Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1903-11-11


managed to break in upon his re-
serve. and had often been upon the
point of asking him certain questions
regarding himself, yet had never done
SO. OF Rossiter's admiration for her
she was aware, perhaps in a meas
ure by intuition. for he had scrupa-
lousy endeayored not to let his feel
ings be manifest, aud she doubted if
even her cousin had observed any
thing in his demeanor to indicate that
he had a preference between them.
Her state of mind towards him she
had not seriously tried to analyze
Of lively interest in him she. was
conscious. but had any one suggested
that she cherished deeper or a
warmer feeling she would have re
PEELED the idea vehementiy. The dis
covery of weaknesses in his character
had not lowered him in her estima-
ton. Indeed, her sympathies, for
that very reason. went ont towards
him more strongly. She fancied she
discerned the battle he was fighting
with himself, and longed somehow,
if he would but let her, to give him
encouragement and help.
On Wednesday morning the girls
had been at their box as usual, but
they did not come into the yard to
pick in the afternoon. About three
o'clock, as Rossiter was stripping
pole in that portion of the field near
est the house, he caught sight of Miss
Merton Fastening towards him.
''Where is Jack-Mr. Parmelee?"
she called, much perturbed. as soon
lance.
Rossiter looked about but could SEE
nothing of the farm manager. FL
nally, however. he deserted him Ell
gagged in emptying a box of hops in
a remote part of the field
''There he isl he said, 'way out
yonder."
'Oh, won't you go and fetch him?
I'm all out of breath. And hurry, do,
for what 1 have to tell him may be
very Important
Rossiter set out at a sharp run, and
presently he and Parmelee came back
together. The pole-puller was about
to retire when Miss Merton stopped
him.
Wont you listen, too, Mr. Rossi-
ter, she said, ''for if there's any
trouble perhaps you can help u.s.
He acquiesced, and the two men
stood regarding the girl in expecta-
ton and wonder
First tell me- she said. addressing
Parmelee, ''if Simpson is in the yard
for if he is, perhaps I've had my
fright for nothing"
Simpson," exclaimed Parmelee:
mo. he's not. I've been lookin' for
him this long time. I sent him over
to the kiln on an errand more thap
half an hour ago
Then I'm afraid there's something
wrong" said Miss Merton, growing
more agitated, land, oh, I wish I'd
come sooner! l happened to go out
on the porch while ago." she went
on, speaking rapidly, and saw man
running far down i'll the lower or
chard- He stopped under tree, and
then | noticed there were two other
men there. [ thought they were
some of the pickers after apples-you
know they're in the habit of getting
them-and didn't pay much more at
tention, but when L got back in the
house it came to me that the first
man seemed like Simpson, and that
one of the others, though, of course.
couldn't really see much at that dis
lance, had face like that creature
who frightened us at the hop-dance.
L went out to look again and they
were gone, SO [ came to the conciu-
sion that they must have leaped the
fence and taken a short cut back to
the yard, but when [ got to thinking
about it later, | couldn't help feeling
that it was strange, so [ hurried over
to tell you,
Parmelee pursed his lips and
seemed incredulous.
If it want for Simpsons alb
sence," said he, Il should set all this;
down as foolishness. Miriam
Wasn't SIMPSON by when father
started for Hintonville?' she asked,
land didn't he hear father sneak
about going to the bank for money
to pay the pickers, and say he meant
to return by Blue Creek road because
lie wanted 10 speak with Ezra Merrl-
man a minute?''
He was there, by the Eternal.''
cried Parmelee, for he brought the
horse OUT
And you know Simpson owes ia
Their grudge for having him dis
charged last spring. Father said he
nefer would have. let you take him
back if help hadn't been so scarce"
continued Miss Merton. GROWING more