Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1905-01-04
The Il! Hermit
A Story Of the Wilderness 7
y By CHARLES CLARK MUM
Author Of Pocket Island" Uncle Terry" y
and Rockhaven." y.
CHAPTER XV.-CoNr1NuED.
By CHARLES CLARK MUM
lCopyrlght. lsos. by Lee aud shepard.>

lCopyrisht. lsos. by Lee aud shepard, ::
CHAPTER XV.-CoNT1NuED.
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, pre-
sume," 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
a 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 country girl, you see"
Martin laughed. Il hear you are also
schoolma'am now" he rejoined,
thinking it wise to change the subject;
where do you teach"
In 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: 1--WE 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 farmer again?"
"Hardly"-a little piqued at her
GOODNESS; 'I've a notion, though, OF
building dam on the farm and rails
ing trout. That's been a hobby of
mine for many years. Do you enjoy
teaching school, Angler" he asked sud-
denly, realizing that old memories ami
his plans failed to interest her.
why, yes. until winter comes. It'c
quite long walk"
A pause, an infection, a mere shad-
ing OF tone will give keen observer
the key to anothers feelings, and Mar
tin, as he glanced down at the shape
ly, ca]ico-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 all 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 We.
she ignored it. It was pride of the
most indomitable sort, and while it
hurt, he felt like taking of his hat to
it. Then, as the history of her life, as
related by DR.. Sol, returned to him on
the instant-her heritage kept from
her, dependent on Aunt Comfort and
obliged to walk mile to and from
that by-road schoolhouse each day,
year after year, to earn 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
he had whispered wing words, was
walking beside him gowned in faded
calico and wearing WORKOUT shoes.
Worse than that, from his viewpoint,
now that he had returned, anxious to
atone for years of neglect and renew
the old lovership, she would not even
admit that it ever existed.
''Angie," he said, after long pause,
II came near calling on you the even
ing arrived. The doctor was out and
walked up to you house, but heard
singing, and concluded you had callers -
well, why didn't you," she an
swered, smiling; you are not bashful,
are you?"
mo, but didn't feel like intruding.
stood under the naples, however, and
enjoyed your singing few moments"
But even this brought no response,
and fully conscious now that she in
tended to avoid all reference to old
memories, he began speaking Of his
plans for trout raising.
Wont you come in?" she asked
pleasantly, when the house was
reached; aunt Comfort will be glad
to see YOU
mo, thank you," he answered In the
same tone, mot now" And, raising
his hat, he turned away.