The sea coast echo., 1895-07-20

and so the custom is protected by being
a custom"
The young man sat awkwardly IL
his chair, and was silent
They seemed to be closing the door,
against any thought he might have oi
closer intimacy with the family
The judge left the room for a mo
ment, and came back with lighted
lamp, and placed It on the claw-legged
table in the center OF the room. lie
had put on n long dressing-gown faced
with crimson quilted silk, and now he
drew his great chair up before the fire,
and stretched himself out In it.
Come, Clint, will let you shake
the pepper for me, and I'll go down
cellar and get some apples" Isabel
looked at him with n merry twinkle in
her eyes. as she held the handle toward
him, and then ran out OF the room.
Clint grasped the handle of the pop
per with the delight of success food.
ing his veins Isabel had never be-
fore given him reason to believe that
she cared for him that could compare
with that look.
Daylight would find him sitting
| right there, but he would beat the
judges watch and gain the opportunity
of speaking to her.
Tho time passed on until the noisy
clock on the mantel clearly and for
chilly announced the hour of ten.
1t had been comparatively easy this
far, but now was the time when Clint
usually went home.
| The real contest was about to begin.
The Judge showed his chair back to
the table, picked up paper and be-
gan to read. r-iinf ,t'r %
From time to time he glanced over
the top of his paper at the two talking
before the fire, but still read on. s.
When the clock struck eleven, he
threw the paper down, pulled his chair
back to the fire, and drew the young
man into an animated political discus
sion.
Isabel stirred about the room, put
ting things in order for the night.
1t was nearing midnight For the
last fifteen minutes the conversation
had begun TO lag
There were cold moments of COM
plete silence.
Had you noticed that had traded
horses?" Clint asked, in one painful
pause.
mo; have you?" Isabel asked, com
ing forward with interest.
"Yes. I've traded the grays for
George Merwin's blacks. OF course
there was considerable to boot. They
go like the wind in my new cutter"
II should think they would" Isabel
drew deep breath II do like black
horses. l never cared for gray ones. l
always think Of having to look for a
red-headed girl" she laughed II
should think you'd always be on the
outlook for one when you ride behind
them"
Perhaps Mr.. Holderman is looking
for II red-headed girl" the Judge said,
with queer look in the direction OF
| the young man, There's supersti-
tion that a red-headed girl has a vio-
lent temper. Now, that isn't always
true" he said, after moments silence,
in which his thought seemed to have
been far away. "Isabels mother had
as sweet a disposition us any woman
that ever lived, atsl her hair was the
color of that deep flame there"
Isabel was leaning on the back OF
her fathers chair. "Why, father,
you've always said my hair was almost
the color of mothers. I'm sure no one
would think of calling mine red"
81 don't know about that" the Judge
laughed; "and l don't know about the
temper, either" he added, reaching up
and pinching her cheek.
"l never liked red hair, but I'm sure
/ don't believe in that sign" Clint said,
clumsily. He gazed hxedly into the
fire, and felt as though he were turn
ing to stone.
The clock struck twelve with reso
nant defiant stroke, as though it un,
derstood the contest In which it hello
the stakes, and refused to commit itsel,
as to whose side would win.
At a quarter past twelve the judg,
stood up.
Clint felt his heart beating wildly
The moment of triumph was at hand
| The judge crossed to the bay win
dow at the other end of the room
Isabers eyes followed him nervously
From one side, among the geranium
and ivy, he drew the chess table, ant
pushed it before him toward the fire.
II think 1t would he pleasant fo
us to have game of chess" he said
afrably.
Clint sprang to his feet,
"oh, thank you, sir l think mus
be going home"
"oh, must you? Well, come owe
again, and we'll get at it earlier in tn,
evening"
1t seemed hours before Clint fnall,
found himself out on the smooth snow
beaten road, spinning along TOWARD
home.
He would have been completed,
/ wretched in his defeat If it had no
been for that look in Isabels eve
when she handed him the corn pepper
He could endure his fathers ridicul
and wait his time, remembering tina
look.
And so he made q good story of it a
breakfast the next morning, an,
added, elevating his voice above tn,
roaring laugh of his father and thu
shrieks of his mother and sister:
Never you mind. The Judge ism
through with me yet. I've only free
my first gun. I'll own when | cam
out of the house | was out of shot, bu
haven't given up the fight yet"
"oh, you'll let some other bantam
rooster carry her off. guess I'm SAT