Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1897-02-25

few men as good as her father. She
was the apple of Dunoan's eye. and fer
her sake be had turned sehoolmaster
again, giving her what she had other
wise gone wanting in a bookless land.
Without having been pointed thither-
ward, Duncan's efforts to lift his
daughter above the educational level
OF the neighborhood brought about
a result which was not the less crafty
ing because il was unforeseen. The
book-learning raised barrier between
the girl and the mountain and valley
youth which was more impossible from
their side than from hers, and until
Protheroe had stumbled upon the Dun
can homesteal on one of his prospect
ing journeys there had been no suitors
at the farmhouse Nor is il quite fair
10 say that the young engineer was
the exception. He had always been
welcome at the stone house in the val
ley, but he had not yet got beyond the
uns peakable stage with Elsie.
1t was the uncertainty of his stand
ing with her that made Protheroe hest
tate to introduce a possible rival; and
it was his assumption of superiority over
humankind in general, and OF jealous
lovers in particular. that united with
his sympathies TO make him change his
mind, ..~.. A.sslr- To-
The wagon road up the valley of the
Little Chiwassee follows the stream TO
a point within quarter of mile of
Duncan's house, where it climbs low
wooded spur of john mountain. From
the top Of this spur the young engineer
could look down upon the house and its
surroundings, and he saw Duncan in the
barnyard talking to a stranger-an old
man with white hair and beard falling
over the cape of a tattered army over
coat. At sight of Protheroe the man
climbed the fence and ran up the noun
tain, while Duncan came around the
house to the gate.
Good morning, Mr.. Duncan; l hope
didn't scare your neighbor away. He
took to the woods as if he thought
might be constable with warrant"
AN who kenned you were not, when
We cam loupin' over the hill yonder?"
Duncan came out and loosened the sad
die girth while Protheroe was hitchine
the horse.
II did, for one, and you ought to, for
another. But tell me, who is your
neighbor, who looks old enough to be
my grandfather, and who yet makes
nothing of ten-rail fence and steep
hillside?"
"Ye're over curious, Robbie, an I'll
no crafty We. Ony frien' O. mines well
come to loup the fence or win out at the
the house; yen be havin' an errand
this mornin', I'm thinkin'."
Protheroe laughed at the shrewd
guess. 81 have, just that" he reioined,
land it'll take family council to set
tie it, too"
Duncan led the way to the sitting
room and called his wife and daughter
from the kitchen. When they came,
Protheroe told what he could of Thorn
dykes story. Il know next to nothing
about him." he concluded, "but he is
evidently good fellow, and if there is
a fighting chance for him in this eli
mate it seems as if he ought to have
the benefit of it,
"Puir body!" said motherly Mrs.
Duncan. what shall you say, Jamie ?"
I'm thinkin' it'll be for we to say,
Martha"
Protheroe had been trying to read
Elsie's face, and the expression of
awakened sympathy thereon made him
regret for moment the warmth with
which he had been pleading Thorn
dykes cause.
I'm no sayin' it wouldna be Chris
tan thing to do" continued Duncan.
speaking to Protheroe. "but it'll pit
MAR work on Martha an the BARN.
an I'm no just free to say when it
comes to that"
81 think you medina be troubled
about that" said the wife. 1.-THE pot