The age-herald., 1897-09-05
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 AAR7HUL A By WILLIAM PERRY BROWN
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By WILLIAM PERRY BROWN

mihgIe6 with the Iodr or tlae waIefs De- low.
 Tho white steam from the stillhouse whirled upward into invisibility against the green background of spruce and fir elinging to the cliffs. The tinkle of @ eoYbell foated down from unseen heights above; large hawk hung lazi- ly in midair over the widest crags. Surely beneath the wind and the rivers roar there was a Lethean glamour in the air, harmonizing the savagery of nature with the peaceful influences of tho hour
 Was it's charm working upon her mind as she leaned upon tho fence, obliyious of her task, or had she really given heed to Jim S admonition Ito be keerful" and rest? The sprightly deoi- sion of her face had given way to an ex- pression of gentle and regretful sadness. Once or twice she sighed; then her thoughts seemed to find disconnected utterance.
 So good, so true, so watehful of my comfort. Why cannot love him as he does me?''
 The mountain dialect had disappear ed from her lips. Its absence seemed to render her conscious of the incongruity, for in her next murmur it was resumed.
 '.He's just as honest and as open as daylight, while I-I have erbleeged ter be jest the other way.o Then, as her feelings again grew more intense, she once more became natural. "God knows 1T Exs1 111 4al1 y111E 1,-i11 not poor woman do for home and shelter--and love? He has given me all these, but-what have l given him in return?'
 There was a soft crushing of gravel behind her She turned suddenly. A medium sized, slender young man, hav- ing crisp, brown hair, a tawny mus tache and keen gray eyes, stood before her. As they saw each other his careless ly polite salutation was merged in glare of surprise and an after smile of exultant pleasure. With a quick excla- nation she covered her face with one hand and extended the other as though to ward off his approach.
 'Well, Meg" he said in low, call culative tone, ''you're about the last person expected to meet here :"
 As he eyed her the relentless com posture of his smile seemed cruel in it's contrast to the agitation she exhibited as she finally gasped:
 "You-you here?"
 ''Well, yes, I'm here, and devilish surprised to run up with you, Meg. But what's your game now? Trying the vir- tuous dodge, eh? Making this suscepti- ble elephant of blacksmith your vic- tim, I suppose. :"
 She raised her face and confronted him with blazing eyes at this innuendo.
 ''No thanks to you, Dick Bufford. Think how you have served meme! Think what I have endured because I was once weak enough to trust youl''
 As this confession slipped from her lips they trembled under it's influence, despite the revulsiye anger with which his presence inspired her. His eye never left her face, as, playing with his watch chain, he replied:
 ''How many had shared your love be- fore came along? There, there Don't get excited. You couldn't help getting jealous, and when left you in Atlanta I never thought we'd turn up together again on this footstool You wouldn't let me so much as wink without quar- rel, and l finally soured on it."
 'sWhy are you here?"
 She demanded this in quick, per- emptory tone, flashing glance toward the smithy, then fixing her eyes on his handsome, imperturbable face.
 ''Im gauging for the government Am to be here for a week. May stay longer, now I've seen you. Blame me- Meg, but mountain lifo agrees with you. You're prettier than, ever"
 In an easy yet imperative way, which she seemed powerless to oppose, he took her dimpled chin between thumb and finger and looked at her with kin ding light in his eyes, then released her, saying:
 ''I was fool to run away from you, Meg, my girl. I'll have better sense this time
 The cry of an infant came to their ears from the holly bush by the spring. The wretched mother, reused from tho spell which his manner and words had thrown over her, ill spite of the re-