Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-11-11
CHAPTER XVI.

Sda1 i En- AN1.
HE GOES TO THE MOUNTAINS FOR TIE
CATTLE.
Miss Dora Thistle did not call at the
store the next day, and the day after
bright young man from the city arrived
and quite absorbed her attention for the
rest Of the time she spent at Ashton.
Alec was evidently great puzzle to her,
and she felt that il was best TO let him
alone. Besides, he had grown very stu
pid, and Mr.. Melton, with his white fan
mel suit, brown shoes and very broad
brimmed hat with a red band, was al
ways interesting. Mr.. Melton Gid not
know Alec, and once or twice was rath-
er rude to him, until Miss Thistle vhis-
pered in his ear; then he only stared
hard at Alec and shook his head.
But before the summer was past the
young men of the village made shy ad-
vances to Alec. and he got on to very
friendly terms with those he met every
Sunday in his Sabbath school class.
One day Alec decided to confide his
personal doubts and difficulties to George
Marston, the blacksmith. He was quiet
" looking about to see if he cocld find
any remunerative employment or occu-
patton, and thought that George might
suggest some idea: Mr.. Higgins still
gave him only his board ard lodging,
though he had freely allowed Alec to
take things from the store on credit.
ASK him for So q week, said George
when Alec mentioned this. "You de-
serve it, and he Will never give it to you
unless you ask him.
Alec asked Mir. Higgins for the add
ton Of So q week, and the request was
promptly accorded.
II thought you was queer chap to
work all summer on nothing a week, -
said Joe, but If you wanted to do it I
wasn't saying nothing
The sharp October frosts had turned
all the maple leaves scarlet and all the
elm and chestnut leaves yellow, and the
ivy leaves yellow and scarlet together.
| 1t was time to bring home the ycung
| cattle from the mountains, and George
Marston and Alec were deputed TO go
for them for the neighborhood. George
Marston was considered the best hand ut
coaxing cattle i'll the village. and he in
| turn asked Alec to go with him. ice
Higgins readily let the young man off,
for he had cattle of his own to be
brought. They were to take George
Marston's Concord wagon and bay mare,
| a first rate roadster. In the wagon were
plenty of blankets, so that they might
sleep a night on the bottom Of it if need
be, and oats for the mare and a big
lunch basket that Lisbeth prepared. i;
contained, Alec knew, lot Of her good
things-gilger cookies and currant Jelly
and huckleberry jam, besides more solid
nutriment, and there was big jug of
sweet cider.
| They would be gone no doubt for three
days, if not four or five. for it was 80
miles to the mountains and hunting cat
tie and driving them home are very slow
| work. They would start early on Mon
day morning and reach the pasturage by
evening. The next day would come the
hunt Tor the stray ones, and there was
no telling how long that would take.
Then it would require not less than two
days to drive the cattle home. even if
they Travelled more or less steadily dur
ing the intervening night.
Alec liked the idea of taking such
trip with George Marston, for fond
ness had grown up between the man
and the lad which was clearly recog-
nized by both, though never spoken Of.
Perhaps 'Lisbeth was the mutual bond,
for she had become like very sister to
Alec, and he had done all lie could to
forward tle suit Of Marston, to when
also he looked for sort Of protecting,
brotherly interest which is consolirg to
think Of, even if it does not mean very
much practically.
'Lisbeth took great pains in getting
the two of comfortably. Many a little
thing was added fer their welfare which
they would never have thought Of At >
O'Clock in the morning the old, dirty,
rafting wagon, with its rough floor,
that had wide cracks in it, stood before
the veranGa of the store, and On this
special occasion the store door was
standing open. But though rather i'll
looking, the wagon had good springs
and good wheels, ard the bay mare was
fresh and sleek in her substantial
though scarcely elegant harness. Ev-
erything had been put into the wagon
the night before except the lunch basket.
AisOcNh uo1 up uDuT
past preparing that. Alec now appeared
at the door bringing it, and George and
'Lisbeth were close behind him. He put
the basket in behind, and George got
on to the seat and took up the reips.
When all was ready, Alec jumped up
on the low veranda, and, taking Lis
beth's hand. said hearty goodby and
kissed her on the cheek. He blushed
slightly, but affected an uncommon ease
of manner and Inconsistencies as he
swung round the wagon and proceeded
to climb on the opposite side. Lisbeth
looked after him in blank amazement
She was neither offended nor pleased
apparently. but simply astonished. and
it took her some seconds to grasp the
situation. Then she smiled and hlushed
prettily, and with knowing look STEP
ped down beside the wagon as if she
thought herself very stupid to need srch
hint from Alec. and shyly lifted up
her lips to George. who bent and kissed