Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-08-24

view, from John Mercer himself on the fol-
lowing Sunday.
For Farmer Rede, anxious as any west
end mother to settle his daughter we'll in
life, had been shrewd enough to guess that
the story would excite compassion rather
than repulston toward Nigel in the heart
of the girl
John Mercer. however, had no such deli
cate sense of tact. From his point Of view
the sympathy reused by the story must all
be for himself. the highly worthy and noble
object of the penniless fisherman's vicious
attack.
Pom my word, Miss Piety. he went for
me like to have ripped my face open, that
he did. 1t takes a lot to rifle me. 1 amt
one of your Eighty peppery sort myself;
but 1 did feel as If it would have done me
good to have given the beggar the thrash
ing he deserved
Il am glad you didn't" said Piety, quick
ly, in low, breathless sort of voice.
She was staring out Of the best parlor
window at the neat rows of potatoes in the
big square garden outside.
Glad I didn't, eh?" echoed John, in OBJ
fuse surprise. And why, pray Miss
Piety?"
The answer came short and swift:
Because If you had I'd never have
spoken to you again.
And she flew cut of the room and went
straight to her own chamber, whence it
took good deal Of persuasion on her
mothers part to draw her back for the
promised drive with John
Aunt Faith meanwhile, was explaining as
well as she could to the aStoniShed Sultor
that Piety had by no means a fondness
but still a condescending, kindly feeling
toward the lad whom she had seen so much
Of when they were both children"
Its impossible, you know, always to
choose their companions for children!' she
added, depreciatingly, anxiously hoping to
appease Johns possible jealousy of the
worthless and never sufficiently to be de-
spised Nigel.
Aunt Faith need not have taken this
trouble. 1t was impossible to make John
Mercer jealous; he was too band too grand
too altogether superior person. The Gre
AZURE who could not appreciate him John
felt to be unworthy his own consideration;
and he would not think of admitting such
a reproach against Piety Rede.
So he listened with good-humored smile
and nod to Aunt Faiths explanations and
never mentioned the subject of Nigel to
Piety during the drive. He would have
been immensely Disguised If he had guessed
that the girls tactiturnity was due to
thoughts of his despised rival; and he
would have beeen still more amazed two
days later II he had known that, having
seen nothing OF her hitherto faithful slave,
Tiety went FOuIlu 10 MS mOtner 3 mouse at
Fourways to make inquiries about him.
The girl was rather afraid Of Mrs Tre-
veddoe, whose antagonism to herself of late
years had been undisguised. She did not
dare to state the object of her visit, but
made the excuse of asking whether Mrs.
Treveddoe wanted any turkeys eggs.
The widow, whose reception had been
chilling In the extreme. looked her visitor
up and down with unbending haughtiness
Il don't want no turkeys eggs, and I
don't want nothing whatever from you or of
any Of your family. You've done me
enough harm by driving my son away.
More'n I'll ever forgive you for. So here's
wishing you Good morningr
And with that Mrs. .Treveddoe slammed
the door in her visitors face.
Piety turned away. feeling faint and sick.
She had no more questions to ask she knew