The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1901-10-25

to affect the beholders and perfectly
conscious of her attractions. He was
utterly unprepared for this complete
ignoring of adornment now, albeit he
was for the first time aware how her
real prettiness made it unnecessary.
She looked fully as charming in this
grotesque head covering as she had in
that paragon of fashion-the new hat
which had excited his tolerant amuse-
ment.
'I'm afraid I'm very poor critic" "
he said bluntly. 81 never conceived
that this sort of thing was at all to
your taste"
81 came to see my father because l
wanted to-" she said with equal blunt
ness.
"And I came to see him though l
didn't want to-" he said, with cynical
laugh.
She turned and fixed her brown eyes
inquiringly upon him.
"Why did you come, then"
Il was ordered by my directors"
''Then you did not believe he was a
thief?" she said, her eyes softening.
"It would ill become me to accuse
your father-or my directors" he said
automatically.
She was quick enough to detect the
suggestion of moral superiority in his
tone, but woman enough to forgive it.
You're no friend of Windibrook," she
said, 81 know"
81 am not" he replied frankly.
''If you would like to see my pepper,
can manage it," she said hesitatingly.
Hell do anything for me-" she added
with a touch of her old pride.
"Who could blame him:" returned
Masterton gravely. But if he is free
man now and able to go where he likes
and to see whom he likes he may not
care to give an audience to a mere
messenger"
"You wait and let me see him first"
said the girl quickly. Then, as the
sound Of sleighbells came from the
road outside, she added: Here he is
III get your clothes. They are out here
drying by the fire in the she'd" She
disappeared through back door and
returned presently, bearing his dried
garments. Dress yourself while take
pepper into the she'd" she said quickly
and ran out into the road.
Masterton dressed himself with diff
Guilty. Although circulation was now
restored and he felt glow through his
warmed clothes, he was still sorely
bruised and shaken by his fall. He had
scarcely finished dressing when Mon
tagu TriXit entered the room from the
shed. Masterton looked at him with a
new interest and a respect he had nev-
er felt before. There certainly was lit
tie of the daughter in this keen faced,
resolute Tipped man, though his brown
eyes, like hers, had the same frank,
steadfast audacity. With a business
brevity that was hurried, but not un-
kindly, he hoped Masterton had fully
recovered.
Thanks to your daughter, I'm all
right now," said Masterton. 81 need
not tell you that | believe | owe my
life to her energy and courage, for l
think you have experienced what she
can do in that way. Only you have
had the advantage of those who have
only enjoyed her social acquaintance
Sn knowing all the time what she was
capable Of he added significantly.
"She is a good girl" said Trixit brief
ly, yet with slight rise i'll color on his
dark, sallow cheek and a sudden wa
yering of his steadfast eyes. "She tells
me you have message from your di-
rectors. / think know what it is, but
we won't discuss it now. AS 1 am 60
ing directly to Sacramento, l shall not
see them, but 1 will give you an an
swer to take to them when we reach
the station. l am going to give you a
lift when my daughter is ready, And
here she is''
1t was the old Cissy that stepped in
to the room, dressed as she was when
she left her fathers house two days
before. Oddly enough, he fancied that
something of her old conscious man.
ner had returned with her clothes, and
as he stepped with her into the back
seat of the covered sleigh in waiting
he could not help saying, Il really
think l understand you better in your
other clothes" A slight blush mount
ed to Cissy's cheek, but her eyes were
still audacious. "All the same, | dop't
think you'd like to walk down Main
street with me in that rig, although
you once thought nothing of taking me
over your old mill in your blue blouse
and overalls." And. having apparently
greatly relieved her proud little heart
by this enigmatic statement, she grew
so chatty and confidential that the
young man was satisfied that he had
been in love with her from the first.
When they reached the station,
TriXit drew him aside. Taking an en-
velope marked "Private Contracts"
from his pocket, he opened it and dis
played some papers. 'FThese are the
securities. Tell your directors that you
have seen them safe in my hands, and
that no one else has seen them. Tell
them that if they will send me their re.
newed notes, dated from today, to
Sacramento within the next three days
l will return the securities. That is
my message"
The young man bowed. But before
the coach started he managed to draw
near to Cissy. You are not returning
to Canada City," he said.
The young girl made gesture of In
dignation. No! ! am never going
there again. l go with my pepper to
Sacramento"
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