Valentine Democrat. (Valentine, Neb.) 1900-1930, 1900-11-15
CHAPTER IL
HOW GREEBA WAS LEFT WITH
JASON

HOW GREEBA WAS. LEFT WITH
JASON.
1t was early summer, and the day
was hot: there had been three weeks
of drought, and the roads were dusty.
Adam walked with stout blackthorn
stick, his fiaccid figure sometimes sway
sng for poise and balance, and his snow
white hair rising gently in the soft
breeze over his tender old face, now
pioughed so deep with labor and sor-
row. ChaIse was driving his carriers s
cart, whereon lay all that was left Of
Adams belonging, save only what the
good man carried in his purse. And
seeing how heavy the road was to one
Of Adams years, though his own were
hardly fewer, poor old Chaise, reck-
ing nothing Of dignity lost thereby,
would have him to mount the shafts
and perch on the box behind the pony S
tail. But Adam. thinking as little OF
pride, said No, that every herring should
hang by it's own gilis. and the pony
had it's full days work before 1t; more
over, that it was his right to walk at
MS own expense now. having ridden
twenty years at the expense of the ISL
and. So he kept the good blackthorn
moving, and Greeba stepped along nim-
bly, by his side. And when the Castle
town coach overlook and passed them
on its way to Douglas. and some or the
farming folk who rode on 1t leaned over
1aucily and hailed Adam by his Chris
tian name, he showed no shame or ran
cor, until, when the coach was gone,
he caught a glimpse of the hot color
shat had mounted to Greeba's cheeks,
Then. without word. he turned his
mellow old face to his feet, and strode
along a good half mile in silence.
And meantime, ChaIse, thinking to
Nghten the burden of the way WITH
cheerful talk, ratified along in his crazy
ecreech on many subjects. but found
chat all came round, by some strange
twist. to the one subject that might not
be discussed. Then, looking at his po-
nv. he told of the donkey he had before
Il the same that Michael Sunlocks rode
vonp wears before; how he himself had
fallen sick and could not keep 1t, ana
so gave 1t without a penny to a neigh-
nor for feeding it; and how when he
cot better he wanted to borrow 1t, but
.be ueighbor, in base ingratitude and
selfshness. would not lend it without
pay.
"Faith. it's aiwis lex that" said oil
EhaIse. "Give man yer shirt, ana
We must be lucky or he'll be after akin
ye fer yer skim
When they came by Douglas. Chaise
was for skirting round by the Spring
Valley through Braddon, but old Adam
seeing his drift, would not pretend TO
be innocent of it, and said that II
There were dregs in his. cup he was In
the way Of draining them without max
ing too many wry faces about it. And
as for the people Of the town, II they
thought no shame to stare at him he
Thought no shame to be stared at. yet
that what was good enough for him
self might be so for one who had less
deserved it, and Greeba could go with
Chalse by Braddon. and they would
meet. again on Onchan hill.
TO this Greeba would not consent
and as It CHANGED there was little neeG
for When they got into Douglas the
town was all astir with many carriages
and great troops of people were making
eor the quay. so that no one seemed so
much as to see the little company Of
three that came covered with dust out
Of the country roads.
Jaw, bad cess. what jeel is this :
said Chalse ;and before they had cross
ed the little market place by the har-
bor. where the bells of st. Matthews $
rang out merry peal. they learned for
certain the cause of the joyful commo-
zion: for there they were all but run
down by the swaying and surging
crowds, that came shouting and cheer
fng by the side of an open carriage.
wherein sat a very old gentleman in
4ha uniform of a soldier. 1t was, as
Adam had already OWNED. the new
Governor General, Colonel Cornelius
smeit. newly arrived that day in the
island as the first direct representative
of the English crown in succession to
the Lords of Man. And at that brave
siett old C.halse, who jumbled IL his
sfstrsueht brain the idea of Adams late
position with that of his master the
rt,ke Of Athol, and saw nothing but