Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1898-12-03

But when the fumes OF the whisky
had passed away, back came the In
dams, mad as hornets.
"We want horse back"
"Do, ell? Well, your horse is mine
now," said Granger, roughly. "Don't
you know that you traded him off to
me, you fool, you?"
white man cheat! He gave poor
Indian too much fire water persisted
Tiger Tall, tall, stalwart fellow, with
an ugly face.
"Ugh! That's sou added his COM
panion, Short Jim.
Granger laughed in an aggravating
manner.
'Well, the trade is made, and that
is the end of it, So, be OFF my prem
ises, you red rascals! driving them
unceremoniously ont of the little in
closure surrounding his cabin.
Now, by-the-way, Changers home
was the prettiest little place in the
whole settlement. 1t was only Il rough
log affair, but his daughter Nellie had
planted vines around it until the whole
building was covered with the green,
heart-shaped leaves of the morning
glory, while here and there paeped out
the pink, purple and white trumpets
of the flowers.
And Nellie herself was certainly an
ornament, slight, slim, little body,
with sweet face tinted like wild
rose, eyes as soft and brown, and
bright as birds, and hair that seemed
woven ont of sunshine.
She was every inch lady, too.
Gentle and refined as she was, she was
not used to our rough ways, having
only the previous year come from an
Eastern city, where she had lived with
an aunt. After the latter's death,
Granger had sent for his daughter,
and from the very first treated her
with the deepest affection.
10nly one wish Of hers did he refuse
q krant-he would not let her marry
Allen Reed.
Seven or eight years before he had
had some trouble with young Reeds
father. The dispute was over q gold
vein mp in the gulch. Reed claimed
it, and, what is more, got it; but
Granger vowed eternal enmity. Had
it not been for this, he would have
favored the match, because finer
young fellow than Allen was not to be
found; strictly honorable in every
way, and most genial in disposition.
One cool evening in autumn young
Reed stopped before my cabin door.
GLOW .lo you do, Stevens? No,
thank you. can't come in. I only
stopped to nix my stirrup-- it was loose,
and I've a long ride before me-"
"Whither bound?" / asked.
He gave b nervous little laugh.
ooh. I'm going to beard the lion in
his den! That is to say, I'm going to
see Nell's father! I've long wanted
an out-and- ont talk with him, but she
has opposed it-fearing, l suppose,
that we would have a row! The old
fellow is a bit hasty, you know, and
as for myself-well, I dare say that
my temper isnS the mildest. Bat
Nell has gone down in the valley to
stay a few days with Linda Gray, who
is sick, and so, you see, I'm going to
take my chance now. If words can
avail anything, Giles Granger shall
give his consent to our marriage.
Good-by, Stevens: pray for my sue
cess!'
"That I will" Ireplied heartily, as
he rode away.
The next morning, when I went
down to my Office, 1 found an ugly
rumor floating about. The rumor
soon became settled fact.
Giles Granger had been found muir
dered in his cabin, and Allen Reed
was arrested and in Jail for the crime.
1t was we'll known that Reed had
been there the previous evening, and
that one or two travellers, passing by
at a late hour, had heard the sound of
angry alteration. and had recognized
one of the voices as that of Reed.
He earnestly protested that he was
innocent. He admitted, however,
that he had had n pretty earnest dis
cussion with the old man, and that
sCme hot words had been exchanged,
but he said that the dispute had been
amicably settled, and that Granger
had intimated consent to the daugh-
ter's marriage.
But Reeds words were not gener-
ally believed.
The next day Nellie Granger came
to me, her face pale with grief and
anxiety.
ooh, Mr.. Stevens!" she said. "You
are lawyer, and Aliens friend!
Won't you help him ont of his
trouble?"
assured her of my interest in the
matter, and of my earnest desire to be
of aid, adding:
Nov. first of all, Miss Nellie.