The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-02-26

1 SIIOuS auQ Oh her treatment OF net
! daughter, that was driving her into seek.
ing and taking situations. some of g
mental sort, and that threatened before
long to break her heart or to send her tc
/ the bad, as tits called. But with domes.
| tic troubles OF this sort people do not
choose to concern themselves, except IL
| exaggerating them in talk by scandaious
| hints and opinions.
| Il must wait for something to pass that
will help me to carry you to my father
| house" said Hardy, looking anxiously at
the girl. who he could not fail to see was
| weak and exhausted.
Il have already declined" she answered.
i will not return q single yard in that
! hateful direction. I shall feel stronger
! presently. Is there not another train
| later on?"
Not to London
Il must not miss this she exclaimed,
| struggling to rise.
Look here" said he, keeping her down
| by gentle pressure of the hand, 81 am
| going to London, and we will go together,
but we shall have to wait until tomor-
row. VIII not that suit? II you are in
a desperate hurry you can leave early
tomorrow. Do you know Rax's FARM"
of course 1 do" she answered, turn
ing her face UP the road.
| "Bax shall give you q bedroom" said
he, since you refuse to return with ME
to my father. A good supper and good
nights rest are the doctoring you stand
| in need of. I find you in dead faint In
| a ditch, and SO you came under my care.
| and am answerablc for you. We are
old friends
| She family smiled and looked at him.
| You will do exactly what / ask, and
| at Bax's farm we shall have leisure FOR
a little talk
! She bowed her head, and he saw that
| she cried again.
| They spied a mar at the bottom of the
hill coming up. The girl started and
said, 81 am quite strong enough to stand
| and walk" and she stood up, one Of the
most beautiful figures amongst women,
with sweet, ingenious sauciness which
| was the Havorfng grace Of her happy
| hours. Distinguishing still, even in this
time of misery and illness. The man
| coming along was a common laborer, but
| she did not choose that any one should
/ see her sitting in ditch.
| They walked slowly up the road She
| leaned upon his arm, and occasionally
| stopped to rest, and their talk, until they
! arrived at the farm, was not much; in
| deed, she said little more than that she
| had been making up her mind for soma
| weeks to leave her fathers house forev-
er, and to sail to colony, where she
| would be willing to accept the lowest
| mental office so long as she was indie
| pendent, and received the respect that
| was due to her as lady. She had left
| her home that day In the afternoon,
| meaning to walk to the station and take
| the train to London, whence she intend
| ed to write to her father to forward her
| clothes in the box which stood ready
| corded In her bedroom. When she had
| walked some distance-it might be five
| miles-a sudden faintness seized her, and
she sat down under hedge to rest. She
| then must have tainted, and knew no
/ more until she returned to conscious
ness and found herself resting against
| Hardy.
This talk brought them to Bax's farm
/ 1t was not farm. though 1t was call
/ ed so. Bax sold milk and garden pred
| uce and eggs and the countryside called
| his house farm 1t had two gables and
| matched roof. small latticed windows,
| and door that opened direct into the
| sitting room. In the summer the house
| was enchanting with its flowers and
| shrubbery and the climbing green stuff
/ about it, and then the concert of the
/ woods thrilled In the trees beyond, and
the air was full of sweet smells.
! Bax was man Of about sixty. i'm
mensely stout behind and in front, with a
I face that seemed powdered with pale,
! scissors-shorn whisker, and small eyes,
| which had drowned their luster in beer.
| He stood in the doorway in his shirt
| sleeves, smoking pipe, and was not at
all surprised when the couple passed
| through the gate and approached the
| porch. He merely pulled out his pipe
and said
Good evening, Mr.. Hardy: good even
/ ing, Miss Armstrong. Come for bit of
| sit down? VIII y ave chairs here?
/ or the sitting rooms at your sarvice."
| How dye do Mr.. Bax?" said Hardy.
| Good evening, Mr.. Bax,' said Miss Arm
1 strong in a faint voice.
/ Take us into your sitting room" said
! Hardy; and they entered the door and
! were in the sitting room at Once-a cosy
/ little room, hung with portraits of Bax
! and his dead wife and daughter, decorat-
! ed with a small mounted glass In fly
/ gauze, and hospitab1e with round ta-
| BILE on one leg and three claws, the top
/ beautified by q knitted cover.
| Julia sank into little arm chair. Bax
/ was beginning to gaze at her earnestly;
| he knew her perfectly we'll. knew her
/ father also, who frequently looked in
| for a drink; also ne knew Hardy perfectly
| well likewise his father who attended
| him when he was attacked by govt.
Mr.. Bax,'' said Hardy, putting his cap
| down upon the table, 1--WE have come to
occupy your house this night
"Joost been married, have yer?" asked
Bax, slipping his pipe into his waistcoat
/ pocket
NO answered Hardy graveiy; Miss
Armstrong is leaving her home for good.
| If you don't guess why, I'll tell you
/ presently
/ Bax looked knowing: he looked more
| knowing an instant later when fine
Persian kitten ran up his back and curled
| it's tail upon his shoulder, for then two
/ pairs Of eyes were fastened upon Hardy,
i the kitten, being no beer drinker, gazing
more steadfastly than the other.
/ Have you bedroom that yon can
place at Miss Armstrong; dfsposa1?''
| Is there no later train?' asked Julia.
1--WE would not take 1t If there were, ;"
| replied Hardy.
I OF course Bax, having lost his wife,
! must consult his daughter, and when no
/ had opened door and shouted little
! for Mary Ann there arrived woman
who looked old enough to be Bax's
mother. Her face seemed to be dredged
| by time; the ARGUS senffiS was more de.
/ fined in her than in Bax; she looked sew
/ enty years old, and was but thirty-eight.
| She courtseyed to the visitors, and then,
| after pursuing her lips and knitting her
/ brow, she replied to her father that Miss
Armstrong could have the spare room
] over the sitting room.
Can I have BEDROOM" said Hardy.
| Bax unused, looking at his daughter. ana
then said. mot unless yeu sleeps along
| with me-"
! with you?" laughed Hardy, looking at
| his stomach. How much of you lies In
| bed at once? That'n do for me-" said
he, and he jerked his head at wide hair.
sofa,
t The father. the kitten and the daughter
looked little strangely at Hardy and