The Farmington times and herald. (Farmington, St. Francois Co., Mo.) 1902-1905, 1904-12-02


At sight OF her the man stopped and
Gretchen. all unconscious Of his Keen
scrutiny. stood mOtionless at the Kate,
smiling up at John Henderson. while
the last bright beams Of the sun
flooded her with its golden October
rays.
Just as tai, strong and powerfully
built as was John Henderson. there
WAS distinct difference between the
athletic fair-hairrd man standing 81
l"uuy in the road and Henderson. who
stood In the doorway Of the mill above
Evidently this was Il stranger.
And Will" his dark blue cotton
blouse and general appearance denoted
workman. and the rOughcncd hand
thrust carecssly In his pockets showed
igus OF toll there was an indescrIbablr
tool about him which Indicated a prevl-
Gus HE spent in a different sphc'"
which few could mistake,
His wurkman's cap set with military
precision and grace on his fair, curl
iGE hair His steps had the swing and
cadence OF one trained to the march Of
Infantry, while his straight features
and strong indOmitable blue eyes
seemed to indicate a descent from some
Morse or Scandinavian ancestry
Hiy whole look possessed a singular
power and fascination belonging to
no original tilier OF the soil or newer
n wood and stone
James Smith as he was known in
this distant village, and to the country
folks around was nevertheless only
&. charcoal burner, living obscurely and
poorly in a remote and solitary hut
down on the distant borders OF the
bayou
rs his sid" stood n Russian hound Of
great size and beauty. mOtiOnless as
his master, he too gaZed absorbed AT
tho pretty picture Of Gretchen leaning
on the gate
Some slight noise made her turn
and she paused in bewildrrcd surprise
At The unfamiliar sight Of stranger
STANDING mUtiuulrsg In the road
COMING forward with Icsurely
ease while his prrni dog kent mn los.
tcally A. his sid" Smith the charcoal
burner. arrostrd Gretchen with a
n,"ran' grace and strangely com
manIing manner
And when John henderson. coming
mp Invited him In with simple cordial
i'N hey soon sa' a' me supper around
~" board SEQ daiuilN served under
'r"',U"n'H clover mlWnrWunt and the
tails VA. 500 pleasant 81 distant lands.
and various scene, of Iifo elsewhere
far remote from the dim solitude OF the
great forests which h"mmcH them in,
that the hours t'uw win aud the
pleasant moments 1ri',l and melted
quickly into the past
O. was late when smith the char.
coal burner. rose tu go and strange
stiffness. seemed 'u .uIr over the
cottage when he 'ru
john Henderson .u.uYr.rnrtrI hin.
"a, f.. J.ru eff tho rand AMI gn1linp
hand. grl,I him rr. soon como hacl
i.. n. ana Gretchen vor.J he pIad of
70 rouraniun To rHhg. aar the evening
nuu.- when Tine long winter night,
would So. III.
3 charcoal mrn.In lI.. mo- work.
rr.um .a.a Gretchen mu-luei,.
DM Sou notice the ring ne wears
Holm and how handsome MI. hands
ar. Nh -nllr. of hI. vurUo Where doe.
hr COME from"
John Henderson could upi lu.I. for
up ON, hurW.
Two wears before he had como on a
sand schooner as drckhaud 10 the ad.
joining VILLAGE and plmu.nu inru the
forrest. had joined some wupdcuucrs,
and urm that had drli'rd into his
pr"suu worh.
smith had ruIluus foreign way of
-pn.hul although his English was NOT
aui, nurnr hu scholarly. and some.
times. If passing within rarshor of hl,
log .ahu one rould hear a mclIuw
cultured voice singing strange and
beautiful Gvti,g sue, rs I'M. wopds. mn,
wilds arut,,,I tho buvou had nayo,
heard before.