Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1904-12-14
Copyright. 1908, by Lee and shepard.l
CHAPTER Xv.-CoNr1NUED.


I'm sorry" he responded, smiling
and raising his hat, land yet, I'm glad.
I've been on tour over my old haunts,
ending at the schoolh ouse, and think
ing Of you"
You find things changed, 1 pre-
sumo" she answered coolly, now her.
self and ignoring his reference
why, yes, of course. Everything
seems to have grown smaller, includ-
ing the old schoolhouse. That seemed
mere turkey coop. You have been
after berries, see," he added, as she
made no reply to this.
why, yes" flashing curious look
at him, country girls always go after
berries. rake hay, and drive the COWS,
and I'm still a country girl, you see."
Martin laughed. 81 hear you are also
a schoolma'am now" he rejoined
thinking it wise to change the subject;
where do you teach?"
I'm the same turkey coop you just
visited" she answered, smiling.
why, that's where we used to go
to school together; that's funny"
Then, as she made no response, he con-
tinued: I've been all over the old
farm, and up through the laurel pas
ture where we used to gather arbutus,
and back by the old cider-mill. 1t
made me feel like boy again"
That was pleasant" she replied in
lack-interest tone; ARE you think
ing of becoming a farmer again."
"Hardly"-a little piqued at her
a..
building dam on the farm and rails
ing trout. That's been hobby of
mine for many years. Do you enjoy
teaching school. Angler" he asked sud-
denly, realizing that old memories and
his plans failed to interest her.
why, yes, until winter comes Itc
quite a long walk"
A pause, an infection, a mere shad-
ing of tone will give a keen observer
the key to another's feelings, and Mar
: tin, as he glanced down at the shape
iy, calico-clad girl beside him, read her
thoughts and saw her life as it was in
an instant. They had been as youth
full lovers, all in ali to one another.
parting with fond promises-he ap-
parently to forget his, and she to con-
tinue her simple life as pure and open
as the brook he had that day followed.
And now on his return, she would not,
even by allusion to old occasions, ad-
NIT they had ever been aught to one
another. Had she wished to renew the
old ties, or awaken his interest again,
he had given her ample chance, and yet
she ignored it. 1t w@S pride of the
most indomitable sort, and while it
hurt, he felt like taking off his hat to
1t. Then. as the history of her life. as
related by Dr. Sol, returned TO him on
the instant-her heritage kept from
her. a dependent on Aunt Comfort and
obliged to walk mile to and from
that by-road schoolhouse each day
year after year. to earn a pittance-the
pathos of it all smote him. He could
buy half the village and have money
left, and she whom he had many times
held close in his arms, and to whom
ne had whispered loving words, was
walking beside him gowned in faded
calico and wearing worn-out sho es.
Worse than that, from his viewpoint
now that he had returned. anxious tt
atone for years of neglect and renew
the old lovership, she would not ever
admit that 1t ever existed
ssAngie," he said. after long pause
II came near calling on you the even
ing arrived. The doctor was out ant
/ walked up to your house. but heart
einei az. and concsaae xou had callers.