
', meanness. liant spared nc, money 10
IL him.
= II reckon not" said the girl. littl
- sharply. "Why, there is that draft tc
70 two hundred and fifty dollars that kel
: on,v last week from the Doctors fc
a extras. 80 IL,
9 Yes" replied Hays, with sligf
70 knitting OF the brows, the Doctor mou
y hev writ more particklers, but parson
- amt allus business men. l !ecko
y these here extries were to push Jac
:, along in the term, as the Doctor knew
=. wanted him back here in the sprlns
70 now that his brother has got to be TO
y stiff-necked and self-opinionated to d
y his fathers work" 1t seemed 1rol
This that there had been a quarrel bt
y tween Hays and his eldest son, VIII
y conducted his branch Of business
" Sacramento, and who had in passio
threatened to set up rival establish
/ mont to his fathers. And it was ais
- evident from the manner OF the gil
" that she was by no means a strong pal
y tisan of her father in the quarrel.
you'd better find out first how o
10 10 the schoolin' and trainin' Of Jacks
o." gOin' 10 iibe with the ranch, and IL b
- ain't been eddicated out of all knowled4
of station business or keer for it. Ne
Z York amt Hays Ranch, and these "
I, Assemblies and Harmony doins an
% their airs and graces may put him OF
- ! of conceit with our plain ways. reckc
~ We didn't take that to mind when you
" y, been bustlin' round payin' two hundrf
70 and fifty dollar drafts for Jack ar
= and QUO Hin with Biiah! l ain sayj
10 nothin', father, only mebbe If Bijah hf
had drafts and extrys fourished arouI
y " him a little moro, mebbe he'd ha'
10 been more polite and not so tout
40 spoken. Mebbe," she continued with
- little laugh. "even I'd be little mo
, in style to suit Master Ja'k when
comes ef | had three hundred dollar
"a worth of convent echoo-in' like Nam
O. Harris.
of "Yes. And you'd have only ma
I'd yourself fair game for ev'Iy schemll
r. lazy sport or counterjumper along l
road from this 10 Sacramento, respon
VS. cd Hays, savagely. -,
ge Zuleika laughed again constraine IL
ed but in a way that might have suggest
no that this dreadful contingency was st