Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1902-04-05

I riers. farmers and cattle drovers nj
the year round. while in the month,
of July and August it's little bar wa.
thronged with the denzens OF ths
Mile-end Road. who take their pleas
ure in brakes. with concertinas anL
howls and discordant songs
few late visitors of this sort were
in the little bar when Clifford and
otto entered. But there was no sign
OF Jordan. Both the young men
looked with curiosity a, the woman
who was serving behind the bar. n
portly young woman with ready
tongue. who in her sturdy build and
large coarse hands. rs well as in the
weather-beaten look of her complexion
betrayed that she was accustomed tn
I'LL up her time. when work was slack
inside the house. with outdoor labor
OF the toughest kind
When the two friends came out tbey
looked at each other in disgust.
She isn't even young" cried Otto.
Nearer thirty-five than twenty-five.
I'll swear
And her voice. And her dciestable
kentish accent added Clifford.
And those high cheekbones. and that
short nose. It's type I loathc-the
type OF the common shrew''
Il shouldn't have thought it of Jor-
dan" murmured Otto. in pity tenn
pered with Indignation.
But where is the rufiian himself:'
asked Clifford, stopping shcrt. DO
you think we are on wrong scent,
after all:"
IF it were anybody but Jordan,
should say yes" said Otto, deliberate
ly. But his susceptibility is so colos-
sal that see no reason to doubt even
this"
Nevertheless he following Clifford.
when the latter turned back toward
the little bridge.
There's a cottage" said the more
humane King. "a little cottage by the
roadside. Let us see IL we can dis
Germ a petticoat in the neighborhood
of that. We may be doing the poor
chap an injustice. after ALL
But before they reached the cottage
the attention of the two young men
was arrested by the sound of 4 girls
voice oil the left. just before they
reached the bridge. 1t was voice so
bright. so sweet. with such Il sugges-
ton of bubbling laughter in it's tones.
that they both stopped short ami
looked at each other with faces full OF
remorse
That's Nell" said Otto.
'We have done him cruel wrong"
murmured Clifford.
And with one accord they bent their
steps in the direction of the voice. and
after getting over n wooden paling by
the roadside. scattering a colony OF
fowls on the other side. and making
their way over the rough grass beside
the river where the boats were drawn
UP which carried excursionists 10
Fleet Castle. they came upon wood
en- shed. and strong smell of pitcn.
and two human figures. The one was
Jordan. coatless. with his straw hat
tilted TO the back of his head, a tar
brush in one hand and tin can In the
other. engaged in the humble but use
full task OF covering the COW shed with
q new coat of pitch.
But his two friends scarcely glanced
at him. 1t was the other figure that
absorbed all their powers of vision-a
slender girl in print frock. with
white cotton blouse and an enormous
straw hat. This was the Nell who
wasted the time of half the young
men of Stroan, ana who would have
wasted the time of half the young
men Of London IL they had only once
seen her. A beauty Of pure Saxon type
she was. with the Opaque white skin
which the sun does not scorch or red
den. with rose-pinS cheeks. child's
pouting mouth, and big blue eyes that
made young man hold his breath.
Her hair had turned since childhood
from faxen TO 4 deeper tint. and was
now light bronze color There was
about her an air Of refinement as well
rs mOdesty which could not fail TO as
tUnish a stranger who found her in
these strange circumstances. She saw
Jan did and she watched them ap-
preach while the unfortunate artist
toiled ON at his inglorious task.
Perhaps the girl had seen the three
young men together; perhaps it was
only feminine quickness OF wit which
made her jump 10 the right conclu
sion.
Il think there are some friends OF
yours coming this way. Mr.. Jordan"
she said. III voice as refined as her
appearance and manner.
To be Continued.