The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1902-02-28
CHAPTER XIII.

-Four long Gays nave cFepI lanBululy
into the past, four of the dullest days
Griselda Dysart has ever yet endured, as
she Is compelled to acknowledge even to
herself. Slowly, with aimless steps, she
rises and hipgs aside the moldy volume
she had found in one of the rooms below,
and which she has been making q fruit
less effort to read, and looks out upon
the sunless pleasure-ground beneath her
window. She becomes suddenly aware
OF an unfamiliar figure that, kneeling on
the grass before one Of the beds, seems
to be wedding away for its dear life.
1t Is certainly the new gardener. Poor
creature, whoever he is, what could have
induced him to come here1 Uncle Greg
ory had evidently found no difficulty In
replacing his former employe. Had he
secured this new gardener on the old
poor terms? Unhappy creature! poverty
indeed must have been his guest before
he and his clothes came to such a sorry
pass! At this moment the unhappy
creature" lifts his head turns 1t deliber-
ately toward her. and-she finds herself
face to face with Tom Peytonl
A little sharp cry breaks from her. she
stiles it, but turns very pale.
"Youl youI' she says.
Don't look like thatw he says, in q
low tone, but sharply. would you be-
ttray me7 Remember. it was my only
chance of getting near you. Don't faint,
mean, or do anything like that"
"Oh, how could you do such a thing?"
SAYS she, in a trembling voice. "And-
and how strange you look, and what
dreadful clothes you have on!"
"Well, gave a good deal for them"
says he, casting an eloquent glance at his
trousers; "more-four times more-than
ever vet gave for a suit. I'm sorry you
don't approve of them; but for myself,
think them becoming, and positively
glory in them; l would rather have them
than any clothes I've ever yet had, and
l think them right down cheap It's
rather sell If you don't think they suit
my style Of beauty"
He is disgracefully unalive to the hor-
ror Of his position. He is even elated by
It, and is plainly on the point of bubbling
over with laughter. Given an Opportu-
nifty indeed, and it is certain he will give
mirth away; Griselda, however, declines
to help him to this opportunity.
Its horrid of you'll don't know how
you can laugh" says she, beginning to
cry. II can't bear to see you dressed
like that. just like common man."
"Well-I think you're little unkind,"
says he, regarding her reproaehfully. II
did think you would be glad to see me.
| thought, | fancled-I suppose | was
wrong-that when we parted on that last
day you were sorry-that you would like
to see me again"
,"Well, that was all true" says Gri-
selda, sobbingly.
"Then what are you crying about"
81 am unhappy that because of me you
must be made SO uncomfortable"
"If that's ALL" says he. beaming afresh.
'ft's nothing. I'm not scrap uncom-
Portable. 1t strikes me as being a sort
Of a lark-h'm-a joke, mean. feel
as jolly as a sand-boy. and" with ten
der, earnest glance, "far jollier. because
| can now see you"
But how long is it to last?" says she,
nervously. "It can't go on like this for
ever, and Seaton comes down here some,
times, and he knows you."
II dare say | shall manage to avoid
him. Though have often thought late
ly that It would be a good thing to take
him into our confidence.
"Oh. no, no, no indeed" cries she "he
might tell his father. and then all would
be up with us"
"Well, there's my sister, Gracie-she':
a very good-natured woman, and clever
too Ii were to tell her all. she would
tell Seaton, and between them they
might manage something. There's a step
Go away, and try to see me tomorrow
II you can"
They have barely time to separate be
fore the gaunt figure Of Crunch is seer
approaching through the laurels.