The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-03-03

| tic troubles of this sort people do not
choose to concern themselves, except IN
| exaggerating them in talk by scandalous
hints and opinions.
Il must wait for something to pass that
| VIII help me to carry you to my father S
house" said Hardy, looking anxiously at
the girl, VINO he could not fail to see was
weak and exhausted.
Il have already declined" she answered.
Il Will not return a 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
py gentle pressure of the hand, 'I am
| gong to London, and we will go together,
out we shall have to walt until tomor-
row. VIII not that suit? If you are In
desperate hurry YOU can leave early
tomorrow Do you know Baxs farm?'
! VI course do" she answered, turn
Ing her face up the road
Bax shall give you a bedroom" said
| ne, since You refuse to return with ME
to my father. A good supper and a good
nights rest are the doctoring you stand
in need of. l find you in dead faint In
ditch, and so you came under my care,
ana am answerable for you. We are
old friends"
She family smiled and looked at him.
You will do exactly what ask, and
at BaXs farm We shall have leisure for
little talk
She bowed her head, and he saw that
she cried again.
They spied man at the bottom of the
hill coming up. The girl started and
SAID, Il am quite strong enough to stand
and walk" and she stood up one of the
! beautiful
with sweet, ingenious sauciness which
was the havoring grace of her happy
hours, distinguishab!e still, even In this
| time of misery and illness. The man
coming along was common laborer, but
she did not choose that any one should
see her sitting in a 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 some
weeks to leave her fathers house forev-
er, and to sail to q 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 a 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 a 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 prod
uce and eggs, and the countryside called
his house a farm. 1t had two gables and
a 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 a man Of about sixty, I'M
mensely stout behind and in front, with a
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 a BIT of
a 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
| 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
|
! and his dead wife and daughter, decorat-
ed with a small mounted glass in fly
gauze, and hospitable with q round ia
| BILE on one leg and three claws, the top
beautified by knitted cover.
Julia sank into a little arm chair. Bax
was beginning to gaze at her earnestly;
he knew her perfectly well, knew her
father also, who frequently looked in
for drink; also he knew Hardy perfectly
we'll, likewise his father, who attended
him when he was attacked by govt.
| mr.. Bax," said Hardy. putting his cap
down upon the table, I'VE 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 gravely; 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 a 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,
the kitten, being no beer drinker, gazing
more steadfastly than the other.
"Have you bedroom that yon can
place at Miss Armstrong; disposal?"
as there no later train?' asked Julia.
I'VE would not take 1t if there were,''
replied Hardy.
or course Bax, having lost his wife,
must consult his daughter and when he
had opened a door and shouted a little
for Mary Ann there arrived a woman
who looked old enough to be BaX's
mother. Her face seemed to be dredged
by time; the ARGUS senilis 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 a bedroom?" said Hardy.
Bax unused, looking at his daughter, and
then said, mot unless you sleeps along
| with me-"
with your laughed Hardy, looking at
his stomach. How much of you lies in
bed at once? Thatll do for me-" said
he and he jerked his head at wide hair
sofa.
The father, the kitten and the daughter
! looked a little strangely at Hardy and
Julia Armstrong, as though before pro-
ceeding they wanted to see things in q
clearer light. Hardy, understanding this,
spoke out with the bluntness of a sailor.
Look here, Bax," said he, I'm going
to London to join my ship 1 was bound
away tonight, but on the road l fell in