Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-11-05

phere and were silent too. There they
sat at table, all as silent as the Grave.
Alec felt the first oppression Of fear
and doubt and rebellion come over him.
for he knew that he was being put out
Of the house as much as if Milo were
driving him with a stick and kicks.
Had Milo been putting him cut that
was the way he would have done il. but
this was the woman's way. 1t was Mrs.
Bennett who was putting him cut, not
lilo. Alec Looked Ut The cid r.,an and
Jaw that he was really miserable, though
stolid enough abcut il, and lie lad q
vague thought of doing CT saying some
thing TO break the oppressive silence
and cheer the others IN. He tried one
or two remarks. but they did rot go.
There sat Mrs. Bennett at the other end
of the table, and she was master Of the
situation.
As soon rs breakfast Was finished
Milo and the boys escaped to the barn.
Alec would have gone. too. but Mrs.
Bennett detained him and at the same
! time sent Maud to do the chamber
work full hour before the regular time.
II wish to say that we will not need
your services any further. began Mrs.
Bennett, standing like soldier. hand
On each hip, terror in her eyes. "A mis-
| cradle. picked faced brat cut Of the
sluns of New York to come here and
pretend TO be somebody and disgrace me
and my family
She had counted evidently on pouring
out all her wrath and vituperation for
| at least once in her life. but Alec felt
his blood rising. his recent meekness
| seemed TO slip from him, and 10 tho Ut
| ter establishment Ct the angry woman
before him he took on IN air Of wounded
dignity of a sort quite new TO Mrs. Ben
nett and said:
MADAM. excnse me. Twill not trou-
BILE you further.
With that he walked away like q
king. Eurryirg rp the back stairs three
steps at u time. he snatched from his
room his little rubber bag, with the
blanket tied to it. Just as it was when
he came a week before. and hurried out
Of the house. As he went he looked
about for Maud. but she was nowhere
TO be seen. He was sorry for her and
partly angry at Mrs. Bennett on her &C.
count, for the attitude the woman had
taken seemed to him to reflect on her
daughter far more than il did on him,
and if in any way he could have aveng-
ed the innocent child he would have
done so. But he saw nothing for 1t but
to 60 away.
1t was a clear, cool morning, like the
one on which he had frs. come. and in
his present condition of mind walking
was a genuine pleasure. He felt as if he
could walk at least 20 miles, since 90
miles would be SO far away from the
house he hated So
As the sun rose continually higher
the day grew warmer. but the air was
not sultry. and Alec rather enjoyed the
exercise of walking. though the per-
SEPARATION streamed from every pore and
the dust rose and stuck to his hands and
face until they were quite black. He
felt stronger and more vigorous in body
than when he set out, and, though he
had not . cent in his pocket, he felt
more secure by far than ON that first
day. Moreover, his pride was mp with
his anger, and he could not very well
mourn in encouragement over the pos
sibility of starving. That was too ridic-
ulous. His plan was to walk rs far as
he could and then inquire for work, or
at least beg a nights lodging and prom
Use to work it out ON the morrow. The
people seemed hospitable enough, and
he felt that his simple, earnest manner
was convincing proof of his honesty.
But he did wonder that Milo and the
boys should seem to have turned against
him SO suddenly, as if he had indeed
committed q fault for which he could
&c blamed.
The thought Of that whole affair ran
killed. SO in his breast that he resolutely
put IT entirely aside and allowed him
self to enjoy as well as he could the
beautiful scenery through which he was
passing. Far in the distance he could
see from a hilltop now and then the
faint outlines Of the White mountains
cut vaguely against the sky like hazy
clouds. Behind him was the lake, Of
whose shining water he caught stray
Rlimpses between the hills and through
the trees. About him on every side were
hills and valleys innu,nerable, long level
slopes with sheep grazing On them or
Scared, bush grown hillsides from
which the timber had been cut not many
years before or granite lodges standing
cut bare and white. And at every step
the scene shifted. Here there was q
beautiful little glen overgrown with
young box and maple, while out of its
bosom poured little stream that ran
down into meadow, where cattle were
standing to their knees in the cooling
mud and water. Again it was broad
view of valley following the course Of
larger stream, along which lay towns
and villages ct scattered intervals, and
yonder to the left on the horizon were
the dim outlines of the Green noun
, tains, and between, out Of sight, flowed
,, the Connecticut.
1t was past noon, and the young man
, felt 60 hot and weary that he decided to
, rest. At farmhouse he was passing he
stopped for drink. and, though it was
, hateful TO him to think Of begging. he
asked Tor something to eat. frankly stat
a ko1