Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1895-11-22
II reckon YOU won't be wanting any

af reckon you won't be wanting any
supper before you go? You're almost
sure to be offered sOmethin' up al
Horseley's, while il I have to COOK you
up suthin' how and still have tne men
regular supper to get at seven, 1t makes
all the expense Of an extra meal.
Hays hesitated. He would have pre-
ferred his supper now, and ha1 ms
daughter pressed him would have ao-
eepted it, But economy, which was one
of Zuleikas inherited instincts, vaguely
appealing to him to be as virtue, IN
terchangeable with charity and abste-
m,ousness; was certainly to be encour--
aged in young girl. 1t hardly seemed
bossib,e that with an eye single to the
integrity of the larder she could ever
look kindly on the Establishments OF his
sex. or. indeed, be exposed to them. lie
said simply: Don't cook for me, and
resumed his attitude before the fire as
the girl left the room.
AS he sat there grim and immovable
as one of the battered iire-dogs pelore
him, the wind in the chimney Sc med TO
carry on a eep-throated, detected, ana
confidential conversation with him. pu1
to really have very littlc to reveal.
There was no haunting reminiscence OF
his married life in this room, which ne
had ALWAYS occupied in preference TO
the company or sitting-room beyond.
There were no familiar shadows OF the
mast lurking in its corners to pervade
his reverie. When he did reflect, which
was seldom, there was always in his
mind vague idea of central inlustice
TO which he had been subjected, that
was 10 be avoided by circuitous move
ment. to be hidden by work, but never
TO be surmounted. And tonight he was
going out in the storm, which he could
understand and fight, as he had often
done before. and he was going to drive
O. bargain with man like hlmseu anu
get the better of him If he could as ne
had done before, and another day Wouiu
be gone, and that central injustice whlch
he could not understand would De clI-
c,tmvented. and he would still be hold
ing his own in the world. And the God
of Israel. whom he believed in, and who
was hard but conscientious Providence,
something like himself, would assist him,
perhaps, some day to the understanding
of this same vague injustice which tie
was, for some strange reason, permitting
But never more unrelonting and un-
sparing of others than when under con-
yiction Of sin himself, and never more
harsh and unforgiving than when lresf
from the contemplation OF the divine
mercy. he still sat there grimly holding
his hands to o warmth that never
seemed to get nearer his heart than that
until his daughter re-entered the room
with his carpet bag.
To rise, put on his coat and overcoat
secure fur cap on his head by q woolel
comforter, covering his ears ana tWine'
round his throat, and to rigldly oiier
square and Gather beaten cheek to hi
daughters dusty kiss, did not, appar
emily. suggest any lingering or heslta
ton The sled was at the door, VIII ch
for q tumultuous moment, opened Ol
the storm and the white vision OF
horse knee-deep in drift, and thel
closed b hiud him. Zuleika shot tn
holt brushed some fakes Of the invad
inc snow from the mat, and, after iru
gally raking down the fire on the heart
her father had just quilted, retire
through the long passage to the kltche
and her domestic supervision.
IT was a few hours later; supper ha
long passed; the hands" had one D
one returned to their quarters under IN
roof or in adjacent lofts, and Zu!elk
and the two maids had atlast abandone
the kitchen for their bedrooms beyont
Zuleika herself, by the light OF SOL
iarv candle, had entered the office an
had dropped meditatively into chai
as she slowly raked the warm ashe
over the still smoldering fire. III
barking of dogs had momentarlly a
t,acted her attention, but it had sue
denly ceased. 1t was followed, now
, ever, by more startling incident
/. slight movement outside, and an atteml
TO raise the window!
, She was not frightened; perhap
, there was little for her to fear; 1t wa
known that Hays kept no money in II
! house, the safe was only used Il
f. securities and contracts, and there wei
! balf-a-dozen men within call. 1t wa
therefore, only her usual active, burr
+ ing curiosity for novel incident TIL
) made her run to the window and pe
: ont: but it was with a spontaneous CT
) Of astonishment that she turned al
n darted to the front door and opened
:, to the mufled figure of young man.
). lack! Saints alive! Why, OF
6 things!" she gasped, incoherently
r He stopped her with an impattlel
gesture, and hand that prevented h'
q from closing the door again. -,
= dad amt here?" he asked, quickl
n "No."
:, "When'll he be back?"
"Not tonight.
; Good" he said, turning to the do
+ again. She could see a motlonLe
9 horse and sleigh in the road, with
n woman holding the reins.
|, He beckoned to the woman, w
7 drove to the door and jumped out. Ia
handsome, and audacious, she looked
9 / II -lI G1 TiL,k>||E =