Evening star., 1901-09-28


to his red beard and fiery mat of hair
With the exception of that particular
harvest, when his shocks Of wheat stand
ing out In the early SHOWS inexpressibly
scandalized the neighborhood, benevolent
Providence had been good to Dave. When
his neighbors slashed right and left into
the virgin forest dropping the grand on
tario naples In runs of two or three dozen
at a time, Dave smiled-and left his trees
standing; and when he saw them log UP
and burn countless cords of black walnut
butternut, he tapped the side OF his nose
Significantly with his forefnger and re-
marked, She'll pc sorry after wines.
And sorry ''she" was after a whlies!
Within twenty years Dave sold his butter
nut at dollar a pound at Jimmy Hay
mill besides enjoying the satisfaction ac-
crufng to a prophet in his own country.
Then again, Providence sent Dave la'
droves of English remittance men, TO Whonl
he impaired the mysteries OF coioniai
farming at the modest rate of $50
man per annum. And he worked the Eng
IIsh lads like slaves but fed them on the
hest of the land, so that from ianky CITY
youths they developed into strong rusty
men whom 1t was dangerous TO cross IA
anger Yet he had great profit of the boys,
and grew rich as he grew OLD ana oecal,i. oe,
a piliar of the church and was well thousnt
OF through the country side he hao DIt
one sorrow, he had ne'er a son 10 lhheI,I
his 800 acres of finely timbered upland
though as a compensation his wife mad pre-
sented him with the two prettiest girls III
ZOrra township.
On a hot morning in the month of Au-
v,1sT clouds of black dust rolled out of the
omen doors of Dave Shocks barn, shroud,
ing the building in sooty haze. ran
wheat threshing was in full swing. Wllhlt,
the harm the big red thresher raised anu
{f. hOnrni0r voice coughing a me-
taIIic protest whenever an 1l-feu sheaL
dropped broadside on into the screamlhs
cylinder. Dave Shock BUSTED around su.
perintending the carrying of the wheat-the
urerogatfve of the fathers OF the setlie-
"Pbewl It's awful hotr' Charley Rhodes
let the rustling straw pile over the carriers
yvhfIn he wtped away the sweat which was
depositing an alluvial debris in the corners
Of his eyes; then he leaned upon MS lorh
and stared medtatively toward the mouse.
The monotone Of the humming monster oe-
meath faded into distant refrain ana tne
Tapping carriers whrled round and round
raining chafr upon the head of the un-
fortunate bushelman beneath, while Char-
lev built log houses out in the forest LOT the
pretty girl standing at the open window
''Hi HI! You at the carriers! Qult yer
nnoonin' an dig EN- outH yelled the noarSe'
dust-choked voice of the indignant push
eIer. ''D'ye take me fer swede turnip ter
be covered wi straw?
The bow blushed and piled his fork Wig
orously until the elevator revolVed freely'
then. while his arms moved with the regu-
Iarity of an automaton. his mind returned
10 the construction of rustic frames for the
picture at the window.
The girl stood at the table. with sleeves
rolled up and dress turned down at the
neck Her rounded throat rose from
plump bosom of bewildering whlteness,
whose rounded curves made the boy out
on the stack bless the heat, the cause OF
the becoming negligs. Yet, obediem TO
the primal instinct. without knowing the
real nature of the feeling which moved
him. while delighting In the girls beauty,
he cast occasional glances at his fellow
stackers-angry that they also should share
his pleasure But. all unconscious OF his scru-
tiny the girl stood at the open window and
rolled crust for innun1erable pies. The cor
ners of her pretty mouth were puckered
into vexed dimples and her face expressed
q troubled feeling which was certainly not
produced by the heat.
Mother she said. bringing down the
rolling pin with a vicious bang on the
paste. I'm not going TO stand 1t. You
and US girls have worked hard to keep
things together Bake, brew, wash, churn,
milk and tend calves and pigs. to say moth
ing OF sugarin' in the spring. year In and
year out; and now dad won't let US have
that organ!'
The mother glanced up from her apple
pairing. and her eye rested on her daughter
with the lingering glance of one who sees
vision OF her own past loveliness- Il m
mo- denyin', Bessie she said, closing her
firm mouth with a characteristic snap.
''that fathers a wee bit close. But he said
no! An that ends it-for him"
But not for u.s. replied the girl Let's
strikev'
jubilant yell answered the toot of the
whistle which proclaimed the dinner hour,
and thirty grimy thrasher men vaulted
from the bays in the barn, or tumbled
down the steep sides of the straw stack in
a mad race for first wash at the pump.
An Sandy Craggy's bocht a new orr
gan for his JEAN said Wully Bell as he
TNav- sob ole u,
the wake Of the crowd. YEN be gettin'
for yer ain lassies. Dave mon?'
''She wull no." answered Dave with
prompt decision. She'll hae no screanin'
kist o whistles + her hoose."
Say, Charley whispered Percy White,
the second Of Dave Shocks pupils. What's
the matter up at the house?"
Hastily Withdrawing his head from be-
meath the streaming pump. Charley shook
the water from his tangled curls and stared
at the building The lively hustle of the
early morning was gone; no smoke arose
from the chimneys. The door was shut,
and strange stiffness brooded over the
place.
"Tinner'H pc reatyr' said Dave Shock.
throwing open the door. "Come-the tehlT'
He stopped and glared into the quiet ktch-
en-. The table was not spread. the fire out
and there sat Mrs. Shock, quietly knitting
Dave regarded his wife in horror Such
q breach OF hospitality had never been
known in Zorra township-thirty hungry
thrashers. and no dinneri The news of this
would set tongues wagging as far north as
Stratford.
''Whatll-pe-wrang? he suffered.
20, nothing IN pertikelar," replied Mrs
Shock impalng her ball OF yarn on her
knitting needles. Me an the girls is on
strike. That's all"
quick oath slipped from Dave Shocks
tongue. and he opened his mouth TO damn
strikes IN general and this one In particu-
lar, but his wife was TOO quick for him.
YEN catch 1t. Dave Shockg' she said
rolling up her knitting. THE rneenisther'n
kell o. thees, surely. Sweer at vel WIFE,
Will ye? Yen answer for 1t til the elders
o. thu North Kirk
Tam the eidersr' roared Dave.
Me an the girls is goin' vlsitin'," con-
tinued Mrs. Shock, tying the ribbons Of her
sunbonnet with a decisive twitch. when
we've bocht the organ ye may hitch up til
the double rig, an ye'l fin US at Aunt
jeans"
She stepped from the front door, and
followed by her daughters. moved In state
ly procession down the lane and out to the
Concessions, leaving Dave completely para
lyzed by the rebellion. They had reached
the front gate before he recovered the
power OF motion.
''Hir' he shouted walking to the door,
The women stopped and waited to hear
IA IN Shar ~ hao 4.