The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1897-02-20

which neither Duncan nor his wife
would have acknowledged. The mar
row valley was Scottish glen; the sur
rounding mountains were the hills OF
Lanark magnified somewhat by the
kindly perspective of time and distance;
and it was within the compass of a mere
ly practical imagination to transform
the small river into Scottish burn.
Not to be outdone in q matter Of
sentiment, the valley had repaid the
parents in kind by giving what mild
climate and inspiring scenery may give
toward the endowment of the daughter.
Elsie Duncan was comely and passing
fair to look upon, as the native-born
daughters of aliens are wont to be;
moreover, she was simple and true
hearted, thinking that there were no
mountains like her own mountains and
few men as good as her father. She
was the apple of Duncan's eye, and fer
her sake he had turned schoolmaster
again, giving her what she had other
wise gone wanting in boollless land.
Without having been pointed thither-
ward, Duncan's efforts to lift his
daughter above the educational level
of the neighborhood brought about
ing because it was unforeseen. The
book-learning raised a barrier between
the girl and the mountain and valley
youth which was more impossible from
Protheroe had stumbled upon the Dun
can homestead on one of his prospect
ing journeys there had been no suitods
at the farmhouse. Nor is it quite fair
to 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
unspeakable stage with Elsie.
1t was the uncertainty of his stand
ing with her that made Protheroe hest
tate to introduce possible rival; and
it was his assumption of superiority over
the common foibles and weaknesses of
humankind in general, and Of jealous
lovers in particular, that united with
his sympathies to make him change his
mind.
The wagon road up the valley Of the
Little Chiwassee follows the stream to
a point within a quarter Of mile OF
Duncan's house, where it climbs low
wooded spur of Johns 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 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 neighbour away. He
took to the woods as if he thought l
might be a constable with warrant"
San who kcnned you were not, when
We cam loupin' over the hill yonder?"
Duncan came out and loosened the sadS
die girth while Protheroe was hitching
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
"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
gate, as he pleases. But come We into
the house; yell be havin' an errand
this mornin', Tn thinkin'."
Protheroe laughed at the shrewd
guess. 81 have, just that" he rejoined,
'and it'll take family council to set
lie 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. 81 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 a 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
mair work on Martha an the BARN,
an Tn no just free to say when it
comes to that"
81 think you medina be troubled
about thatp said the wife. "The pot
q,
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