The Greeley tribune., 1906-05-17


in a cloak of fur that hid the contour
of her form.
"Damaris." The word fell from the
young mans lips like a caress.
so you've come" he said softly.
You see | am as good as my word.
The kingscote Oak must go. 1t is the
last link between me and the work
house-for it almost comes to that"
1t was evident that the relationship
between these two was something
more binding that the ordinary ties
existent between casual acquaintances
of opposite sex. Each seemed to ac-
cept the situation as inevitable. Then
the girl went on, hurriedly:
You'll catch cold, Alaric, dear, If
you stand still without your coat in
this bitter cold. Let me hold the
lantern for you while you work"
She snatched up the light. He,
obedient to her injunction, applied
his weapon with renewed vigor The
lamplight threw a warm glow over
his weather-tanned face and muscular
arms.
For a time he labored on, his whole
being concentrated on the performance
of his herculean task After a space
he paused to rest. A great wound on
the mighty bole of the oak showed
how sure had been his strenuous
endeavors.
When he ceased she broke Into
quick speech.
1T seems Incredible" she murmur.
ed. that you. Kingscote, of the same
race, the same blood as ourselves,
should be forced to toll like this-like
common laborer,' The man came
quickly forward, and flung his arm
around her waist. Their lips met in
a kiss that could not be mistaken for
mere cousinly salution.
."Damaris Kingscote," he said
steadily enough. "let us be frank one
with the other What are the facts
| am the poor relation-the blot on
the family scutcheon of the squire
your father. He resents my proximity
loathes the very idea of our love;
therefore he has brought his batteries
| to bear upon me and mine. All that
he could do to ruin me he has done
and heaven knows that he had been
| successful enough.
| The girls eyes brimmed over with
| tears. Alaric was quick to note heI
ready sympathy and, he gripped his
axe anew, the silence vibrating once
more with the ringing cadence of his
rhythmic blows.
| Presently he rested once again.
."Damaris," he said, did you ever
hear the legend that runs in our
branch of the family, that but fol
some strange whim of chance shoulG
have been in the squire's place today
the ruler of the destiny of kingscote
Glebe Farm? From father to son the
tradition has been handed down thai
| Nigel Kingscote, the cavalier, jugglet
in some unknown way with the laws
of succession-that it was not the sor
of the eldest son who was your own ia
theirs ancestor. but mine: that coult
the truth only be known Alright shoult
be reigning at Kingscote Manor in
stead of being what | am-a pauper,
fated to cut down the family tree tt
raise a pitiful sum Of money that mus
be procured"
Damaris stood speechless and Alari'
once more resumed his heavy task.
Finally, after long and weary toll
the end came. With cry to the girl
Alaric flung down his axe and leapet
backward. His hand sought hers
Side by side drawn apart from thu
tottering giant, they stood as though
| spellbound. the only spectators of thu
4 end of SO many hundred years O
silent. strenuous majesty.
And even as the mighty tree wen
shudderlng to its tremendous fall. ;
crack as of a pistol shot. foreshadow
ed it's overthrow. The noise came
from the one rotten bough that thu
tree had possessed a huge limb som,
halfway up its stem, which now de
taching first from it parent crashed
down at the very feet of the wonder