Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1901-10-04

Hale, as she pinned out her
curtains in the little garden
behind the creeper-covered lodge at
the park gates, land l mean no disre-
spect when say that you are but sec
ond keeper, for Ellie's father was only
second coachman when he come by his
accident and died. and my lord puts
me in here. But she is terribly clever,
is my girl; tits Just wonderful what
she know Of book learning, and that;
and she ought to wed some one SINH
lar, to understand her, like. Why,
even my lady notices her learning.
"A perfect little paragon she Is, Mrs.
/ Hale says she; which you know what
that means, l supposer
| Now this was a clever move on the
good woman's part. for personally she
had not the least idea, beyond that it
was something fiattering to her one
eve lamb, nor, it is to be feared, had
Jim Quest, the handsome young game
keeper, much greater knowledge. But
he did not display his ignorance; he
only leaned his broad shoulder against
an apple tree and stood thoughtfully
rubbing the muZZle of his gun with
one brown hand, a picturesque figure
enough, in his rough shooting coat and
leather CATERS.
What is that Morris, the school
master, doing, always coming for a
walk in the park?' was the result of
his reflections.
9 n fnr. NV
son, Jim, any one can see that by the
way he looks at you through his
glasses" and Mrs. Hale's rosy, tell
tale face showed some elation. "And
my lord has no objection to respect
able people, known as such, walking
here"
He had better mind that l don't
break his superior neck for him, that's
ALL" was Jim's unchrlstian rejoinder,
as, after last fruitless glance at all
the neat little curtained windows, he
shouldered his gun to depart.
All through the past summer the riv-
airy between the sober schoolmaster
and the young keeper had been grow
ing. Both wanted Elizabeth, Mrs.
Hale's lovely daughter, and only one,
In the ordinary course of things, could
win her. AS Jim whistled to his dogs
and set off across the park he turned
over the word Paragon" in his mind.
1t was an outlandish word. he con-
cluded, and evidently meant that he
was not good enough for Ellie while
old Reading, Writing and Arithme-
tic" as he called his rival, was q per-
son of consequence in the village, and
1t would be regarded as a great rise
IN life for Elizabeth to become his
wife, even though she was so vastly
clever and a paragon, whatever that
meant, to boot.
He littleNknew that Ellie, sitting sew
ing behind those curtains, had been
listening with a mischievous smile
or that when be had gone her pretty
head was cautiously advanced to
watch him; while, when William Nor
ris came for his evening stroll later
on, and stopped to discuss the weather
with her mother, she did not take the
trouble to look out, and gave q little
sigh.
There were great shooting parties
up at "the house that year, and Jim
was so busy that he had neither time
to brood over his troubles nor look In
at the lodge except once, and then he
found Mr.. Morris there, drinking tea.
Zone of the-er-under keepers to
speak to you, think. Mrs. Hale"
quoth he, blinking viciously at Jim
through his glasses; and from that day
war was declared.
1t was really hard upon Jim, but If
he were sometimes trihe morcse,
the poor dear fellow behaved very we'll
on the whole; and when he was out
with the guns one day, and William
Morris. in one of his strolls, go. right
into the firing line, and received a
dose of small shot in his scholarly
shoulder, it was Jim who dashed to
his rescue.
Great Scott If it amt poor Read
ing, Writing and Arithmetic" h,
cried, raising the hurt and frightened
schoolmaster. well, learning don't
keep Sou out of mischief, that's clear.'
And it was Jim who helped to carry
him to cottage near, found doctor
and heard that the injuries were not
serious, and then he bethought him of
the inmates of the lodge at the great
gates-if indeed one was ever absent
from his thoughts-and set off across
the park toward it. If Ellie cared for
Morris-and he drew deep breath at
the thought-he would save her
fright; she SHOULD know the truth at