Valentine Democrat. (Valentine, Neb.) 1900-1930, 1900-05-10

all the wide spaces Of the sky Win InelI
silver song But for this universal tWlt-
tering, and clear caroling, and futterlng
of wings, the world was still enough and
silent enough. The red kline hardly NOV
ed in the meadows golden with butter
cups. The olive-green masses of the elm
rising far into the pale blue of the heav-
ems, did not stir leaf. The warm sun
light seemed to draw forth hundred
scents from herbs and flowers, that hung
In the motionless air.
As one is idly gazing at all these things,
and speculating as to how far certain
white butterfly, that has started early
on his travels, will wander before the
heat Of noon causes him to close his
wings on a head of clover, there is a
quiet stirring Of the willow branches, and
then a football on the gang board con-
Meeting the boat with the shore. Turning
forthwith one finds that it is Miss Peggy
who has come down through those vel
lowed meadows, and it is Sir Even Cam
eron who is steadying the plank for her,
She has been abroad thus early to gather
flowers for the breakfast table, and IN
each hand she has a great cluster of but
tercups. AS for the June roses in her
cheeks, where did she get them on SO
extremely still a morning? And as for
the speedwell blue of her eyes-But she
passes hastily into the saloon, for the
aower glasses have to be filed.
Then this long, sandy-haired Highland
oficer-has he anything to say? He OBJ
serves that the morning is beautiful
which is no secret. He thinks he saw a
trout rise little bit further along. Pres
emily he puts this question:
''Shall you have any need of Murdoch's
Aervices this autumn?"
Il fear not"
'He is an exceedingly handy fellow
don't you think so!
Il do"
"And very willing, isn't he?"
''He is"
"Well, now, don't you consider that a
young fellow like that would be better
in a settled situation than in doing odd
jobs about Tobermory, with an occasional
month or two's yachting in the summer?'
Il dare say he would-if it was any
thing of a situation"
DO you think he would come to me
at Inverfask?"
'Inverfaskw
"Yes. 1 would give him a fair wage;
he would have employment all the year
round, and he might look forward to
some increase of pay if he deserved it.
"A permanent place at Inverfask-is
that what you mean?"
Yes
''Well, when you put that offer before
hinf, Murdoch will be a proud lad
And you are sure you don't want him
this autumn
Almost certain-besides, that could
not be allowed to interfere"
Il will go and ask him at once said
he: and he, too, disappeared into the sa-
loon.
Well now, the "NameIess Barge"
seemed to be just filed with secrets and
mysteries on this busy morning; but Of
course one had no time to pay heed to
such trumpery things, for we had to make
an early start in order to get through the
chain of locks outside Devices.
AfteDleaving Devices there are fifteen
miles Of plain sailing without the inter
ruption of single lock, so that we made
good progress this afternoon. The canal,
which is here so little used that it
aboundS with all kinds of water plants
the white buttercup conspicuous among
them-winds along a high plateau which
affords extensive views over the neigh
boring landscape. Not that we saw this
somewhat lonely stretch of country un-
der noSt favorable conditions. AS we
stole along by Bishops Cannings and All
Cannings and Stanton Fitzwarren the
still air seemed to be threatening thun-
der; the skies were of a cloudy milky
ho hot 70 fha how
Zon line both on north and south-Rough-
bridge Hill, Easton Hill, st. AIMS Hill,
Etchilhampton Hill, Wivelsford Hill and
the like-were slowly deepening in gloom.
Then came rain, and forthwith these idle
people fed. into the saloon, to books and
writing, and tea and what not. All but
the faithful Peggy, that is to say! Miss
Peggy lot only went and fetched the
Bteersman his waterproof, but she also
brought out her own; and, having drawn
Ghe hood over her pretty brown hair and
fastened it securely under her chin, she
took up her position on the steering
thwart. Was she still anxious, then, to
show her gratitude, in some vague, tenta-
tive way? At all events, her companion,
ship on this somber afternoon was suffi-
ciently welcome.
But one soon began to discover what
had brought Miss Peggy out into the
rain; her remarks about the weather were
speedily over.
HAS Col. Cameron" she asks, pres
emily, with a very becoming hesitation,
$shas Col. Cameron said anything-any
thing particular, to you"
Nothing very particular"
''No, L suppose not" she continues,
with the same pretty hesitation. II had
to ask him not to say anything, because
because 1 don't wish Mr.. Duncombe to
know. But you ought to know; yes, you
ought to know"
'FDo you think don't know?"
''What?"
"And this is the way they keep young
'lady's et!-making it as plain as the
nose on a mans face or weathercock
on steeple. And you are especially anx-
ious to conceal it from Jack Duncombe.
are you? Don't you think it possible Mr..
Duncombe may have his own little af-
fairs to attend to? Well, well. you've
done it at last, suppose; and it's very
little you know of'the fate you are rush
ing uron-you poor, futterins. tinid, sol