Owingsville outlook., 1896-08-27
EL.-CoNrINUFn.

lCoFyrighi, 1895 BY J. B. Iirrln1ou Col
NL-CoNTINUFD.
Col. Latimer pulled the horses into
the road again, and they drove on in
silence. The reference 10 the feUi
brought Ringbrand back 10 things
present. and the thought that he should
not see Hester agnin had a sharper sting
as the time of his departure came
nearer. He recalled the little incidents
of their acquaintance, and tried 10 get
some comfort ont of the belief that her
heart was still in her own keeping, and
that the pain of remuneration Was going
10 he his not hers. The glance back
ward at the pleasant hours spent at the
homo of the Latimers reminded him
that il would he ungracious 20 go away
without making some acknowledge
ment of the colonel's kindness, and he
wondered how he could manage it
without betraying his plans for im-
mediate retreat. Fortunately, the
colonel himself opened the way 10y ask
ing him Ia become n guest at The
l4aurcls." Il told Tom Ludlow, day
befo' yeste'day, that he was actin
mighty mean about il, and he said he
reckoncd thcy-all could send you to us
for a spell"
I'm sure that's very good of You,
colonel. and thank YOU both for the
inutatiOn and for your many kind
nesses TO me since / came TO Tregar-
1t
shat ] was a stranger among you.
assure you, l would gladly accept the
hospitality of The Laurels' if-if my
time were wholly my own; as it is not,
J shall have to ask you 10 excuse me. j
really ought TO he in New York now"
Z We'll, I'm right sorry for that-'deed
I am" replied the colonel; II sort o.
got the idea from Tom you'd stav
hown here and make MS right god
Nisit"
80 have STAYED \. longer rhar [
should, re Joined Rineb. urk'c :
a mental roserYation as 10 the rcaso.
"As you probal-y know, depend upon
my work for a living. and can't afford
30 neglect it for very long at n time"
The colonel laughed. "'Pears TO me
like yogh work could be done most
anywhere; we-alrve got a mighty quiet
place up on the mountain, and I'm right
sure Hester could set you out with pen,
ink and paper"
-Thers's no end TO your hospitality,
colonel" replied Ringbrand, smiling at
the thought OF literary work in the house
with Hester. "Isuppose you'd be quite
willing TO have me turn The Laurels'
into q workshop; and almost wish i
could take you at your word, selfish as
Sc would be. 1t would scarcely be pos
sibie. though; shouldn't know how to
work IL were out If reach of the print
or's boy"
They had left the main road in the
valley, and were descending a steep hill
so a ford in the river. The driving was
difficult. and the colonel gave his entire
attention 20 the horses as they slid
down the rocky decliyity, talking TO
them as if they understood his explicit
directions. 500. now. there, Tolliver
there's a right smart chunk o. rock
Just ahead of you-step around It, my
10y. You, janet never you mind about
TOlliver; just pick up your own feet a
little higher. Steady, now"
''You have pretty rough roads around
hereg began Ringbrand, bracing him
self into his seat. II should think"
The interruption was an ominous
snap. and the horses stopped. That
sounded mighty like something broke" I"
said the colonel, and they alighted and
looked the carriage over carefully. "Yes,
here it is. for sure" he continued;
,-tongue's broke off right here"
They examined the fracture, and
Ringbrand suggested wrapping il in
splints with one Of the halter-straps.
II reckon IL wouldn't hold" said the
colonel, ''but we can try IT,"
! They spent some time trying to put
the suggestion into practice, succeed
ing fiIally in making a clumsy splice,
svhich the first pull Of the horses dis
fointed hopelessly. "It's no use, Mr..
Ringbrand," said the colonel; "we're in
for il; there's nothing like a blnck-
smith shop this side o. Tregarthen."
( Ringbrand looked at his watch and
saw that it was haif-past ten. How
far are we from the village, colonel7"
he asked. .
"About eight miles, I reckon"
That settled the question of depart
ure for that day, and Ringbrand was
annoyed to find himself feeling rather
jubilant than disappointed over the un-
avoidable delay. He helped the colonel
unhiieh. and after an hours hard work
fhey got the buggy to the top of the hill.
where they left it at the side of the road
and walked back 10 the nearest farm
house. leading the horses.
Since the colonel knew nearly every
one in the valley, il followed that they
had only to mention their need to OBJ
tain the hospitality and assistance Of
the farmer, who lent them an anti
ouafed carriage and refused to let them
depart until after dinner. Adding the
delays to the time consumed in the care
full driving necessary to the preserva-
iion of the farmers vehicle in state of
entirety, it was near the middle of the
afternoon when they got back To Tre-
garthen, and then Col. Latimer insisted
upon taking his companion up to the
mountain for the remainder of the day.
Ringbrand offered every reasonable OBJ
5ection he could think of. knowing that
another visit to Hester would immeas-
urably increase the pain of leaving her;
but In the end discretion was swept
away By an overwhelming desire TO see
ppd talk with her once more. and he