The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1897-02-12
few mem as good as her father. She

few mem as good as her father. She
was the apple of Duncan's eye, and for
her sake he had turned schoolmaster
<gain, 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 sneighborhood brought about
a result which was not the less crafty
ing because it 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 homestead on one of his prospect
ing journeys there had been no suitors
at the farmhouse. Nor is it quite fair
to say that the young engineer was
the exception. He had always been
welcome ait 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
was his assumption of superiority over
re 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
ind L nj Of mil % 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
| 9arnyard 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; hope
[ didn't scare your neighbor away. He
| took to the woods as If he thought /
| might be a constable with a warrant"
AN who kennel you were not, when
We cam loupin' over the hill yonder?"
| Duncan came out and loosened the sad
die girth while Protheroe was hitching
| the horse.
81 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 stee,
| .lillside?'
"Ye're over curious, Robbie, an III
no crafty We. Ony frien' o. mines wei
come to loup the fence or win cut at IL
gate, as he pleases. But come We into
the house; yell be havin' an errand
| this mornin', I'm thinkin'.''
Protheroe' laughed at the shrewd
guess. 81 have, just that" he rejoined,
"and 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. 81 know next to nothing
| about him." he concluded, "but he is
evidently good fellow, and if there is
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. "Whatshall you say, Jamie?"
"fm 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
tian thing to do" continued Duncan,
speaking to Protheroe, 'but it'll pit
mair work on Martha an the BARN,
an I'm no just free to say when it
comes to that"
II think you medina be troubled
about that" said the wife. s'The pot
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