Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1896-12-17

ing There was no attempt at grading
about the house, nor any lawn. A dump
cart usually stood next the back door,
and against the barn was piled q heap
Of useless old boards, which might once
have served for a pigpen. Sometimes
there was wooden pump rod or two
from the house In the middle Of the
yard, which was shut in on one side by
the house and rambling shed behind it
and OH the back by the barn. Once he
saw q tin dipper hanging In conspicu.
GUS place, and took the liberty Of help
ing himself to drink. As he did so a
woman came to the door and stared at
him through the fly screen, and Alec
wondered grilnly II dog would pres
emily be lot out upon him. But when
be looked again the face Of the woman
seemed quits benevolent ana rather On.
rious. Alec was glad to get away, how
ever. He didn't like the hardness Of ev.
erything. Perhaps the next house would
have a more comfortable appearance.
But they were all alike There WASH I
q sign Of softness Or comfort anywhere.
The people seemed not to have imagin-
sd the word. Even the bigger houses
which had been fitted up for summer
boarders and seemed to make certain
pretensions to elegance had the same
stiff, uncomfortable air, which settled
down over the poor fellow like a vast
Encouragement.
But suddenly he came on a farmhouse
that seemed more inviting, or he was
30 tired now that he saw what he want
ed to see. There was a wide yard, and
back Of II a big barn with wide open
doors, On the left was the long, low
house, and in the kitchen doorway
stood a very fat, presumably benevolent
looking woman, who seemed to be wait.
ing supper for the men who were wash
ing in the log trough before the pump
Or in washbasins on low bench beside
the kitchen door, There were three men,
Or rather two men and a boy. 1t was
the boy who was washing in the log
trough. One of the men was white hair
ed and much bent The other was per.
haps 40 and had long, ragged, sandy
beard. But he was very rugged aud up.
right and talked as il he were the head
Of the house.
As Alec approached the woman in the
doorway she stood silently staring at
him, but the men went on washing,
though they stared ont Of the corners Of
their eyes, and as they wiped tho water
off on the single long towel they held
between them they all looked critically
at the strange lad. But none Of them
spoke.
II wanted to inquire, Alec said, iii
! could perhaps get a nights lodging-I
mean some work here, I've come from
New York, and l thought you might
need some help, or could be allowed
to stay here tonight-if l paid a little
something for it. This Yankee bar
gaining did not come at all natural to
him, but he added the sentence about
pay when he saw no sign Of interest or
response on the faces Of the four people
Or rather the three, for the boy was
behind him.
"Come from New York, have your"
inquired the woman at last in a tone
that was meant to be- friendly.
Alec made no answer, for none SEEM
cd to be demanded. But he quaked in
wardly as hs wondered what they were
going to do.
"You didn't walk all the way?" in.
quired the man.
II came on the cars to the Rushes,
and this afternoon l have walked from
there, said Alec quietly.
"a good bit Of walk from the
Rushes," remarked the old man.
"Where be you goingf Homer"
The suggestion of going home seemed I
to Alec very good one, and he prompt
ly responded:
Eyes, I'm going home. I'vegot to go
up across Vermont to Lake Champlain,
and ! expect to walk most Of the way"
"Well, you are plucky IN, remark.
ed the old man, turning away, while
Alec smiled in his sleeve at his own
eimple mendacifv. "Taka tho lad IN