Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1903-02-12

the woodslled "and trust to Zecnie to give
you a hint eff there's anythin undorhanded
goin' on. SO long"
Half inclined to resent this implied sugges-
ton of protection, yet half pleased at the idea
of confidence with the handsome girl he
had seen, Hale returned to the room. a
whispered discussion among the party ceased
on his entering, and an awkward silence fol-
lowed. which Hale did not attempt to break
as he quietly took his seat again by the fire.
He was presently confronted by Stanner,
who, with an oifcctation of easy familiarity,
crossed over to the hearth.
"The old kernels id rcppery and high
toned when he's got n little more than his
reg lar three fingers o corn juice, eh.'
II must beg you to understand distinctly,
Mr.. Stanner," said Hale, with return of
his habitual precision of statement, "that
regard any sighting alusion to the gentle
man who has just left not only as in exceed
inGly bad taste coming from you. but very
offensive to myself. If you mean to imply
that he was under the influence of liquor. it
is my duty to undeceive YOU he was so per-
fecty in possession of his faculties as TO ex-
press not only his own but my opinion of
your conduct. You must also admit that he
was discriminating enough to show his OBJ
lection TO your company by leavingit. re-
greet that circumstances do not make il con-
venient for me TO exercise that privilege:
but if | am obliged to put up with your
presence in this room, strongly insist that
ii is not made uncomfortable with the addition
of your conversation
The effect of this deliberate and passion
less declaration was more diScomposing to
the party than Clinch's fury. Utterly unac-
customed to the ideas and language suddenly
confronting them, they were unable to deter
mine wilt Their it was the real expression o.
the speaker, or whether it was a vague badi-
mage L afectation TO which any reply would
involve them in rdicule. In n country ter
-orized by practical joking they did not
doubt but that this was a new form of hoax
ing calculated 20 provoke some response that
would constitute them as victims The i'm
mediate effect upon them was that complete
silence i'll regard to himself that Hale de-
sired. They drew together again and con
verscd in whispers. while Hale, with his eyes
fixed on the fire. gave himself up to some
what late and useless reflection.
He could scarcely realize his position. For
| however he might look at it, within q space
of twelve hours he had not only changed
some eff his most cherished opinions, but he
| had acted in accordance with that change in
a way that made it seem almost impossible
for him ever to rccant. In the interests of
law and order he had engaged in an unlaw-
full and disordcrly pursuit of criminals, and
had actually come i'll conflict, not with the
criminals, but with the only party appar-
emily authorized to pursue them. More than
that, he was finding himself committed to a
| certain sympathy with the criminals.
| Twenty -four hours ago if any one had told
HIM that he would have condoned an illegal
act for its abstract Justice or assisted TO com
NIT an Illegal act for the same purpose he
would have felt himself irsulted That he
| knew he would not now feel it an insult per
picked him still more. In these circum
stances the fact that he was separated from
his family, and rs it were from all his past
life and traditions by n chance accident, did
the first time a little doubtful of their prob
able criticism on his Inconsistency. and was
by no means in a hurry TO subject himself
to it,
Lifting his eyes, he was suddenly aware
that the door leading to the kitchen was
slowly opening. He bad thought he heard it
creal; once on twice during his deliberate re-
n k,tqnngr II IL inn
now as to attract his attention. without
disturbing the Others. II presently opened
| sufficiently wide to show tho face of Zcenie
who, with gesture Of caution toward his
companions, becsoned him to join her. He
rose carelesslv as ii going out, and putting
| on his hat, entered the Kitchen as the retreat
ing figure Of The young girl glided lightly
toward the stables. She ;,scondod u few open
| steps as if to a hay loft, but stopped before
low door, Pushing it open, she preceded him
into small room, apparently under the roof
which scarcely allowed her to stand upright
! By the light of stable lantern hanging from
beam he saw that, though poorly furnished,
1t bore some evidence of feminine taste and
hahitation. MotoninG to the only chair, she
/
hands clasping her knees in her familiar att-
tudc. Her face bore traces of recent acita-
ton, and her eyes were shining with tears
| BY the closer light OF the lantern he was sur
| pr>cd to find j; was from laughter.
"ireckoned you'd be right lonely down there
with that Stanner crowd, partickcrly after
that little speech o your'n, so | seq to nav
| III got You up yer for IA spell Nav and
hcerd you eXhort EN-, Nav allowed YOU woz
talkin' furrin tongue all along, but I--sakcs
aliNc!--l he'd TO hump myself to keep from
Dustin into yell when yer jist drawcd them
Webster unabridged sentences on EN- She
stopped and rocl,cd backward and forward
with laugh that, subducd by tho proximity
of the roof and the fear Of heing overheard,
was 10y no mons unmuscal I'm tell We
whot got me, though! That part commence
| ing; circumstances over which I've no con-
| trOul---'n
"Oh, come! didn't say that, " interrupted
Hale laughing
"'Don't make it convenient for me to cxer-
else the privilege of kckin' yer ont to that
extent" she continued; but if | cannot
dispense with your room, the least | can say
is that it's a ID sight better than your conf
pany'-or suthin like that, And then the
way you minded your stops and let your
voice rise and fall jest ez easy ez if you wos
| First Reader in large type. Why, the kernel
wasn't nowhere. His cuSsin' didn't come
IL. ~ ll,t