The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1902-10-03

"NoaO, boys, I haze q grand scheme"
went away. 1t was pathetic-the part
ing. I truly believe he was sorry to
leave"
"I've not a doubt Of it," said Lay
burn, little uneasily.
Pretending not to note the slight
change in the mans voice, the young
girl continued:
''But listen. 1 haven't told you all.
The strangest thing is to come, and it
reminds me of novel. Captain Adams
that's his name-has returned. He
has been appointed to command the
Federal garrison, and since he came
back he is constantly attempting to do
mother some kindness. He insists upon
supplying her with groceries from the
barracks at cost. He would like to
make her a present of them, but he
knows she would not accept them"
"Does he come to call?" asked Lay
burn, little glumly.
Sometimes"
With strong effort Layburn strove
to strangle the demon that rose for
a moment in his heart. 1t was not be-
cause Adams was a northern soldier
that he was tempted to hate him. He
felt sure that the fellow had fallen in
love with Mary. How could he spend
ten days in the house with her and help
it? But why should he fret? If Mary
were not little bit to blanche hoped
she was not-the affair was merely one
of the accidental occurrences of life,
And so, after little more chat, he took
his leave and resumed his way to town.
On arriving at the principal street
of the village Layburn fell in with
Jack Meriweather. Meriweather was
kindred spirit. Like Layburn, he
had just returned from the army, and
his finances were, if possible, in a
more desperate condition. The two
men met for the first time after sep
aration of four years, for, while Lay
burn had been serving under Lee in
Virginia. Meriweather had been fight
ing along the Mississippi.
"By George, Layburn," said Meri-
weather after a few minutes conver-
sation, gazing at his friends rusty
black suit. then looking at his own
shabby clothes of the same color,
"your appearance and mine remind me
of two old black crows"
''Scarecrows, you mean," amended
John Palmer, an old planter, joining
the two men with laugh. Il want to
hire you two chaps to stand in my corn
field and frighten the birds"
10 oeh Ocf
tions, Mr.. Palmer" said Layburn, "for
Jack and 1 are quite as needy as we
look and are ready for a contract of
any description"
Eyes; it isn't safe to bluff US. What
did Burns says of honest poverty p
Whatever it was we indorse it. l am
willing to drop corn, scrape taters, do
chores or anything. Aren't you, Alf?'
Certainly, when I've put on my sec
ond best suit" laughed Layburn.
"Now, boys, do you know that's just
what l reckoned-that you'd be short
of funds and needing a few dollars to
start WITH" said the old man kindly.
you've both got somebody depending
on you, and it's going to be burned
hard at the beginning. Now, boys, l
have grand scheme. It's such a good
thing I'd work it myself if were not
so Old"
"What is it?" said both the young
men in breath, intensely interested.
keep COOL" said Palmer, leisurely
cutting off chew of tobacco, with a
twinkle in his eye. 'I'm not going to
be hurried. lay awake half the night
turning it over in my mind. Says to
myself, it's royal chance for some
body, and who has a better right to it
than some of our poor boys just back
from the war, with hardly a dime in
their pockets? So determined to get
On my horse after breakfast and come